In doubles pickleball, effective teamwork and strategic positioning are crucial to dominating the court. Playing doubles is not just about individual skills but also about working seamlessly with your partner to control the pace, angles, and flow of the game. Explore these five advanced doubles strategies that can help you gain a tactical edge, along with drills to practice each one. These strategies focus on positioning, pressure, and exploiting weaknesses, allowing you to be more versatile and unpredictable as a team.
1. Staggered Positioning: Creating Angles and Controlling Space
Strategy Breakdown
Staggered positioning involves one player standing slightly ahead of the other, rather than side-by-side at the net. One player is positioned closer to the net while the other player stands slightly behind them—usually about 2-3 feet back. Both players are still generally near the kitchen line, but they are not lined up side-by-side. Instead, they form a slight diagonal, with one player positioned slightly ahead and the other slightly behind.
This setup helps create better attacking angles and minimizes the risk of being lobbed, as the back player can cover potential lobs more easily. The front player can aggressively take away dinks and volleys, while the back player provides support and coverage.
Key Benefits
– Creates more attacking angles, making it easier to hit aggressive volleys and place dinks effectively.
– Reduces vulnerability to lobs, as the back player is prepared to cover deep shots.
– Provides more defensive coverage against fast drives, as the staggered formation gives the back player a better view of the incoming shot.
Drill: Staggered Dink Drill
Objective: Improve comfort and coordination in staggered positioning.
How to Do It:
1. Set up with your partner at the kitchen line in a staggered position.
2. Engage in a regular dinking rally, with the front player focusing on angled dinks and the back player ready to intercept any shots that go higher or deeper.
3. Practice moving as a unit, with the back player covering lobs and the front player maintaining aggressive net pressure.
2. The Switch and Pinch: Switching Positions Quickly to Trap Opponents
Strategy Breakdown
The switch and pinch strategy involves teammates switching sides during a rally to confuse the opponents. One player initiates the switch, while the other follows to “pinch” the player caught in the middle with a quick return. This tactic can be especially effective when you’re trying to disrupt your opponents’ positioning and force weak returns.
Key Benefits
– Causes confusion in the opponent’s positioning, leading to errors or weak returns.
– Forces the opponent in the middle to make a difficult shot under pressure.
– Allows your team to maintain aggressive positioning by closing the gap quickly after the switch.
Drill: Switch Drill
Objective: Develop quick transitions and effective communication during switches.
How to Do It:
1. Set up at the baseline with your partner, starting on the same side of the court.
2. On the serve or return, initiate a switch by moving toward the opposite side while your partner follows.
3. Practice the switch at different points during the rally, aiming to keep the pressure on the opponent caught in the middle.
3. The “Erne Bait”: Setting Up a Shot for an Erne Attempt
Strategy Breakdown
The Erne bait involves setting up a shot that tempts the opponent toward the sideline, creating an opportunity for an Erne shot. One player intentionally hits a dink closer to the sideline, drawing the opponent wide. Meanwhile, the other player moves toward the sideline to attempt an Erne—a sideline jump volley executed just outside the kitchen.
Key Benefits
– Creates an opportunity for a quick, aggressive sideline attack.
– Forces the opponent to move out of position, opening up gaps for the next shot.
– Allows your team to take the initiative and score quick points with a surprise Erne.
Drill: Erne Set-Up Drill
Objective: Improve coordination and timing for successful Erne attempts.
How to Do It:
1. Set up at the kitchen line with your partner.
2. Practice hitting dinks close to the sideline, while the other player moves toward the Erne position.
3. Focus on timing and communication, ensuring that the Erne attempt is not telegraphed too early.
4. The Pressure Stack: Applying High Pressure to the Weaker Opponent
Strategy Breakdown
In the pressure stack, your team uses stacking or strategic positioning to consistently target the weaker opponent. By directing angled shots at the weaker player, you force them to hit from uncomfortable positions and increase the likelihood of errors or weak returns. This strategy is particularly useful against teams with a clear skill gap between players.
Key Benefits
– Forces the weaker player to play more shots, increasing the chance of mistakes.
– Allows you to dictate the flow of the game by keeping the ball away from the stronger opponent.
– Keeps the weaker player on the move, often leading to fatigue and reduced shot quality.
Drill: Targeting Drill
Objective: Improve accuracy and consistency when targeting a specific opponent.
How to Do It:
1. Set up a target zone on the weaker player’s side (e.g., placing cones or markers).
2. Engage in a regular rally, focusing on consistently directing shots toward the target zone.
3. Practice using angled shots to move the weaker player out of position, while maintaining control over the rally.
5. Drop-Volley Defense: Absorbing Fast Drives as a Team
Strategy Breakdown
When facing aggressive opponents who like to drive the ball, the drop-volley defense is a highly effective strategy. Both players focus on softening fast drives into controlled drop volleys, slowing down the pace and resetting the point. This tactic helps neutralize the opponent’s aggressive play and allows your team to regain control of the net.
Key Benefits
– Reduces the opponent’s offensive momentum by slowing down fast drives.
– Helps reset the rally, giving your team more time to reposition and prepare for the next shot.
– Keeps the ball low, making it difficult for opponents to maintain an aggressive stance.
Drill: Drop-Volley Drill
Objective: Improve control over drop volleys under pressure.
How to Do It:
1. Set up at the kitchen line with your partner.
2. Have a coach, partner, or ball machine feed fast drives to both players.
3. Practice softening the drives into drop volleys, focusing on absorbing the ball’s speed and keeping the shot low.
Conclusion
Mastering these five doubles strategies can significantly enhance your team’s performance in pickleball. By practicing staggered positioning, executing the switch and pinch, setting up Erne attempts, applying pressure to the weaker opponent, and using drop-volley defense, you’ll be better equipped to control rallies and score points more effectively. Remember, effective communication and coordination with your partner are essential for executing these strategies successfully. Incorporate the drills outlined here into your training routine, and watch your doubles game reach new heights.
