Pickleball is a pretty easy sport to play. No need for mega-strength or super speed — just a bit of mobility and some hand-eye coordination and boom, you’re doing it. But to be good? Well that takes a little thinking. A pickleball doubles strategy can go a long way in helping you and your partner thrive on the court.

Pickleball Double’s Strategy

Every team will need to find what works for them, but a pickleball doubles strategy can be boiled down to these 7 points.

1. Play the game at the no-volley line.
2. Push your opponents back to their baseline.
3. Use drop shots to move up the court.
4. Place your serve deep.
5. Hit the ball towards your opponent’s feet
6. Move with your partner
7. Communicate with your partner

Why strategy matters in pickleball doubles

Pickleball isn’t about being the strongest or fastest — that’s what makes it fun. From grandparents to young athletes, almost any novice can compete with another… as long as they have a good strategy. A well-crafted plan can give you and your partner an edge over other teams.

A solid strategy will help you set the pace of the game, keep player positioning legal, and let you play from a position of strength. It also helps a duo react to situations in the same way so you stay in line even when things go a bit sideways. In pickleball, strategy is the difference between staying on the court and waiting around for the next game on the bench.

7 of the best doubles strategies for pickleball

So if strategy is so important, what should you know? Let’s break down the most important tips to level up your pickleball game.

Play the game at the no-volley line

If you only remember one tip, make it this one. Getting to the no-volley line (or the kitchen) is a sure fire way to score more points. The closer you get to the net, the less room there is for err. Your shots are less likely to fall short of the net and you need less force to land a shot in-bounds cutting down the amount of stray hits that fly past the lines. Just make sure you follow the pickleball kitchen rules while you do.

Push your opponents back to their baseline

If the best thing you can do for your doubles game is play up at the line, then the second best thing you can do is keep your opponents away from it. Playing from the back line presents a challenge for all the reasons we listed above. So try to place your shots in a way that prevents your opponents from being able to move up the court.

Use drop shots to move up the court

Ok, so let’s say tip number 1 didn’t work out and you find yourself on your own baseline while your opponent is at the no-volley line. The best way to remove their advantage is with a drop shot — a shot that lands in lands in your opponents kitchen. Why? The other team has to wait for the ball to bounce allowing you time to move up to your own non-volley line. It also may force them to return a high, soft ball setting you up for a perfect slam.

Place your serve deep

There’s lots of tips to perfect your serve, but the main objective (besides staying in-bounds) is to hit it deep. Remember your opponent wants to move closer to the non-volley line, so the deeper the serve, the harder it is for them to do that. A fast, hard hit right before the kitchen might seem tempting, but a high, deep ball will serve you better. Just follow the pickleball serving rules to keep it legal.

Hit the ball towards your opponent’s feet

Which would you rather return: a ball at waist height or one that’s down low? When players are forced to bend and scrape the ground for a ball, there is a high chance the return will be soft and high setting you up to smash it right back in dramatic fashion. While the points you score are great, the rattled look from your opponents is even better.

Move with your partner

When you’re playing doubles in pickleball, you and your partner want to move like you’re tied together by an 8-10 foot rope. That means staying in sync as you go side to side and up and back. If you’re out of rhythm, you can create gaps your opponents can exploit for easy points.

Communicate with your partner

Like any healthy relationship, make sure you and your partner talk with each other! Especially when balls fall close to the center line, you want to make a clear decision of who is responsible for what. You also want to talk about positioning to make sure you’re staying close enough together. It’s basic, but you’d be surprised how many partners forget to chat.

Wrap up: Building your doubles strategy for pickleball

So what does a doubles strategy in pickleball boil down to? Communication, movement, and teamwork. By talking with your partner and moving in sync, you can keep your opponents off the score board.

Remember, a strategy only works if you’re both on the same page. So talk about your goals before and align on a game plan. It also helps to play with the same person so the two of you can grow your game together. So find someone ya like and get to pickling — with a little bit of effort, you can dominate the court.