How To Play Doubles Pickleball – And Dominate!

Pickleball is a fun sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. In this post, we will discuss how to play doubles pickleball. This game is played with two teams of two players each. The objective is to score points by hitting the ball over the net and into your opponent’s service court. Let’s take a look at the pickleball rules and a bit of strategy about how to play doubles pickleball.

How to Play Doubles Pickleball

Pickleball combines various aspects of other paddle sports like tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Its equipment includes a paddle and a plastic ball with strategically placed holes. It is quickly becoming a popular sport that many people love in the United States because of its health benefits and how it’s suited for players of every level. 

Players can play pickleball in both singles and doubles. You can play this sport one-on-one or enhance your experience and play in teams of two. Doubles pickleball is the more popular way that people play pickleball. But that does beg the question, how to play doubles pickleball and what are the major differences between these two modes? 

Differences between Doubles and Singles

If you already have experience playing singles as a pickleball player, you won’t have any trouble transitioning to doubles and picking up doubles strategies. Aside from being less physically demanding for the doubles pickleball player, there aren’t large notable differences in scoring.

You still have the non-volley zone line, and the same height pickleball net The equipment, uniform, and gear are consistent. There are more similarities than there are differences between single and doubles pickleball. 

Singles

Players who start with pickleball singles will find the game more physically challenging. In singles, people have more area to cover on the pickleball court in order to hit the ball or make the return of serve.

So, in singles, the player may be forced to stretch to hit shots that their partner may get to in a doubles pickleball match. In singles, you are all on your own against your opponent and will have to keep up with the other player. These matches can come down to endurance, quickness, and simply knowing how to play better pickleball.

Playing singles can be more demanding than doubles since it requires you to move faster to cover more area as a general rule of thumb. A player may have to sprint across the court to hit the ball. And the scoring system is a bit simpler; you only need to call out a sequence of two numbers, unlike in doubles. For example, if you have 4 points and your rival has 3 points, you will call out the score saying 3 – 2.

Doubles

Pickleball doubles strategy can be quite different, however. In a doubles game, two players are on each side of the court. This eases the pressure off one player and distributes the responsibility between both of them. The lack of physical exertion and the chance to socialize more makes this mode more common amongst the public. A doubles pickleball match can be less physically demanding for a recreational pickleball player. However, as the skill level of the players increases, a doubles game can be quite demanding.

It’s a great method of reconnecting with old friends and spending quality time with loved ones. You can branch out and form bonds that are more in tune with your interests. 

The scoring system for doubles is different than singles though. This is where things get a little tricky for people who are new to doubles. 

However, as you understand the rule, you’ll realize that it’s not as hard. While playing doubles, you announce your score in a series of three numbers; your team’s score, the opponent’s score, and which server you are. For instance, if your team’s score is 4, the opposing team’s score is 3, and you’re server 2, then you’d call out 4 – 3 – 2.

How to Play Doubles Pickleball

There are strategies and rules to follow in pickleball like in any other game, but in doubles, there are some vital doubles strategies to remember. Let’s go over these to get a better concept.

Communicate with Your Partner

Communicating with your partner is absolutely essential when playing doubles. Half of your play depends on your partner, and if either one doesn’t understand their player position on the court, or doesn’t understand your partner’s range and how your partner moves then it’s tough to have a good team effort.

One strategy tip is to create visual or verbal signals for different tactics that can help improve your game, and are especially useful if you are playing with a new partner

Warning your partner by calling “Bounce It” if you strike the ball a little higher than necessary or saying “out” before the ball hits the court if you are confident that it’s going out. Also, make sure to compliment your partner on their performance after their serve or each point they score, and try to refrain from being overly negative if they make a mistake.

Return the Serve Deep as Possible

If you can return the serve as deep as possible it can give you an advantage. It will give you more time to advance toward the non-volley line and help make a third shot for the team serving a longer one and more difficult.

Drop Shots

When you and your partner aren’t on the non-volley line, but your opponents are, a drop shot – while tough to master – is an excellent pickleball doubles strategy anytime you and your partner aren’t on the non-volley line. It’s a shot that, if successful, will get you and your partner to the non-volley line as well. That will neutralize the edge that your opponents might have.

Keep your Opponents Back on the Baseline

If you and your pickleball partner are on the non-volley line but your opponents aren’t, keep them pinned down on the baseline. You will have the advantage at that point. If you hit a shot that is shorter, that will bring the players on the opposing team up to the non-volley line and you will lose your advantage. Aim for the Middle of the Court

Aim For The Middle of the Court

The best way to confuse the opposing team is by aiming for the middle of the court. As your opposing team tries to decide who will hit the ball might give you an edge and possibly give you an easy point. 

It’s the safest bet for when you want to win, seeing how it reduces the chances that you will hit the ball wide and is generally a harder shot to return when playing with two players. You can discuss this with your partner and devise a plan of your own when the opponent plays the ball in the middle. It’s one of many tactics people use to win in doubles pickleball.

Try To Hit the Ball at Your Opponent’s Feet

It can be really difficult to retutn a ball at your feet without really popping it up. Especially if you are dinking with an opposing player, try to hit it at their feet. Or if they are in the transition area that is in between the baseline and non-volley also attempt to hit the ball at their feet. Also, if they are close to the baseline try to keep them back there by hitting at their feet.

Be in Sync with Your Partner

Being in sync with your partner as much as you can is similar to communicating with them. As previously mentioned, that’s a crucial part of winning the game. However, moving in the same rhythm as your partner is different than establishing signs or calls during the game. Playing in unison with your partner is one key to playing double pickleball well.

How and when your partner strikes the ball determines the rest of the play, so you should try to know your teammate’s skill level well. Like at the baseline, your partner strikes the ball and moves toward the no-volley zone. You should also move forward at the exact same time, not before, not after.

If partners are out of sync, they create an opening for the opposing team to exploit. 

Conclusion

Playing doubles in pickleball is relatively easier and is much more fun. Whether they are newcomers just getting into sports or veterans looking to teach someone, pickleball is for everyone. While fun, players can sometimes have a hard time understanding the rules when playing doubles. It’s a straightforward game, not that different from doubles tennis. Hopefully, after reading this, you’ll realize how fun and simple double pickleball actually is.