The Complete Guide to Pickleball Doubles Strategy and Stacking (2025)

Why Doubles Is a Different Game

Let me tell you about the first time I played competitive doubles. I had been practicing singles for months and thought I was pretty hot stuff. Then I showed up to a local 4.0 tournament with a partner I had met the week before. We got absolutely demolished. 11-2, 11-3. It was not pretty.

The problem was not our individual skills. My partner had a nasty topspin serve, and my dink game was solid. The problem was that we had no idea how to play as a team. We left the middle open constantly. We both went for the same ball (and both missed). We had no system for who covers what. Meanwhile, the other team moved like they shared a brain.

That is the difference. Singles is about individual athleticism and shot-making. Doubles is about coordination, positioning, and strategy. You can be an incredible solo player and still lose in doubles if you do not understand the team dynamics.

Basic Doubles Positioning

Before we talk about fancy stacking formations, let us cover the fundamentals. If you do not have these basics down, nothing else will matter.

The "Fence Post" Concept

Imagine an invisible rope connecting you and your partner. You should move together, like two posts on a sliding fence. When your partner shifts left, you shift left. When they move right, you move right. The goal is to maintain consistent spacing (about 10 to 12 feet apart) at all times.

If one player is at the kitchen line and the other is at the baseline, you have a massive diagonal gap that any half-decent team will exploit. Both players should be at roughly the same depth on the court.

The "Up and Back" Problem

Beginners often default to the "one up, one back" formation, where one player camps at the kitchen line and the other hangs at the baseline. This feels safe but creates a huge vulnerability. The net player gets attacked with hard drives through the middle, and the baseline player cannot help in time.

The fix? Both players should move together. If one person is stuck at the baseline (after serving or return), the partner should slow the game down (via third shot drops) and wait for both players to get to the kitchen line.

The Kitchen Line (Why You Need to Get There)

According to data collected by the PPA Tour, teams that control the kitchen line win approximately 70 to 80 percent of rallies. That is not a small edge; that is a dominating advantage.

Why? Because when you are at the kitchen line, you can do two things: attack high balls immediately (without giving your opponents time to set up), and force your opponents to hit up on the ball, which limits their offensive options.

The team stuck at the baseline has to hit perfect drops or drives just to stay in the point, while the team at the net can calmly wait for the slightest mistake and put it away. It is like playing with a handicap.

Getting to the Line Safely

The danger zone is the "transition zone" (that stretch between the baseline and the kitchen line). If you get caught there, balls will land at your feet, which is the hardest shot to hit in pickleball.

The safest way to navigate the transition zone is to use third shot drops (soft arcing shots that land in the kitchen) or patient fifth shot resets. Each successful drop buys you a few more steps toward the net.

Do not rush. It is better to hit two or three drops and arrive safely than to sprint forward and get nailed with a drive at your shoelaces.

What Is Stacking?

Stacking is a strategic positioning technique where both players start on the same side of the court before a serve or return, then move to their preferred positions after the ball is in play. It sounds complicated, but once you see it, you will wonder why you did not learn it sooner.

Why Bother Stacking?

The main reason teams stack is to keep their stronger player (or preferred shot) in the right position. For example:

• Forehand in the Middle: Most players prefer to cover the middle with their forehand. Stacking lets a left-handed and right-handed player always have their forehands in the center.
• Skill Optimization: If one player dominates at the net and the other is a reset specialist, stacking keeps them in their ideal zones.
• Speed Matchups: A faster player can cover more ground. Stacking lets you position your speedster to neutralize the opponent's power player.

Traditional serving rules mean you have to alternate who serves from which side. Without stacking, you would constantly be on your "wrong" side. Stacking solves this.

When to Stack (And When Not To)

Stacking is not always the right call. It adds complexity, and if you mess it up, you can end up hilariously out of position.

Stack When:

• You have a left-handed and right-handed partnership (to keep forehands in the middle)
• One player has a significantly stronger forehand or backhand
• You want to exploit a specific opponent weakness
• You are playing competitive matches where every edge matters

Skip Stacking When:

• You and your partner are new to doubles and still learning basics
• Both players are right-handed with similar skill levels
• You are playing casual rec games and do not want to overthink it
• Your team has not practiced stacking and keeps getting confused

Badly executed stacking is worse than not stacking at all. If you want to try it, practice in friendly games before bringing it to a tournament.

Common Stacking Formations

There are a few popular ways to stack. Let us break them down.

1. Full Stack (Both Sides)

The most common approach. Both players start on the same side of the court for every serve and return, then slide to their preferred positions once the ball crosses the net.

Example: Player A (right-handed) wants the left side. Player B (left-handed) wants the right side. Before the serve, both stand on the same side. After the serve, A slides left and B slides right. Forehands now cover the middle.

2. Partial Stack (Serve Only or Return Only)

Some teams only stack on serves (or only on returns) depending on where the math works out. This is simpler to execute and reduces mental load.

3. Half Stack (Switch After Score Changes)

In this variation, you only stack when the score puts you on your "wrong" side. For example, if you are on the even side when you should be on the odd side, you stack for that point. It is more situational and requires quick mental math.

4. I-Formation

Borrowed from tennis, the I-formation has one player directly behind the other at the start (instead of side by side). It is used to confuse opponents about who will cover what but is rare in pickleball due to the smaller court.

Communication: The Secret Weapon

I have watched so many doubles matches where both players go for the same ball. Or worse, both players don't go for the same ball, and it drops between them. It is painful to watch.

The fix is simple: talk to each other. And not just when something goes wrong. Good doubles teams are constantly communicating, even during the rally.

Key Call-Outs

• "Mine!" or "Yours!": Clear ownership of a ball. Call it early.
• "Switch!": When you cross behind your partner to swap sides mid-rally.
• "Middle!": Calling that you are taking the middle ball (usually the forehand player).
• "Lob!": Alert your partner that a lob is coming so they can prepare to run back.
• "Stay!": Telling your partner not to poach; you have got it.

Pregame Agreements

Before the match starts, agree on defaults. Who takes middle balls? (Usually the player with the forehand in the middle.) Who covers lobs? (Usually the faster player or the one on the left.) Having these rules set before play eliminates mid-rally confusion.

Poaching: When to Attack the Middle

Poaching is when you aggressively step into the middle to intercept a ball that is going toward your partner. It is a high-risk, high-reward play.

When to Poach

• Your partner is under pressure and you anticipate a weak return
• The opponent is telegraphing their shot direction
• You see a high ball coming down the middle that you can put away
• You want to disrupt the rhythm and apply psychological pressure

When Not to Poach

• Your partner is in a good position and has the ball covered
• You have to lunge or stretch, which will leave your side open
• You have already poached twice and missed (know when to stop)

Communication is critical. If you are going to poach, say "Mine!" or signal before leaping. Otherwise, you risk colliding with your partner or leaving a yawning gap.

Target Selection: Who to Attack

This is where strategy gets a little ruthless, but it is reality: you should attack the weaker opponent. In recreational play, people avoid this because it feels impolite. In competitive play, ignoring it is foolish.

How to Identify the Weaker Player

• Weaker backhand (most players)
• Slower movement (often older or less athletic)
• Worse at resetting after being attacked
• Gets rattled under pressure (makes errors when targeted)

Early in the match, probe both opponents. Hit some balls to each and watch how they respond. Within a few rallies, you will know who struggles more.

The Exception: Attack the Middle

Even if both players are evenly matched, the middle is always a vulnerable spot. Balls to the center force both players to make a split-second decision about who covers it. Hesitation leads to errors. The USA Pickleball rules committee has even discussed the "middle ball myth" in officiating, since it causes so many confused plays.

Mixed Doubles Strategy

Mixed doubles (one male and one female per team) has its own dynamics. Sometimes the strategies shift, and sometimes outdated gender assumptions get in the way. Let me give you the real talk.

The Old Approach (Targeting Women)

For years, the default mixed doubles strategy was "attack the woman." The thinking was that men, on average, hit harder, so avoid them. This was a crude, lazy strategy.

The Better Approach (Target Weakness, Not Gender)

Good mixed doubles teams attack whichever player is weaker, regardless of gender. Some women have better soft games than their male partners. Some men collapse under pressure while their female partners stay rock solid.

Against a balanced team, attack the backhand of whoever has the worse backhand. Attack the middle. Attack whoever gets frustrated easily.

Protecting Your Partner

If your partner is getting targeted, you can "shade" toward them by taking more of the middle. This absorbs some of the attack while freeing them to recover. Just be careful not to leave your own side completely open.

Partner Drills to Practice

Reading about strategy is one thing. Building team chemistry takes reps. Here are some drills to run with your partner.

1. Shadow Movement Drill

No ball needed. One player moves laterally at the kitchen line; the other mirrors them from 10 feet away. Practice moving as a unit so the "fence post" connection becomes automatic.

2. Middle Ball Ownership Drill

A third person feeds balls down the middle from the opposite baseline. Before each ball is fed, they call out a name. That player yells "Mine!" and takes it. This builds the habit of vocal ownership.

3. Transition Zone Reps

Both partners start at the baseline. One hits a third shot drop; both move forward together. Reset and repeat. The goal is synchronized movement toward the net.

4. Poach Practice

Play dinking rallies at the kitchen line. Randomly, one partner breaks off and poaches a ball going toward the other. The poacher yells "Mine!" before intercepting. After, reset and continue.

5. Live Game with Stacking

Play a full game but commit to stacking on every serve. Even if you mess up a few times, the reps will make it feel natural by the end.

Common Mistakes Doubles Teams Make

Here are the errors I see most often at rec play, and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Playing One Up, One Back

We covered this earlier. The fix: whoever is back needs to drop/reset until both players can move forward together.

Mistake 2: Not Calling Balls

Silence is deadly. The fix: over-communicate. Call "Mine!" on everything, even obvious ones. It builds the habit.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the Middle

Both players shift to their sidelines, leaving a highway down the center. The fix: establish who owns the middle (usually the forehand player) and shade toward it.

Mistake 4: Blaming Your Partner

Nothing kills team chemistry faster than blame. Even if your partner made a mistake, your job is to encourage, not criticize. Save feedback for after the match.

Mistake 5: Rushing to the Net After a Bad Drop

If your drop pops up, stop. Stay back and defend. The worst thing you can do is sprint forward into a smash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should take middle balls?

Generally, the player whose forehand is in the middle. If both forehands are on the outside (two right-handers in traditional positioning), the player on the left (ad side) typically covers middle with their backhand.

How do I get my partner to stop playing "one back"?

Talk to them before the game. Explain that both players need to arrive at the kitchen line together. Offer to hit slower drops to give them time to move up.

Should we always stack?

No. Stack when it gives you a clear advantage (like keeping forehands in the middle). For casual rec play or when you are still learning, traditional positioning is fine.

How do we handle lobs?

Have a preset rule. Usually, the faster player or the player on the left runs back for lobs. The other player shifts toward the center to cover.

Final Thoughts

Doubles pickleball rewards strategy over raw power. You do not need a 70 mph drive to win. You need a partner you trust, a plan you both understand, and the discipline to execute it point after point.

Start with the basics: move together, get to the kitchen line, cover the middle. Once that is second nature, layer in stacking, poaching, and target selection. And never, ever blame your partner when things go wrong.

If you want to improve your individual game to support your doubles strategy, check out our guides on mastering spin and the third shot drop. For equipment that helps with control and touch at the kitchen line, consider the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm or the CRBN 1X Power Series. And do not forget proper footwear; our best shoes guide covers the top options for court movement.

See you at the kitchen line. And remember: call your shots.