8 Doubles Strategies Nobody Talks About in Pickleball

Pickleball doubles is a game of angles, positioning, and reading your opponent. But there's a gap between what coaches teach and what actually wins matches.

The Enhance Pickleball YouTube channel recently broke down eight strategies that separate the players who understand the sport from those who are just hitting the ball hard and hoping for the best.

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1. Putaway Shots Aren't Just About Power

When you're at the kitchen with an easy ball, your instinct is to crush it. But that's only half the story.

The key is dividing easy shots into two categories.

1. Option one shots are high balls below your head
2. Option two shots are slower, higher balls above your head

Both are attackable, but they demand different strategies.

With option one shots, you have limited angles to work with. Your best targets are the middle or your opponent's feet. With option two shots, you can open up the court and really spread your opponents out.

The first shot opens the court; the second one ends the point. Don't expect to finish every rally in one swing. Sometimes it takes four or five shots to get the putaway you want.

2. Patience Beats Aggression in Dinking Rallies

Not every dink should be a push dink where you're trying to force your opponent to pop the ball up.

Sometimes the smarter play is to go passive. Hit a lift dink instead, keeping the ball short and tight to the net. This forces your opponent to speed up the ball, which gives you a better angle to counterattack.

You're essentially making your opponent impatient. They'll eventually make a mistake, and you'll be ready to punish it. High-level players use this strategy constantly, but it's overlooked at the recreational level.

3. Drop Shots Still Work (If You Know When to Use Them)

Coaches often say drop shots don't work because opponents can run them down. That's true at the pro level, but it's not the whole story.

At the 3.0 to 4.0 level, most players aren't fast enough to consistently get to a well-placed drop shot. The trick is timing.

One warning: use it sparingly. Once or twice a game, max. If you overuse it, your opponents will start running before you even hit the ball.

4. Your Partner's Mistakes Are Your Opportunities

Not everyone follows the textbook strategy. Sometimes your partner doesn't move forward after a good drop shot.

Instead of getting frustrated, use it as a chance to poach. Cross over the center line and take the ball yourself. Your opponents will likely hit toward your partner since they're back, so you can anticipate and attack.

This is one of those strategies coaches don't talk about because they assume both players are executing perfectly. In real matches, they're not. Smart players adapt.

5. Target Weaknesses, Not Players

Pickleball isn't a 50/50 game. One player is always covering more court than the other. But that's not the only asymmetry that matters.

Look for the weakest shot in your opponent's game. Maybe one player has a shaky backhand dink. Maybe they struggle with speedups on their forehand. Target that weakness relentlessly.

• On returns, hit to the player with the weaker third shot
• During dinking rallies, attack the player who struggles most with that shot
• On speedups, go after the player who gives you the best opportunity to take control

You don't need to hit everything to one player. Just be strategic about which weaknesses you're exploiting.

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6. Change-Ups Keep Your Opponent Guessing

At the 3.0 to 4.0 level, change ups are devastatingly effective. At the pro level, players are too good at reading them. But in your matches, they work.

Mix up your serves with side spin or a little extra height. On returns, occasionally go for a harder, more aggressive shot instead of your usual slice. At the kitchen, sometimes attack when your opponent expects a dink.

The goal isn't to do these things every point. It's to keep your opponent from getting comfortable. If they never know what's coming, they can't settle into a rhythm.

7. Slow Opponents Need Drives, Not Drops

If your opponent is getting in slowly off the return, a drop shot is actually the worst choice.

When they're moving forward slowly, they have plenty of time to get to a drop and attack it. Instead, hit a drive or hybrid at their feet. This forces them to deal with the ball while they're still moving forward, which limits their options.

It's a small adjustment, but it makes a huge difference in how easy it is to win the point.

8. Cover the Middle or Lose Points

Balls going down the middle is one of the most frustrating parts of doubles. The solution is simple: decide who's covering it and commit.

If you're both right-handed, the left-side player should creep over and take the middle balls. If your partner is left-handed or doesn't know the strategy, communicate before the game. Or just be aggressive and go for every middle ball you can reach.

The worst thing you can do is be passive and hope your partner gets it. They won't. Be the player who takes responsibility for the middle, and you'll immediately play better.

The Bigger Picture

These eight strategies have one thing in common: they're about making smart decisions, not just hitting harder. Pickleball at the 3.0 to 4.0 level is won by players who understand positioning, read their opponents, and adapt on the fly.

The gap between good players and great players isn't athleticism. It's strategy. Start implementing these ideas in your next match, and you'll see the difference.