Transform your doubles game by mastering the two pillars of success: clear communication and strategic positioning that keeps you and your partner in sync.

Doubles Pickleball Strategy: Communication and Positioning Fundamentals

Let me tell you about the time my wife and I almost stopped playing pickleball together.

We'd been playing for about six months, and we were both getting better individually. But every time we played doubles together? Disaster. We'd get frustrated with each other, argue about who should take what ball, and drive home in silence. It wasn't fun anymore.

Then we played against this couple—probably in their sixties—and they absolutely destroyed us. Not because they hit harder or moved faster. They barely moved at all. But they were always in the right place, always covering for each other, never confused about who took what ball.

After the match, the woman came up to us and said, "You guys have good strokes, but you're playing singles on the same court."

She was right. We were two individuals sharing space, not a team. And that was the day we decided to actually learn how to play doubles.

Why Communication Actually Matters

Here's the thing about doubles: you can have the best forehand in the world, but if you and your partner are both going for the same ball, or neither of you is going for it, you're going to lose. Every time.

I learned this the hard way. My wife and I used to play this game where we'd both kind of hesitate on middle balls, hoping the other would take it. The ball would drop between us, and we'd look at each other like, "I thought you had it." It happened probably five times per game.

Or worse—both of us would lunge for the same ball and nearly collide. Nothing says "great partnership" like crashing into each other while your opponents laugh.

The Four Words That Changed Everything:

We started using four simple words, and it transformed our game:

"Mine" When the ball is in the middle and you're taking it, just yell "mine." Loud. Early. Don't wait until the last second. I used to wait too long because I wasn't sure if I could get to it, and by the time I called it, it was too late.

Now I call it the second I know I'm taking it. Even if I'm not 100% sure I can get there, calling it early gives my wife time to react.

"Yours" This one was harder for me. I hate admitting I can't get to a ball. But sometimes you just can't. Maybe it's too far, maybe it's on your backhand and you're not confident. Just call "yours" and let your partner take it.

I had to learn that calling "yours" isn't weakness—it's smart. It prevents the ball from dropping untouched between us.

"Switch" After you hit a lob, you need to switch sides with your partner because you're now out of position. Call "switch" loud and clear, and both of you commit to it. Don't hesitate.

We messed this up for months. I'd call switch, but I wouldn't commit fully, or my wife would hesitate. Now when we call it, we both move decisively.

"Stay" Sometimes I'm pulled way wide and I see my partner start to move to help me. But if they leave the middle, the opponents have an easy angle. So I yell "stay" to keep them in position.

This took trust. My wife had to learn that if I said "stay," I meant I could handle the wide ball. And I had to actually handle it.

The Positioning Mistakes We Made (And How We Fixed Them)

Mistake #1: Playing One-Up, One-Back

This was our signature move for way too long. I'd be at the net, my wife would be at the baseline, and we'd wonder why we kept losing.

Here's why it's terrible: there's this huge gap in the middle that neither of you can cover. The opponents just hit there and win the point.

The Fix: We made a rule. Either both of us are up, or both of us are back. No exceptions. Ever.

If I'm at the kitchen line and my wife is still transitioning, I wait for her. If she's at the baseline and I'm at the net, one of us is wrong.

It took practice, but now we move as a unit. It's actually beautiful when it works—you feel like you're dancing together.

Mistake #2: Both Going for the Middle

Picture this: ball comes to the middle. Both of us lunge for it. We nearly crash. Ball drops. We glare at each other.

This happened constantly until we established a rule: the person with the forehand takes the middle ball.

Since we're both right-handed, that means whoever is on the left side has priority on middle balls. If my wife is on the left and I'm on the right, and a ball comes to the middle, she takes it with her forehand.

Simple rule. Took us from arguing five times per game to maybe once per match.

Mistake #3: Getting Pulled Too Wide

I used to chase every ball to my sideline. I'd be way out there, and then the opponent would hit a sharp angle to the middle, and my wife couldn't cover it all.

I had to learn: protect the middle first, then the line. If a ball is going to pull me way wide, maybe I let it go. Better to give them one point on the line than leave the middle open for ten points.

Mistake #4: Standing Too Far Back at the Net

I get it—the kitchen line is intimidating. You're like, "If I stand back here, I'll have more time to react."

But you know what else happens when you stand back? You can't volley effectively. Balls land at your feet. You can't attack. You give the opponents all the time in the world.

Get to the line. Toes within six inches. It's scary at first, but it's where the game is won.

The Positioning Rules That Actually Work

The Golden Rule: Move as a Unit

Both up. Both back. Both in transition. Never split.

I can't emphasize this enough. When you and your partner are on the same page positionally, you feel invincible. When you're not, you feel vulnerable.

The Kitchen Line Position

When you're both up at the kitchen line, stand side by side. Cover the middle together. Don't leave gaps.

My wife and I used to stand with a huge gap between us because we didn't want to get in each other's way. But that just gave opponents an easy target. Now we stay close enough that we can cover the middle together.

The Baseline Position

When you're both back, same thing—side by side. If you're returning serve, maybe one of you is slightly ahead, but generally you're a unit.

The Transition

This is the tricky part. After you hit your third shot drop, you need to move forward together. Split-step in the transition zone, then continue to the kitchen line.

We used to rush this and get caught in no man's land. Now we move decisively but together.

The Communication Between Points

Here's something we learned: talking between points is just as important as talking during points.

Before the point, we might say:

• "Let's target their backhands."
• "The guy on the right has a weak third shot."
• "I'm going to serve wide."

During the point, it's just the four calls: mine, yours, switch, stay.

Between points, we analyze:

• "We need to move forward faster."
• "Let's try lobbing more."
• "That was close. Next point."

The key is staying positive. Even when we mess up, we don't blame each other. We just figure out how to fix it.

The Real Talk About Playing with Partners

With Your Spouse:

Look, playing with your spouse can be amazing or terrible. There's no in-between. The key is communication and not taking things personally.

My wife and I had to learn to separate "pickleball partner" from "life partner." When we're on the court, we're teammates. We criticize the play, not the person.

And honestly? Now that we've figured it out, playing together is one of my favorite things. There's nothing like the feeling of being totally in sync with your partner.

With Better Players:

When you play with people better than you, listen to them. They might give you tips. Don't be defensive.

But also, don't apologize constantly. Nothing's more annoying than a partner who says "sorry" after every missed shot. Just play.

With Beginners:

Be patient. Be encouraging. Don't coach unless they ask. And for the love of God, don't avoid hitting to them—hit to them so they can improve.

The Drill That Changed Our Game

Here's what we did to fix our communication and positioning:

We played "shadow pickleball." No ball. Just moving around the court together, practicing our positioning and calls.

We'd start at the baseline, pretend to hit shots, call "mine" and "yours," move to the kitchen line together, practice switching sides. All without a ball.

Sounds silly, right? But it worked. We built the muscle memory for moving as a unit. When we added the ball back in, everything clicked.

Try it. Ten minutes of shadow play will do more for your doubles game than an hour of regular play.

The Bottom Line

Doubles pickleball isn't about individual brilliance. It's about partnership. It's about trust. It's about moving together and communicating clearly.

My wife and I went from barely being able to play together to being a solid 4.0 team. Not because we got way better individually, but because we learned how to play together.

And now? We drive home from pickleball laughing instead of in silence.

So talk to your partner. Move together. Trust each other. And remember: you're not playing against each other—you're playing with each other.

That's what doubles is all about.