✏️ Update: November 2, 2024

Taking your pickleball to new heights requires more than just a basic understanding of the game. While the game may appear deceptively simple, the nuances of mixing aggression on the court with patient defensive play come with experience. If you’re a tennis or squash player new to pickleball, here are a few strategies and techniques that may help you master the essentials of advanced doubles pickleball.

Developing Patience on the Court

One of the key virtues in pickleball is patience. As you transition from other racquet sports, it’s crucial to grasp that the pickleball court is smaller. Brute force isn’t always the winning strategy. Embracing the art of dinking, those delicate shots near the net, becomes essential. Advanced doubles pickleball players possess the knack for choosing the right moments to attack, as well as slowing down the game when needed.

Embracing Variety

Advanced players thrive on variety, keeping their opponents on their toes. By skillfully adjusting the speed, placement, and spin of their shots, they inject uncertainty into the game, making it difficult for opponents to anticipate their next move. The ability to execute different serve and shot combinations ensures their game remains versatile and unpredictable.

Mastering Court Coverage in Doubles Pickleball

Advanced doubles pickleball players are in constant motion, strategically positioning themselves to cover gaps and cut off angles. They coordinate their movements with their partners, optimizing court coverage and maintaining control during intense rallies. Their adaptive positioning, based on opponent shots and positions, sets them apart.

Strategic Serves

Launching deep serves from the onset is a hallmark of advanced play. Advanced players immediately put pressure on their opponents by utilizing serves with varying spins, speeds, and angles. They force difficult returns and delay their approach to the kitchen line.

The Power of Deep Service Returns

Similar to their serves, advanced players execute deep service returns, effectively pinning opponents to the baseline. Deep service returns neutralize any advantage gained by the server. This enables the returning team to regain control of the point and disrupt the opponent’s rhythm.

Mastering the Third Shot

The third shot in pickleball is of immense significance, and advanced doubles players know how to capitalize on it. By skillfully mixing aggressive third-shot drives with soft, well-placed third-shot drops, they keep opponents off balance and create opportunities for themselves.

Choosing the Right Dink

Advanced players understand the value of variation when executing dinks. While maintaining control with dead dinks can be effective, incorporating angles or spin into their shots adds an extra layer of challenge for opponents. Additionally, incorporating volley dinks catches opponents off guard, disrupting their rhythm.

Switching From Dink to Roll Volley or Flick

Roll volley is a unique shot in pickleball, and advanced players use it to their advantage. By swiftly picking a loose dink out of the air and flicking it toward the opponent’s dominant shoulder or waist, they introduce surprise elements to the game, providing the attacking team with an edge.

The Ability to Reset

Resetting in pickleball involves slowing down the pace of the opponent’s shots and bringing the point back to neutral terms. Advanced players employ soft reset shots that land in the kitchen, buying them time to regain control of points or minimize the impact of a preceding loose shot.

Knowing When to Volley, Block, or Push

Understanding when to volley, block, or push the ball is crucial for advanced pickleball play. Volleys require quick reflexes and allow players to maintain pressure on opponents. Blocks, on the other hand, serve as defensive shots to counter hard-hit balls while maintaining control. Pushes are softer shots that provide time for recovery or set up the next shot.

The Two-Shot Put Away

Advanced players recognize that the first attack shot doesn’t always conclude the point. They anticipate the ball coming back and use the initial shot as a setup for a stronger finish. By strategically positioning themselves to handle the return, advanced players are better prepared to decisively put away the second shot, ultimately closing out the point in their favor.

Utilizing Angled Overhead Shots

Rather than relying solely on sheer power to finish off overhead shots, advanced players employ angled shots that divert the ball away from their opponents. By aiming for corners and sidelines, these players increase the likelihood of winning the point, adding an element of precision to their game.

Targeting the Opponent’s Backhand

Just like in other racquet sports, targeting the opponent’s backhand is a proven strategy in pickleball. Advanced players exploit their opponent’s weaker side, forcing them to make more errors or adopt a defensive playing style, ultimately gaining an advantage.

Remember, pickleball is a dynamic sport that rewards adaptability and versatility. Becoming an advanced pickleball player requires more than just technical skills—it’s about adopting a strategic mindset and incorporating tactical elements into the game. Advanced doubles pickleball players view each rally as an opportunity for victory, knowing when to do what makes all the difference.

If you would like to watch some advanced doubles pickleball matches, please follow this link.