Pickleball Doubles Strategy: Communication Tips for Winning Partnerships

You can have two 4.5-rated players on the same side of the net and still lose to a well-coordinated 3.5 team. The difference almost always comes down to communication. In pickleball doubles, talking to your partner is not optional — it is the single biggest factor that determines whether you play as a cohesive unit or two individuals who happen to share a court.

Why Communication Is the Biggest Differentiator in Doubles

Doubles pickleball creates situations that simply do not exist in singles. Two players must cover the same 20x22-foot half of the court, which means overlapping zones, shared responsibilities, and split-second decisions about who takes which ball. Without clear communication, you get hesitation, collisions, and the dreaded "middle ball" that drops untouched between two confused partners.

Watch any high-level doubles match and you will notice that the best teams talk before every serve, call out shots during rallies, and debrief between points. This is not nervous chatter. It is a structured system that removes ambiguity and lets both players commit fully to each shot.

Pre-Point Communication: Setting Up Before the Ball Is Served

The most overlooked window for communication is the few seconds before each point begins. This is your chance to get aligned with your partner on strategy.

Who Takes the Middle Ball?

The middle of the court is where most doubles points are lost. Before each point, decide explicitly who has priority on balls hit between you. The general rule is that the player with the forehand in the middle takes it, but this depends on positioning and where the opponents are likely to attack. Say it out loud: "I have the middle" or "You take middle this point."

Stacking and Positioning Decisions

If you stack (both players on the same side before the serve, then sliding into preferred positions), confirm your setup before the serve. A quick "we're stacking" or "standard" eliminates any confusion about where each player should be after the serve lands.

Identifying Opponent Weaknesses

Share observations with your partner. "Their backhand side is weaker" or "number two is staying back — let's keep it short" gives both players a shared target. Even a brief tactical note before a point helps you attack as a team rather than as two individuals making separate decisions.

In-Play Communication: Talking During the Rally

Once the ball is in play, communication needs to be fast, loud, and unambiguous. There is no time for full sentences — you need a shared vocabulary of short, clear calls.

"Mine" and "Yours"

These are the two most important words in doubles pickleball. Any ball that could go to either player should be claimed immediately with a loud "mine" or deferred with "yours." The key is to call it early — ideally as soon as you read where the ball is heading, not after it has crossed the net.

If neither player calls the ball, you get the classic doubles mistake: both players freeze, or both lunge for it and collide. One clear call solves the problem entirely.

Switch Calls

When a ball pulls one player out of position, the other needs to slide over to cover the gap. This requires an explicit "switch" call so both players rotate without leaving open court. For example, if the player on the right is pulled wide to return a shot, the left-side player calls "switch" and moves to cover the right side.

Practice switching until it becomes automatic. The call should happen during the shot, not after your partner has already scrambled back to their original position.

Lob Calls

When you see a lob going over your head, call "yours" immediately so your partner knows to retreat. If you can take it yourself, call "mine — stay." Lobs create the most confusion in doubles because both players instinctively want to track the ball. A clear call prevents two players from backpedaling into each other.

"Out" and "Bounce It"

If you can see that a ball is heading out of bounds, yell "out" or "let it go" to prevent your partner from hitting it. This is especially useful on hard-driven balls where your partner may instinctively volley a ball that would have sailed long. Similarly, "bounce it" tells your partner to let the ball bounce instead of volleying, which can be tactically smart on certain deep shots.

Post-Point Communication: The 10-Second Reset

The time between points is just as important as the points themselves. Use those few seconds wisely.

Quick Tactical Adjustments

If something is not working, say so briefly. "They keep going to our middle — let's close the gap" or "I'll cheat toward the line, you shade middle" are short, actionable adjustments that can shift momentum immediately.

Staying Positive and Encouraging

Doubles partnerships fall apart when frustration takes over. If your partner misses a shot, the worst thing you can do is go silent or show visible disappointment. A quick "no worries, we'll get the next one" or "good idea, just missed" keeps morale up and prevents the downward spiral that kills so many teams.

Top doubles players use physical cues too — a fist bump, a paddle tap, or even just a nod after a lost point communicates that you are still a team. Never let more than one bad point go by without a positive word to your partner.

Acknowledging Good Plays

Celebrate wins together. A quick "great poach" or "perfect drop" reinforces the behaviors you want to repeat and builds the confidence that fuels good doubles play.

Non-Verbal Communication: Hand Signals Behind the Back

At intermediate and advanced levels, many teams use hand signals — typically flashed by the net player behind their back before the serve — to coordinate strategy without tipping off opponents.

Common Hand Signals

• Open hand (fingers spread): "I'm staying on my side" — no poach, standard positioning.
• Closed fist: "I'm poaching" — the net player plans to move across to intercept the return.
• One finger pointing left or right: Indicates which direction the net player will move after the serve.
• Fist then open hand: "Fake poach" — the net player will fake a move to the middle, then recover.

Both partners must agree on what each signal means before the match. It does not matter which system you use, as long as you are consistent and both players understand it. Practice until reading the signals becomes second nature.

Paddle Position as Communication

Your paddle position tells your partner a lot. If you are at the net with your paddle high and forward, you are signaling that you are ready to volley and attack. If your paddle is low and you are backing up, your partner knows you are in a defensive position. Being intentional about your body language gives your partner information without a single word.

Common Communication Mistakes

1. Only Talking After Mistakes

If the only time you communicate is to express frustration after an error, your partner will start to dread hearing your voice. Make sure most of your communication is proactive and positive.

2. Calling the Ball Too Late

A "mine" call that comes after the ball has already bounced is useless. Train yourself to call the ball as soon as you read the trajectory, not when it arrives.

3. Assuming Your Partner Sees What You See

You might notice an opponent sneaking forward or cheating to one side. Do not assume your partner has the same view — call it out.

4. Over-Communicating

There is a balance. Constant chatter that is not actionable becomes noise. Keep calls short, relevant, and timed correctly. "Mine," "yours," "switch," and "out" are better than a running commentary.

5. Not Establishing a System Before the Match

If you and your partner have never discussed who takes the middle or what your hand signals mean, you are leaving points on the table. Spend five minutes before you play to agree on basics.

Drills to Practice Communication

The Call-Every-Ball Drill

Play a normal game, but every single ball must be called "mine" or "yours" — even balls that are obviously going to one player. This builds the habit of constant verbal communication until it becomes instinctive.

The Silent Drill

Play an entire game without talking. You will quickly discover how much you rely on communication and which situations cause the most confusion. Afterward, discuss what went wrong and establish calls for those specific scenarios.

Middle Ball Rapid Fire

Have a third player or coach feed balls directly to the middle of the court. Both partners must call and decide who takes each shot. Increase the pace gradually. This drill builds reflexive calling under pressure.

The Switching Drill

Have opponents hit alternating shots wide to each side, forcing your team to switch repeatedly. Practice calling "switch" and recovering smoothly. The goal is seamless rotation without leaving gaps.

Signal Practice

Before a match, run through 10-15 practice serves where the net player flashes a hand signal and both players execute the planned play. This builds trust in the system and ensures signals are clearly visible and understood.

Building a Winning Partnership

The best doubles partnerships are built on trust, and trust is built through communication. Start implementing these strategies in your next session — even if it feels awkward at first. Within a few games, you will notice fewer missed balls in the middle, smoother court coverage, and a stronger sense of teamwork.

Pickleball doubles is ultimately a relationship sport. The teams that talk to each other, support each other, and strategize together are the ones that win. Your paddle skills matter, but your partnership skills matter more.