The Art of the Smart Shot: Mastering Doubles Pickleball Strategy
In his 2015 instructional video, top pickleball coach Joe Baker shares fundamental tips for playing winning doubles through shot placement and court positioning.
"The biggest thing holding back most intermediate players is not their ball striking skill," Baker said in the YouTube video. "Instead it's failing to understand Smart Play."
Play the Percentages: Baker's Top 10 Pickleball Tips
1) Serve for the Middle (00:44) "The best strategy is to aim for the center of the box and minimize serving faults," Baker advised. By targeting the middle, you increase the odds of getting your serve in play while avoiding the net or lines. Though you don't need speed or spin, stay consistent. "Serves need not be fast or very low to the net if you aim for the center," said Baker. 2) Return Down the Middle (02:06) When receiving serve, Baker recommends standing behind the baseline until contact and aiming crosscourt to the middle spot on your opponent's side. "This forces a right-handed opponent to hit a backhand shot," he said, which can produce a weaker return. Returning down the middle also goes over the lowest part of the net. Baker said to move forward immediately after striking the ball. 3) Charge the Kitchen Line (03:30) "The service receiver must get fully to the no volley zone line on time every time ready to receive the third shot," Baker emphasized. He said to stand with toes inches behind the line in preparation to volley the next ball. Baker said even slower players should use lobs if needed to get in proper position. Failing to claim the net promptly will likely surrender control to your opponent. 4) Link as a Team (06:03) Baker advised against playing sides and leaving a gap up the middle. "Good players cover the court instead of working independently," he said, by staying connected as a wall that slides based on ball position. Baker said teammates should stay within 8 feet of each other, protecting two-thirds of the court width. He also noted the importance of communication and calling shots. 5) Drop Your Third Shot (08:47) When both opponents reach the non-volley zone line, Baker's ideal third shot is a spinning drop volley into the kitchen. "This requires the opponent to hit a backhand," he said. Even if you lack touch, Baker says to return down the middle softly and follow your shot forward. But if the opponents fail to claim the line, he advises hitting deep to the backhand foot of the farther player. 6) Slow Your Foe's Progress (11:38) "The best strategy is to hit a shot that will land at left foot of the left player," said Baker of situations where one opponent charges while the partner lingers deep. By targeting the foot or open spaces, you can effectively hinder their progress to the net. If your opponents do reach the line in time, Baker then recommends using a soft dink to maintain control. 7) Outlast and Outwit with Dinks (12:56) "For beginning and intermediate Baker's, the best strategy is to dink conservatively and wait for your opponent to make an error," Baker explained regarding rallies at the non-volley zone. He said to feed your opponent short dinks that die in the kitchen and can't be smashed. Baker singled out backhand shots as the safest. He also noted that more advanced players try creating coverage gaps by moving opponents from side to side. 8) Smash Their Mistakes (16:04) "No matter where you are on the court, if your opponents are at the net and if you have to hit up on the ball, it's generally best to hit these shots softly," Baker instructed. Conversely, he gave the green light to smash down aggressively on any high balls. Baker said you should always strive to reach the net yourself by patiently keeping shots low after your opponents get there first. 9) Keep Them Guessing (16:42) When one opponent charges the net while the other lingers back, Baker's plan is to repeatedly target the feet of the deep player. "Hit to the player that's deep. Keep him back by continuing to aim for his feet or to an open space that he cannot reach," he outlined as a means to sustain your advantage through court positioning. Baker said to find the right balance of depth and angle so balls stay inside the baseline. 10) Play the Percentages (18:36) Baker discouraged flashy shots down the line from the baseline as generally low-percentage plays. "For every point gain from this you will likely lose two," he warned. Baker said lobs also tend to provide sufficient time for opponents to react. "A better choice is to focus on getting yourself to the net by means of following a slow shot intended to drop into the no volley zone," he concluded.
In his 29-minute breakdown, Baker touches on serving, returning, shot sequences, positioning, net play and more. While featuring clear advice, he balances strategy with fundamentals. Above all, Joe provides a framework centered around high-percentage shots intended to move you inside the kitchen while keeping opponents away.
"The main strategy objective in pickleball is to get your team to the net while keeping your opponents away from it," Joe summarized. By leveraging his decade of expertise into this video tutorial, he delivers a pickleball blueprint applicable for novice and experienced doubles players alike.
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