The doubles format is the preferred way of playing pickleball, unlike tennis, where singles is the more popular choice - and no - it’s not because pickleball “is for older people”! One of the great things about this game is the social side of it, which occurs more so when playing doubles.
Partner communication can often go overlooked, especially during non-competitive games and yet it’s such an important factor in successful pickleball.
At any level of pickleball, partner communication should be at the top of the priority list especially when the playing style between the two partners differs, or if one person is left handed and the other is right handed.
The main reason communication is of priority is to avoid any sort of confusion. So often, rallies become quick-paced and so when the ball moves fast, confusion can occur.
This especially happens with shots that are aimed at the middle of the court, close to both players. The middle of the court is the area with the highest percentage of success, which is why most people aim for this area.
It’s important that you and your partner are on the same page and working together as one, rather than two individual players playing on the same side of the court.
This can be established by talking ahead of time, deciding who should take the middle court shots (and when), and how you’re going to communicate it, usually a simple “yours” or “mine” is all you need to see the effectiveness of communication during a point.
This additional clarity will help a team avoid improper court positioning and allow you to easily identify who should take those middle balls.
Determining who should take it comes down to reasons such as: who has their forehand in the middle? If you both have forehands in the middle - see image below - then typically, the person receiving the cross-court shot will take the ball.
Positive reinforcement through communication is also quite important in staying positive during a match, it’s especially key to keep talking through the hard moments of a match.
When a team begins producing unforced errors or they feel the lead slipping away from them it can be difficult to remain vocal, however, maintaining that upbeat “vibe” can help you plow through the tougher moments of a game.
Taking a time out is a very effective way of refocusing yourself as an individual and especially as a teammate.
Do as the Pros Do - And Say
In a previous article, I spoke about Major League Pickleball and their simple decision to mic the pros. This decision ended up making their first event incredibly engaging for the viewers who were able to listen in on the players each and every match. Hilarious banter aside, the amount of communication between partners was so clearly illustrated because of these tiny microphones.
Check out some of these matches on YouTube and have a listen. Tyler Loong and Lee Whitwell are both very talkative throughout this event. Loong was full of dialogue that let his partner know exactly who was going to take which shot. He was constantly calling out “mine”, “yours”, or “move!”, to his partner.
It’s important to differentiate partner communication from a distraction fault. The 2022 USAP/IFP Rulebook clarifies what is ruled a distraction. Section 3: 3.A.6 indicates that actions that are “not common” in a game are considered a distraction, this includes “making loud noises”.
Your actions should not interfere with the focus of the other team. Talking to your partner does not always have to be loud or constant, and it should only affect your team. I’ve played matches where players have cheered before a point has ended, or talked so much that it’s been considered a distraction to my teammate and me.
We've dealt with the scenario by making this person aware of how distracting it is for us, which I think is the fair thing to do. We’ve never had to go as far as calling a distraction fault. Of course, all of this is in reference to a match that’s not refereed by an official; in officiated matches, the ref will make distraction calls.
Increasing partner communication will also increase overall court awareness. Being able to hear - not just see - where your partner is on the court goes a long way, and knowing where your partner will be on certain plays or shots and vice versa will definitely create a stronger team.
A good example of this is when an opponent lobs, let’s say your teammate runs down the lob - a decision most likely made ahead of time - leaving you to cover the front of the court, at the non-volley line.
The person retrieving the lob, with their head down will usually call out “stay” or “switch” indicating that you should either stay where you are or switch over to the side where your partner was before the lob was made.
By switching, your partner will run directly to the non-volley line after making their shot. If “stay” is called out, your partner will run cross court back to where they were. In this scenario, communication allows you and your partner to play out the rally as best you can.
By knowing where to be you can guard your non-volley line and know where your partner is trying to get back to after they make their shot.
This type of effective communication really allows you two to be working together as a team and play out the rally to the best of your ability.
For players who enter tournaments, incorporating partner communication starts off court between you and your partner. Understanding one another’s style of play, and how you’ll handle certain scenarios ahead of time will make you a stronger team.
This is reaffirmed as you practice together and become more familiar with one another. Even in rec play, it’s important to engage in some partner communication. I really believe that anyone who works on incorporating plenty of partner communication and positive affirmation will make them a stronger doubles partner.
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