Back in 2017, when I first started playing tournaments, I actually only entered singles and mixed doubles.
What I didn’t realize at the time was just how different mixed doubles was from gender doubles.
Although the game has evolved - especially with more teams playing “side” instead of traditional switching - the distinctions are still very real.
On the surface, the patterns and mistakes may look similar, but mixed doubles has its own unique dynamics that make rallies unfold differently.
Let's talk about it ...
Before we jump into the five most common mistakes, it’s worth understanding why these errors show up more often in mixed.
The format naturally creates more asymmetry - one player is typically targeted more, one often carries more put-away power, and teams make more decisions about switching, poaching, and court coverage.
Because of that, spacing, transitions, and communication become even more important than in gender doubles.
These mistakes can happen in any format, but mixed amplifies them and exposes them faster.
1. How Much Court the Male Player Tries to Take Over
This is controversial. Many folks want to play the court evenly, but in reality, the person - regardless of gender - who hits with more put-away force should take the majority of winning opportunities.
The reality is, if one player is being isolated, the partner’s job is to find a way to insert themselves into the rally.
At a higher level, it may not result in a clean winner, but confident footwork and proactive positioning at least force the opponents to consider a second variable.
A player who stands still, not moving with the play, becomes a predictable non-threat.
2. Not Establishing a Clear Offensive/Defensive Identity
One of the most common issues I see is mixed teams getting stuck in “grey area mode.”
They’re not quite attacking and not quite defending - they’re just reacting.
In this no-man’s-land, footwork gets choppy, shot selection becomes passive, and neither partner knows who should take the initiative.
Mixed doubles work best when both players clearly understand the phase of the rally: when they’re on offence and should be looking to pressure; when they’re neutral and should be working the ball with patience; and when they’re scrambling and need to prioritize resets.
Without this shared clarity, players drift into poor positions, shots get softer out of uncertainty, and the spacing between partners breaks down.
Establishing who is shaping the rally (even if it changes point to point) instantly improves anticipation, shot selection, and overall court balance.
Pro Tip: Between points, quickly label the next rally - “pressure,” “neutral,” or “reset mode” - so both partners start on the same page and avoid slipping back into grey-area reacting.
3. Over-Dinking to the Wrong Player
In mixed, it’s common to think you should always dink crosscourt to the “weaker” player, but good teams weaponize that expectation.
Dinking patterns should serve a purpose: set up your partner’s attack, move the opponents out of position, or change the tempo.
Mindlessly dinking crosscourt - especially into a player with a strong roll or counter - often hands the other team the first strike.
Mixing speeds, changing directions, and using tempo is far more valuable than simply “hitting it to the woman” or “avoiding the man.”
4. Poor Transition Positioning
Because mixed often has a more aggressive dynamic near the kitchen, teams that fail in transition tend to fall apart quickly.
The problem isn’t usually mechanics - it’s spacing.
When one partner is being isolated, they often get stuck mid-court while the non-isolated partner races forward too early, crowding the kitchen line and creating a four-foot gap that’s basically an open invitation for the opponents to attack.
That gap becomes even more dangerous if neither player is split-stepping at the right moment.
Without a synchronized split step - especially as you transition from the baseline to the NVZ - you can’t react cleanly to fast, dipping shots.
Learning to pause together, split-step together, and advance together in small, controlled bursts keeps your spacing tight and your team balanced.
Mastering this rhythm is one of the biggest separators between 4.0 and 5.0+ mixed teams, because it turns chaotic transitions into structured, winnable positions.
5. Not Communicating Between Points
Mixed doubles can be emotionally charged, especially when one player is targeted heavily.
That pressure can build quietly, and if partners don’t communicate, frustration starts leaking into their footwork, decision-making, and body language.
The best teams talk - a lot - and their communication isn’t random chatter; it’s purposeful.
They reset plans between points, confirm serve and return locations, agree on who is poaching when, and quickly review what worked - or didn’t - on the previous rally.
Clear communication dissolves tension, restores confidence, and keeps both players mentally aligned.
Silence, on the other hand, creates hesitation, and hesitation creates errors.
Even simple check-ins like “You good on the left?” or “Let’s test her backhand on this point” keep both players connected, supported, and strategically engaged.
Strong communication doesn’t just manage emotions - it builds momentum.
This article was taken from our 'Control the Kitchen' Newsletter, if you're interested in receiving more content like this, please feel free to sign up using the subscribe section located at the bottom left of this page (or underneath the article if you're on mobile), thanks!
