If you want to win more doubles pickleball games—without learning fancy new shots or magically improving your reflexes—you’re in the right place.
Today, I’m walking you through six foundational strategies that players of all levels and all ages can use to play smarter, steadier, and more successful pickleball. These are the exact tactics I teach when I’m on court with real players—like Rosa, Terry, and my mom, Lois—because they work.
Let’s dive in.
Strategy 1: Return and Run—Control the Non-Volley Zone Line
If you take only one thing away from this, let it be this:
As the returner, you must get all the way to the non-volley zone (NVZ) line.
Here’s why:
When both return-team players are at the NVZ line, you gain three major advantages:
-
Your paddle is above net height.
-
You can hit strong, simple punch volleys.
-
You keep the serve team pinned back and out of the kitchen.
What you don’t want is the dreaded “island of despair”—one partner stuck up at the line and the returner stranded halfway back. That gap gives the serving team space to move forward and flip the advantage.
Fix it: Hit your return deep, then sprint forward and join your partner at the NVZ. Every time.
Strategy 2: Use Compact Punch Volleys to Keep Opponents Back
Once you’re at the NVZ line as the return team, your job is simple:
Keep the serving team off their NVZ line for as long as possible.
Your best tool?
A compact, controlled punch volley aimed at their feet.
Key elements of a good punch volley:
-
Active ready stance: Weight forward, paddle out in front, protecting your core.
-
Backhand bias: Most volleys will come to your backhand—prepare for that.
-
Compact swing: Push forward from your shoulder; don’t swing back.
-
Square paddle face: If the paddle is open, you’ll send the ball too high.
Punch volleys aren’t flashy, but they are brutally effective at keeping opponents back—and winning rallies.
Strategy 3: Serve and Stay Behind the Baseline
You’ve heard “serve and stay.”
But the real rule is:
Serve and stay behind the baseline.
Here’s the problem:
Most players hit their serve and then unconsciously step into the court.
If the return comes back deep (and good players always return deep), you end up:
-
Backpedaling
-
Rushing
-
Or worse—hitting the ball before it bounces (fault)
All of these make your third shot weaker.
Fix it: After you serve, freeze behind the baseline until you play your third shot.
Strategy 4: Hit Your Third Shot to the Returner
You’ve heard endless debates:
Third shot drop or third shot drive?
Honestly? I don’t care which one you choose.
What I do care about is where you hit it.
Always send your third shot to the moving player—
the returner.
They are still on their way to the NVZ line. Movement equals mistakes.
The non-returner is already set, balanced, and waiting. The returner is not.
Hit your third shot to the returner and you immediately increase your odds of getting a weak reply.
Strategy 5: Stop Backing Off the Kitchen Line for No Reason
You worked hard to get to the NVZ line—
Don’t casually give it up.
A common mistake:
Someone receives a deep dink and instinctively backs up. That tiny retreat gives your opponent the perfect target—your feet.
There are good reasons to back up—like defending a pop-up.
But drifting off the line just because a dink feels deep?
Nope.
Stay planted at the NVZ line unless retreating is absolutely necessary.
Strategy 6: Dink to the Backhand Foot and Look for Pop-Ups
This is where smart players shine.
When you’re dinking, you should constantly be checking:
Where is my opponent’s backhand?
Your goal is to dink to the:
Backhand foot.
This does two powerful things:
-
Forces the player to take the paddle back farther
-
Increases the chance of a pop-up
And your partner?
They should be hunting for that pop-up, paddle ready to pounce with a punch volley.
Smart targeting + coordinated pressure = easy putaways.
Become the Partner Everyone Wants
Use even one of these strategies, and you’ll immediately become a more reliable doubles partner.
Use all six—and suddenly you’re the player everyone wants on their side.
Because when we understand strategy, we don’t need faster reactions or flashier shots.
We just need to train smart, live bold, and age well.
Thanks to the wonderful ladies from the Minneapolis Pickleball Club for helping film this!
Ready to level up your doubles game?
👉 Download my free “Must-Have Shots Guide” for 3.5+ pickleball and start putting these strategies into action today.
CJ Johnson
Hey there — I’m a professional three-sport athlete and coach who has spent my entire adult life earning a living from playing and coaching sports. Since I started coaching more than three decades ago, one thing has remained the same: My commitment to see students not as they are but as what they can become and to move heaven and earth to help them realize their untapped potential. You should know that when it comes to helping pickleball players over 50 live their best lives on and off the courts, I'm an expert. Good pickleball is not just technique; it's the mind and body working holistically. That's why I'm also a personal trainer and weight management specialist. When I’m chillin', you'll find me watching Star Trek with my husband John and our two fur babies, Shirley and Ralph. (Yes, Happy Days)
Level UP! Thank you….wonderful.
Glad you liked them!
Only run to the NVZ if you have hit a long return. On a short return it you can’t get there, you should stop and split step into a ready position as the returning team starts their swing. Put some height and depth on your return to get to the NV Z if you don’t run very well. It will give you more time to get there.
Both true Charlie with one cavaet, the 4th shot hit from behind the NVZ is quiet likely a harder shot to hit than a good drop shot. Too often I see players try to learn to stop and split step instead of focusing on the developing a consistently deep return. The good return will take less time to develop and is far less complex than split stepping and hitting a volley short of the NVZ
I totally agree a deep return is a must , but we aren’t perfect with every shot at least I’m not. We should have the recognition of a short return and be prepared accordingly. I give lessons at our rec club and use your advice and lessons frequently. Thanks for all the helpful tips!
Being 84, I loft the return deep almost every time. I also aim for the middle about 3 feet in from the baseline. It’s a very good and safe target.
I have plenty of time to get all the way up to the line with my paddle up and ready.
When I grow up I want to play like you 🥰
When I grow up I want to be like my mom 🙂
Another Great video
Glad you found it helpful!
This is awesome. I teach Pickleball and this is exactly what we worked on.
We also worked on drive versus drop and I encouraged them to hit 3rd, 5th, 7th shot drops and to give the opponents unattackable shots.
I’m 84 and I was a tennis pro for many years until I switched to pickleball. I’m a lefty.
Leftyloie
I play with a bunch seniors who don’t move fast. So tney will send the second shot return very short thus serve side can’t get to. What’s best way to deal with this?
If you know that’s a pattern for that player, adjust by coming into the court a step or two. Now you might have to back up if they hit it deep but recognizing the pattern will help you to better anticipate.
I would even say serve and step back . ..so you are at least two to three feet behind the baseline
Yes, if you play with players who typically return deep that’s a good tactic. If the player tends to hit it inside the court the baseline or even a step inside is beneficial. Recognizing patterns is a key to anticipation. 🙂
Perfect sensible strategies.
Glad you liked them!
yes
What do you think of this strategy for the 3th shot. Hit a drive if they stay back and hit a lob if they come running up to the NVZ. Both shots are meant to keep the opponent on the baseline.
I would hit a shot at their feet if they stay back or end up anywhere off the NVZ line. If they are coming up and you can catch them with the lob that’s also a good strategy with a couple of considerations. If you lob every time it becomes predictable so it’s best to mix it up. One last thought is that lobbing in certain rec play groups is frowned upon because some players lack mobility and the ability to retrive the lob. I’m not saying not to use it but consider that and perhaps choose to use it judiciously.
Loved it
Glad we could be of help
Is it always necessary to stack if you are a lefty?
Myself, I find I play better when I don’t stack. I feel my backhand is pretty good and I feel more balanced not stacking. Especially on a recreational level. What is the consensus with other lefties?
Let’s start with framework to answer your question Sue. Stacking is simply a way to organize your team so each player gets to use their strengths more often and gain a possible advantage over thier opponents. Stacking for a righty/lefty puts two forehands in the middle which sounds great but what if that happens if the lefies forehand is significantly weaker than thier backhand? Or if one of the players doesn’t have great modiblity and can’t unwind the stack (make it to the NVZ before the 4th shot is hit). Or as in your case you feel like you play better when you don’t stack. In those cases I would argue that stacking is not the best way to organize your team despite being lefty/righty, so don’t stack.
Just a side note, because someone may ask at a later time, an additional layer to consider when stacking is what are the strengths and weaknesses of your oppoents and how do you position your team to have an advantag. That’s next level stacking question and most players, even some pro’s never get that far.