Secrets of movement in doubles pickleball: how to become an invincible tandem

Have you ever wondered why professional pickleball players almost always seem to be in the right place on the court to reach nearly every ball? There’s a secret to it — and it’s all about moving in sync with your partner.

In doubles pickleball, you and your partner must act as a single unit. You should move together toward the “kitchen” (the area near the net), but just as importantly, retreat from it in sync when needed.

Unfortunately, this skill doesn’t come naturally. Most players move independently, simply choosing the position they think is best.

Why is correct positioning so important?

When someone starts playing pickleball, the first thing they often hear is: “Rush to the kitchen! That’s the key to the game, do it at all costs!” The idea is right, but the way you get there matters.

The problem — especially for beginner and intermediate players — is that your partner may not always hit a perfect shot. Their drop might fall short or their drive might be too high. In those cases, the easiest target is the player standing fourteen feet away.

Luckily, there’s a simple fix: wait. Don’t rush to the kitchen immediately after serving — or at least not right away.

Here’s how it works:

1. When the ball is coming back to your partner, take one or two steps toward the kitchen during their shot.
2. At the moment your partner makes contact with the ball, check if it was a good shot.

This gives you two huge advantages:

• You’re closer to the kitchen, so if your opponent pops the ball up, you can intercept and attack.
• If your partner hits a poor shot, you’re in a much better position to retreat or react quickly.

What if you’re both at the kitchen and get separated?

You know those moments when one of you leaves the ball a bit high and one partner bolts back, leaving the other as an easy target? Remember the “ball to the face”? Neither of you is in the right.

Panicking and backing up to avoid a hit or make a weak shot doesn’t work. Honestly, it puts you in an even worse position than staying in the kitchen.

But staying in the kitchen when your opponent has a chance to attack is like asking for trouble. Instead, take a few small steps back as the opponent prepares to strike.

This offers a few advantages:

• You create space between yourself and the opponent, giving you more time to react.
• By stopping movement as you hit, your feet are planted, giving you the best chance at a solid return.
• When executing a tough shot in pickleball, control and space are everything.

Being able to predict where your opponent will place the ball is a useful skill — but we don’t always guess right. By creating distance and keeping your footing stable, you can adapt to any shot and react much faster.

Putting theory into practice

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about implementation. Imagine you and your partner are tied together by a rope at the waist, and your goal is to keep that rope as straight as possible. To do this, you must move in sync across the court.

Your shared movement — from the baseline to the kitchen or back — should be seamless. You want to be at the same point on the court as often as possible.

At first, it might go unnoticed, but soon it becomes obvious. Moving in tandem between the baseline and kitchen lets both players stay in the best position to respond to whatever the opponents throw at you.

Now think about the opposite: if you’re at the kitchen and your partner is at the baseline, there are far fewer shots that give your team the advantage. By moving together, you set yourself up for success. You give your team the best possible chance with each shot and never leave yourself exposed.

Just remember: in pickleball, move together — not separately.