The Stacking Trick Good Doubles Teams Use (It’s Time to Try It)

Watch a good pickleball doubles team for a few minutes and you may notice something strange: they don't always stand where they're supposed to.

Before a serve, both players might be on the same side of the court. Then, almost magically, they shift into their preferred positions once the ball is in play.

It's called stacking, and it's one of those strategies that can make an intermediate player suddenly look a lot more organized.

The basic idea is simple: instead of letting the score dictate which side you play, you and your partner use positioning to make sure you're on the side of the court where you're most effective.

Why stack?

The biggest reason is the middle.

For many right-handed players, the forehand is the stronger shot. Stacking lets you arrange your team so the stronger forehands are in the middle, where they can handle more balls and take control of the rally.

It's especially powerful with a righty-lefty combination, because you can put both forehands in the middle. But it can also work when one partner has a significantly stronger forehand, better hands, or simply prefers one side.

Here's the trick

Don't try to learn full-blown stacking in the middle of a competitive game.

Start with one situation: serving.

Before the serve, have both players begin on the same side. The server serves, then immediately moves into the position you want that player to occupy. Your partner slides into the other side.

That's it. Sometimes called Half-Stacking

Practice the movement until you can do it without thinking. Then try it when you're receiving. Eventually, you'll have a system for both sides of the point.

But there's a catch

Stacking isn't automatically better. If you and your partner aren't communicating, you can create enormous holes, or spend so much time worrying about where you're supposed to be that you forget to play pickleball.

That's why stacking is really a positioning skill, not a party trick. It works when both players understand where they're going and move decisively.

If you're an intermediate player looking for the next strategic upgrade, don't just work on hitting harder.

Try standing somewhere different.

You might discover that your best game has been hiding on the other side of the court.