Pickleball is a fast-paced, competitive sport that requires a lot of skill and strategy to be successful. Did you know that instead of continuously switching sides and having to split your time between your strong side and your weak side, you can “stack” when you play doubles? Before starting, read up on your blog dedicated to doubles pickleball below.
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What Is Stacking In Pickleball?
A less common but important strategy in pickleball doubles is a strategy called “stacking.” Stacking, at its core, is when players position themselves on the court to remain on the same side of the court the entire match. For example, if a team has a lefty and a righty and they both want to stay on the same side the entire match to have their forehands in the middle, they would use the stacking strategy.
Aside from accentuating a team’s strong side, stacking also challenges their opponents to hit the ball at an angle or to a specific target. However you stack it, stacking can be an effective strategy for both the serving and receiving teams.
Stacking as the Serving Team
Stacking as the serving team is simple. Let’s say your partner is serving from the left side, but that’s the side of the court that you prefer to play. Instead of lining up on the right and crossing through each other’s path, you would stand behind your partner and the baseline as they serve. After your partner serves, they fade to the open side of the court (the right side), and you slide into position! For the serving team, stacking can be used to make sure their opponent’s return is lower and more difficult.
Stacking as the Receiving Team
Stacking as the receiving team can be slightly more difficult. If you and your partner are forced to return the service from the opposite side of your strategy, one player will stand outside the lines of the court to the side of the kitchen. When the player receiving the serve hits the ball, the player standing off the court can slide into position at the kitchen, as the player that returns the service most commonly will rush to the kitchen line on the opposite side of the court that they returned the ball from. The goal is to minimize cutting in front of your teammate in the process of getting to the desired position on the court.
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Stacking can be a great strategy for any team looking not only to switch up their look but to remain on their strong side of the court. Once you get the gist of stacking, it quickly becomes second nature and very easy to master. So, the next time you’re out on the courts, try stacking and see if it helps you stack up more wins! If you have any other questions, the Paddle Experts at JustPaddles are standing by. And if you ever need any assistance finding the right pickleball paddle, learning the rules of the game, or just trying to set up a game in your area, don't hesitate to contact our team. They're available via email at experts@justpaddles.com, phone at 866-382-3465, or live chat on the website. As always, we're with you from Click to Court!
