Women’s double matches rank near the top as some of the most fast paced pickleball games you can be a part of. But to be efficient, women’s double teams need to work together since pickleball is a fast-paced sport that is easy to learn but difficult to master.
Like a well-oiled machine, knowing your doubles partner is key to getting the victory, but several other strategies need to be addressed as well. In this article, we’ll highlight the top 5 strategies you need to win pickleball women’s doubles so you can dominate the court, rack up points, and have a ton of fun while you’re doing it!
Play to your partner’s game
Even though you’re on the same team, your partner is playing against the same opponent. It doesn’t make sense to try to play identically because the opposing team will know what you’re going to do. Instead of copying your doubles partners shots, mix them up so your opponent won’t be able to anticipate them. Try to not mirror your partner’s game and play to their strengths instead.
If you have a righty, you should try to play like a righty and vice versa. Play to your partner’s strengths and capitalize on your opponent’s mistakes. Your partner may surprise you by playing a different game than even you expect!
Keep an eye on the clock
Pickleball doubles matches are a very fast-paced sport. A match can last only about 30-40 minutes, and a lot can happen in that time! Make sure to keep track of the time so you know how much time you and your doubles partner have left to either defend the lead or claw back the win. If you have multiple matches in a day, pacing yourself will allow you to rest longer before the next match.
Knowing how long you have to prepare for each match and how much time you have to actually play can help you avoid taking ill-advised shortcuts when you’re focusing on the clock, like waiting too long between shots or trying to play when you’re exhausted.
Practice your serves
Serves are arguably the most important part of the game, and they’re also the hardest to master. If you want to be a good pickleball doubles player, you should practice your serves as much as you can with a good pickleball paddle. You can do this by setting up a target and serving the ball randomly at it until you hit the mark. You can also try aiming for different targets or even trying to serve up a short ball over an obstacle. Not only will this help you improve your serving skills, but it’ll also help build up your forearms and wrists!
The best way to improve your serving is to practice it in real-life situations against other players. Your doubles partner can come in handy as a practice opponent. The more you play pickleball, the better serve you’ll have!
Know your limits
Even though pickleball is a relatively low-impact sport, it’s easy to get hurt. If you’re not careful, you may end up with a sore arm or a sprained wrist from over-extending yourself in an effort to get the win. Make sure to know your limits and don’t overextend yourself.
If you’re not sure whether or not you’ve gone too far, try gently bending your wrist or gently touching your forearm to your forehead to test yourself. If it feels okay to gently touch your forearm to your forehead, you’re good to go. If not, you should probably back off the intensity a bit. Communicate with your doubles partner frequently to make sure they are feeling well.
Keep an eye out for tell tale signs of heat exhaustion and over exertion that your doubles partner may be exhibiting and act if needed.
Communicate with your partner
Communication is key in any sport, but especially in doubles. If you and your partner aren’t on the same page, it will show in your game. You’ll be hesitant to take shots and you might even start arguing about whose fault it is that one of you is losing the point. Communicate with your partner before, during, and after each match. Let them know how you’re feeling and what you’re doing. This will help you avoid any potential injuries and make the game a lot more fun!
As always, practice make perfect and the pickleball court is not the place to squabble over doubles match mistakes. Fine tune your game with your partner well before you start jumping into matches together.
Practice makes perfect
Practice makes perfect! Even though pickleball is a low-impact sport, you’ll still get better with practice. It doesn’t matter how good you are, you can always get faster, stronger, and more confident. Doubles matches are no exception to this.
If you want to improve your game, there is no better way than to practice. Make it a priority to play as often as you can. You should also attend women’s pickleball events and play against better women players so you can learn from their mistakes and gain some knowledge from their strengths.
Here’s a great video explaining pickleball for women’s doubles
Bottom line
Pickleball is an easy sport to learn and a great way to stay active in the winter. It’s also a great sport for women’s doubles to work on their game as well as have fun. The best strategies for women’s doubles are to practice with each other a lot, know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, mix up your play styles, and perfect your serving ability.
In addition to picking up the sport, you’ll also need some gear to get you started. The official pickleball gear line from Dunlop includes a paddle, ball, and a carrying bag. You can find all three items, as well as other pickleball supplies, here.
There are many different indoor sports that you can play when you have a cold or rainy day. Few, if any, are as easy to learn and just as much fun as pickleball. If you are a female looking for a sport that is easy to pick up, fun for the whole family, and doesn’t require a ton of space, then pickleball is for you.
About Me
Hi! I’m Marie Spentel. I’ve been an avid Pickleball player for over 2 decades. I worked in several Pickleball leagues and climbed my way up to a 4.5 level rating. These days, I can usually be found practicing court techniques, consulting with others in the industry, and blogging about Pickleball! Read More
Related Posts
- 5 Best Pickleball Shoes for Women with Wide Feet (2024)
- How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle Size (with chart)
- The 5 Rules of Pickleball 2024: What You Need to Know
Need a Pickleball Paddle or Complete Set?
Check out the top choices here!
