Pickleball Partner Strategies

Pickleball Partner Strategies: Mastering the Game with a New Partner

Yesterday marked the beginning of The Drew Brees NOLA Pickle Fest in New Orleans, a significant event that saw a plethora of entrants. Among them, my son AJ decided to elevate his game by competing at the 4.5 rating level with a new partner, Evan. While both are skilled players, their initial matches revealed a lack of synergy. This experience underscored the importance of mastering pickleball partner strategies, especially when paired with a new teammate. In this article, we delve deep into effective strategies and insights for building a successful partnership on the court.

Effective Pickleball Partner Strategies

1. Communication is Key

With a new partner, you haven’t developed instincts to anticipate each other’s moves. Hence, communicate more than usual, both during and between points. Discuss who will cover the middle to avoid common mistakes. Let your partner know any tendencies that you have, such as driving and speeding up the ball or lobbing the pickleball.

2. Movement and Positioning

One of the main reasons partners lose games is because they don’t move well together. Understand where you should move on the court. This involves anticipating your partner’s shots and positioning yourself accordingly. Regular drills can help improve coordination and movement with your partner.

3. Adjusting to Your Partner’s Playing Style

Patience is crucial. It takes time to understand how each partner plays. Deciding who takes which shot, being ready for returns based on the spin applied by your partner, and understanding the angles at which your partner hits shots are all essential aspects to consider.

4. Comfort and Confidence

Ensure your partner feels at ease. Be encouraging, positive, and responsive. Play your game with full effort. Don’t be passive or afraid of making mistakes.

5. Strategy and Game Plan

Discuss strategies before the game. Understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Decide on serving strategies, shot selections, and court positioning.

6. Embrace the Learning Curve

Every partnership will have its challenges. Embrace the learning curve and be open to feedback. Remember, the more you play with a partner, the better you’ll understand each other’s game.

7. Enjoy the Game

One of the best parts about pickleball is meeting new people and being social with the pickleball community. So, embrace your time on the court and enjoy the game.

8. Effective On-Court Communication

Use clear and concise verbal cues like “Mine!”, “Yours!”, “Out!”, or “Let it!” to avoid confusion during fast-paced rallies. Develop hand signals or gestures, especially for serving strategies or positioning. After each point, share quick feedback. A simple nod or thumbs up can boost confidence, while a brief chat can help correct a misstep. Always keep the tone positive and constructive.

9. Making Adjustments Between Matches

Take a few minutes after each match to discuss what worked and what didn’t. Identify patterns. Watch other teams play for insights. Practice specific scenarios during warm-ups or drills.

10. Implementing Adjustments Cohesively

Start with small tweaks. Reinforce changes with drills. Trust the process and stay adaptable.

11. Building Cohesion with Your New Partner

Build rapport off the court. Set common goals. Celebrate small wins together.

Pickleball Partner Strategies: The Journey of AJ and Evan

The team of AJ and Evan, lost the first 2 matches of the Drew Brees pickleball tournament, but made some great adjustments with the help of an awesome coach Terri Lamperez and communicated prior to game 3. They ended up playing well, and winning the next 2 matches decisively. In the 5th and final game, although they played well, the other team made a few less errors than they did, and they lost the final match to a great team 8 to 11. Aj and Evan are scheduled to play the final round of this tournament on Saturday August 13th, I can’t wait to see how well they play together in the next round.