Pickleball drills
Pickleball doubles play drills
9 free Pickleball drills for doubles play, each with the setup, how it runs, what to coach, and how to make it harder or easier.
9 drills
Lobs & overheadsDoubles playDefending the lob as a pairA pair at the kitchen line handle lobs together: who calls, who chases, when to switch sides and how to get back to the line safely.15 min · 2–8 players · U13+
Doubles playFootworkGetting to the kitchen as a teamDoubles pairs practise the journey from the baseline to the kitchen line after the serve, return and third shot, arriving side by side.15 min · 4–8 players · U12+
Doubles playDecision-makingMiddle ball communicationPartners at the kitchen line learn who takes the ball down the middle, calling early and clearly so nothing slips between them.12 min · 2–8 players · U12+
Doubles playFootworkMoving as one: the rope drillPartners hold a light rope between them while the coach feeds around the court, so they learn to slide, shift and retreat as one unit.12 min · 2–8 players · U12+
Doubles playTactics & patternsPoaching and switchingAt the kitchen line, one partner cuts across to take a floating crosscourt ball and the other switches sides to cover the gap.20 min · 4 players · U16+
Doubles playGameScoring and serving order in doublesWalk through side-out scoring, the three-number score call and who serves next, then play a game calling every score aloud.15 min · 4–8 players · U8+
Third shotDoubles playServing team stays back: third-shot choicesThe serving pair waits behind the baseline for the return to bounce, then reads it and chooses a drop, a drive or a step-in attack.15 min · 4–8 players · U12+
Doubles playTactics & patternsStacking basicsPairs learn to stack so each player stays on their preferred side, while the correct player still serves and receives from the correct court.20 min · 4–8 players · U13+
Doubles playTactics & patternsStacking with switches on both sidesServing and receiving pairs line up on the same side, then switch after the serve or return so each player keeps their preferred side.20 min · 4 players · U16+