MIXED DOUBLES: Getting the Best from your Partnership
|
1). CHOOSE YOUR PARTNER
Do you already have a set partner? Is it your spouse/best friend/an acquaintance? If you don't have a partner yet, set up some matches and see how the chemistry feels, along with your goals. You will want to partner with someone who complements your style and supports your game.
2). DETERMINE GOALS
Are you planning to play tournaments? Do you want to advance to a higher level together? Are you happy to play together at the rec level? Best to keep your goals within a manageable range of 6 months to a year. This may include taking lessons, doing clinics and drilling as together.
It's important to agree on your goals as a team. Once you decide, you can map out your plan of action.
3). COURT POSITIONS
Determine where you prefer to play on the court. Are you better on the right side or the left? Are you right-handed playing with a left-handed player? If you're not sure where you are strongest, work with a coach to see how your strengths are best put to work. You may decide to "stack" and keep one player on the right as often as possible. Often men prefer to play on the left side to have their forehands in the middle. Often women prefer to be in front of the opposite woman player, depending on the strengths of the opponents. These are all considerations as you walk onto the court. The decisions need to be made quickly as a team. Having an initial plan is helpful, but one that can be modified as you figure out the play.
4). STRATEGIZE
This is getting into more intricate play. Figure out how your team can best set up a play. For example, if the woman hits a down-the-line return of serve, the man can straddle the center at the NVZ and look to take that next shot. Try to come up with a variety of scenarios (plays) that you can practice as a team. Are you targeting a player or a backhand? It's good to have a plan. Sometimes the plan starts out one way and you realize you need to change it mid-game. Be flexible.
5). COMMUNICATE
Essential! There are some players who may be triggered by hearing "nice try!" or "don't worry, you'll get it next time," Although these sound encouraging, it may be that those comments are upsetting to that partner. Talk it over--what works best for you as a player when communicating. Is it "Let's go..." or do you prefer something else. It's important to give encouragement and strategy points, however, it's not useful to have a partner telling the other how to do the mechanics of a shot while mid-game. These are things to discuss in practice or possibly after the match. Knowing your self and what works for you, and then sharing that with your partner, will strengthen your team.
--DO NOT: shrug your shoulders, roll your eyes, sigh or say negative comments. This is counter-productive to your team's success.
--DO NOT: blame your partner. This relationship is a team effort. It is assumed that everyone steps on the court hoping to bring their A-game. We all know that there are days when things just aren't working well. Those are the "grace" days. Just as a bad shot needs to be part of the overall game, as they will occur at all levels. Coach Tracy Wilcox says when you miss a shot: "It's in the budget." This kind of grace will help boost your partner and boost your team.
--DO: Give praise, be positive, let go of the outcome and remember that pickleball is a game.
--DO: Be realistic. Don't have expectations that are beyond your team's capacity.
6). EMPOWERMENT
In many mixed doubles matches, we have seen men take away the woman's power on the court. They step in and take the woman's shots when possible. This was taught and modeled for years. This over-reaching is no longer considered a good plan for a mixed team. One of the problems is that it opens up bad positioning on the court. The other issue is that it takes away the "super powers" of the woman. She needs to be engaged, empowered and given the space to do her part. The efforts as a team will be greater if the team works together in their roles. It can be demoralizing for a woman to be all set to hit her best shot and the man swoops in and takes it--causing the team to be out of position. Additionally, the woman in that case may have been set up with her footwork and prepared to take that shot, whereas the man may have had to reach out of his zone to hit the shot. It may be something to "throw-in" on occasion as a strategy for a "play." However, it's best to keep the team in their own power zones.
7). HAVE FUN
At the end of the day, this is a game. We need to keep in mind that it is there for you to enjoy. Find that enjoyment with each game and be sure to show that appreciation to your partner. We are all trying our best out there. If you are too attached to the outcome, you will find yourself unhappy. So find the fun, enjoy the privilege of getting play and take in the benefits that this games offers: social connection, fresh air, exercise, balance, cognitive awareness, challenge and an opportunity to have something to look forward to doing.
Do you already have a set partner? Is it your spouse/best friend/an acquaintance? If you don't have a partner yet, set up some matches and see how the chemistry feels, along with your goals. You will want to partner with someone who complements your style and supports your game.
2). DETERMINE GOALS
Are you planning to play tournaments? Do you want to advance to a higher level together? Are you happy to play together at the rec level? Best to keep your goals within a manageable range of 6 months to a year. This may include taking lessons, doing clinics and drilling as together.
It's important to agree on your goals as a team. Once you decide, you can map out your plan of action.
3). COURT POSITIONS
Determine where you prefer to play on the court. Are you better on the right side or the left? Are you right-handed playing with a left-handed player? If you're not sure where you are strongest, work with a coach to see how your strengths are best put to work. You may decide to "stack" and keep one player on the right as often as possible. Often men prefer to play on the left side to have their forehands in the middle. Often women prefer to be in front of the opposite woman player, depending on the strengths of the opponents. These are all considerations as you walk onto the court. The decisions need to be made quickly as a team. Having an initial plan is helpful, but one that can be modified as you figure out the play.
4). STRATEGIZE
This is getting into more intricate play. Figure out how your team can best set up a play. For example, if the woman hits a down-the-line return of serve, the man can straddle the center at the NVZ and look to take that next shot. Try to come up with a variety of scenarios (plays) that you can practice as a team. Are you targeting a player or a backhand? It's good to have a plan. Sometimes the plan starts out one way and you realize you need to change it mid-game. Be flexible.
5). COMMUNICATE
Essential! There are some players who may be triggered by hearing "nice try!" or "don't worry, you'll get it next time," Although these sound encouraging, it may be that those comments are upsetting to that partner. Talk it over--what works best for you as a player when communicating. Is it "Let's go..." or do you prefer something else. It's important to give encouragement and strategy points, however, it's not useful to have a partner telling the other how to do the mechanics of a shot while mid-game. These are things to discuss in practice or possibly after the match. Knowing your self and what works for you, and then sharing that with your partner, will strengthen your team.
--DO NOT: shrug your shoulders, roll your eyes, sigh or say negative comments. This is counter-productive to your team's success.
--DO NOT: blame your partner. This relationship is a team effort. It is assumed that everyone steps on the court hoping to bring their A-game. We all know that there are days when things just aren't working well. Those are the "grace" days. Just as a bad shot needs to be part of the overall game, as they will occur at all levels. Coach Tracy Wilcox says when you miss a shot: "It's in the budget." This kind of grace will help boost your partner and boost your team.
--DO: Give praise, be positive, let go of the outcome and remember that pickleball is a game.
--DO: Be realistic. Don't have expectations that are beyond your team's capacity.
6). EMPOWERMENT
In many mixed doubles matches, we have seen men take away the woman's power on the court. They step in and take the woman's shots when possible. This was taught and modeled for years. This over-reaching is no longer considered a good plan for a mixed team. One of the problems is that it opens up bad positioning on the court. The other issue is that it takes away the "super powers" of the woman. She needs to be engaged, empowered and given the space to do her part. The efforts as a team will be greater if the team works together in their roles. It can be demoralizing for a woman to be all set to hit her best shot and the man swoops in and takes it--causing the team to be out of position. Additionally, the woman in that case may have been set up with her footwork and prepared to take that shot, whereas the man may have had to reach out of his zone to hit the shot. It may be something to "throw-in" on occasion as a strategy for a "play." However, it's best to keep the team in their own power zones.
7). HAVE FUN
At the end of the day, this is a game. We need to keep in mind that it is there for you to enjoy. Find that enjoyment with each game and be sure to show that appreciation to your partner. We are all trying our best out there. If you are too attached to the outcome, you will find yourself unhappy. So find the fun, enjoy the privilege of getting play and take in the benefits that this games offers: social connection, fresh air, exercise, balance, cognitive awareness, challenge and an opportunity to have something to look forward to doing.