Pickleball Stacking Strategy: How to Dominate Doubles

Have you ever watched a pro match and noticed players standing in strange positions before the serve? They aren't confused; they are stacking. This is an advanced strategy used to maximize a team's strengths.

What is Stacking?

In traditional play, you switch sides with your partner after every point you score. Stacking allows you to manipulate the formation so that players stay on their preferred side of the court (left or right) regardless of the score.

Why Should You Stack?

The primary goal is to keep your team's strongest forehand in the middle.

• Forehand Dominance: Most points are won in the center. If you have a lefty and a righty, stacking allows both players to have their forehands covering the middle.
• Hiding Weaknesses: If one player has a weaker backhand, stacking can keep them on the side that protects that weakness.

How to Execute It

On the serve, the server stands in the correct box, but their partner stands off to the side. As soon as the ball is struck, the partner slides into their preferred position. It requires communication and quick feet—traits of a true Xephira athlete.