“Where was that when I played with you?” Words uttered by almost everyone who rotates pickleball partners and then sees their former partner play an outstanding shot. Was it just luck? Were they still getting warmed up when they played with you, or was there something more at play?
We all want to become a better player, refine our skills, learn new ones, get faster, hit harder, and ultimately win more matches. What if there was an easier way? Well, perhaps there is. If the goal is to win, remember, you are only half the equation. The art of partnering is not easy because what makes a person a great partner is firstly, different for everyone, and secondly, dependent on the relationship between the two. Let’s dive in and take a look at what truly makes a great partner.
I was lucky enough during my career to have two fantastic men’s doubles partners: Marcin Rozpedski and Tyson McGuffin. They had different styles in almost every way, but one thing they always had in common was very simple: They were kind. For me, this was important because I am naturally very hard on myself, and if I was with someone who was also hard on me, then there would be little to no chance for collective positivity. As I previously mentioned, what was important for me in a partner is not necessarily important for you. I’ve met plenty of people who respond much better to a drill sergeant style of partner and, to an outside observer, it may look like a traumatic experience. That is of course until they are seen later at the top of the podium with gleaming smiles, when you’re reminded that perhaps they are just a perfect fit for each other.
Given that I’ve likely not met you, I can’t advise exactly on how you need to treat your next doubles or mixed partner. What I can do though is discuss some generic best practices that will help you become the best partner you can be.
Supportive attitude
This almost goes without saying, but all too often we get stuck in our own little bubbles of emotion and forget to give our partner some kind words after a tough point. Remember, the blame game is played by at least one person on the court after every single point. If your partner is weaker or less experienced than you, then they may very well feel responsible for lost points a disproportionate amount of time. Don’t let them!
If you know that it was you who left that dink a little high and that started the firefight that your partner ultimately lost, then it was you who cost your team the point and you need to let them know. Take the hit so that they don’t have to. Two people with a consistent level of confidence is a much more formidable team than one with one person feeling 10 feet tall and bulletproof, and the other considering hanging up the paddle.
Communication
If you can maintain a supportive attitude on court then your partner will more than likely be receptive to a lot of hopefully helpful communication. Communication is a massive topic in itself, but one of the main aspects I want to emphasize is the fact that it’s always a two-way street. What you say to your partner and what they hear are all too often different messages. “Let’s try to keep our drops low” could be received as “good idea, these two players have great reach so I’ll try to get them lower” OR it could be received as “are you seriously giving me s**t about my drops? You just missed the last three in the net, maybe you should aim a little higher.”
Communicate before the game starts
What I’m getting at is the mindset of the player receiving the communication can drastically alter what message they receive. In the high-stakes rollercoaster of 4.0 open play, there isn’t enough time between points for emotions to calm and for clearer effective communication to exist. The solution: do as much of the communication before the game starts. Who should we target on the return or 3rd ball? Should we drop or drive? Who has the weaker dink? Who has the better hands? If you can talk about these when both you and your partner are level-headed then you will solve some future problems before they have a chance to arise.
Be clear with your calls
During the match, be sure to be clear and concise with your various calls. “Yours,” “mine,” “leave,” and “switch” are staples that help each other navigate responsibilities throughout the point. When the inevitable disagreement happens regarding who should take a certain ball, take the necessary time to talk about it in the calmest way possible. This moment can define the tone between you and your partner so it’s critical that any disagreements be dealt with quickly and with rational thinking, not with the background of negative emotion after a lost point.
Be positive with your partner feedback
If you have a suggestion for how you want your partner to play, use a positive example to illustrate your point: “I love when you target that player's right shoulder with your attacks”. Compare that with the other possibility “stop targeting their left side, we’re getting killed by the counter attack.” The two messages are essentially the same but spoken very differently — which would you prefer to hear?!
Paddle tapping
Paddle taps are highly encouraged and there is almost no amount that is too much. Remember, the majority of communication is nonverbal, and the paddle tap is the internationally recognized sign for “well done” as well “let’s go” and “we’re all good, don’t worry."
Learn your partner’s ingrained tendencies
There are some things that simply won’t change. If your partner has been playing for more than a few years then chances are they have some bad habits that simply won’t die. If you have talked about them and, no matter what, they repeat the same positional or shot selection mistakes — then it’s down to you to adapt to them.
Most positional errors in doubles are caused by both players, not just one. So if you see your partner repeatedly moving in too early, or not covering the middle at the right moment, then ask yourself: “is there a way I can still make this work for us?” Chances are, there is. If your partner repeatedly speeds up off the bounce cross-court, then firstly, wear eye protection! Secondly, watch your partner's backswing length for an indication of when it’s coming, and then it’s time for your paddle to be up. Who knows, if you can start to handle your opponent's counter-attack then this play could become a real weapon for your team.
Activate improvements
"You either win or you learn.” An important concept that certainly holds true in a game as cerebral as pickleball. After a loss, this is the time to talk about it and figure out what the lessons are from that loss. I am not saying you should do this within minutes, but within an hour or two at the most, so that your recollection of events is fresh but the emotion of the loss allows both players to have a clearer vision. Sit, relax, watch the match if possible, and if not just ask yourselves the very simple (but not easy) question: “what should we have done differently?”
If it was the strategy vs. the execution of the strategy then this task can be fairly straightforward. “We should have targeted the other player,” “we shouldn’t have stacked on return,” etc. If it was the execution of the strategy, then offer some times for you both to drill and practice the shots that let you down. Your partner will get the sense that, despite the loss, you believe in your team and are willing to work towards future success.
Stop throwing your partner under the bus
Last but not least, at all costs, no matter what happens in the game: DO NOT BLAME YOUR PARTNER FOR THE LOSS. Sorry, there was no need to use all CAPS but it’s my biggest pet peeve. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard “I didn’t see a ball,” then I would be making money in a very strange way, but I would be rich.
Shifting the blame to your partner is weak, disrespectful, and all too often, inaccurate. I’ve often felt after a game that it was the partner who let the team down, but then when I watch the replay I realize that I had just as many errors as they did. My mind was playing tricks on me to protect my ego. It’s human nature to do this, but pride is a crutch of the insecure so please, whatever you do, when someone asks what happened after a loss, remember these words: “They were the better team today but we’ll get ‘em next time.”
If you made it this far then congratulations! You are a selfless player who understands that you can’t always choose to be the best player on the court, but you can choose to be the best partner.
Cheers folks, see you at the kitchen line.
- Morgan Evans
