MIXED Doubles Strategy - This Battle at the 2023 US Open will teach you a lot - Check it out

Want to see traditional pickleball mixed doubles strategy - with a small twist because I am lefthanded? Then check out this solid pickleball match from the 2023 Mintos US Open in Naples, Florida. Good pickleball strategy, mid-game adjustments, and pickleball competition in this match.

I have played a lot of tournament Mixed Doubles. First with my wife, Jill, and since I turned 50 (still waiting for Jill ), with several amazing partners. You can say I know something about playing mixed doubles. And it is definitely a bit different than gender doubles.

Players are often curious about the strategies that pertain specifically to mixed doubles. Strategies like:

o Stacking, including staying and switching, and partial stack formations
o The middle squeeze of the court by the male player
o The counter-strategy of hitting behind the squeezing male player
o Communication and shot responsibility

The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words must mean that a video is worth a billion words. To help you understand mixed doubles strategy, this week’s video on YouTube is a solid pickleball back draw match from the 2023 Mintos US Open in Naples, Florida between Tony Roig and Leslie Bernard versus Lance Cowart and Rachelle Mulanax.

In addition to the mixed doubles strategy, this match has some great examples of defense from different parts of the court (stress resistance anyone?) as well as various attack shots (you know it: stress imparting).

You can watch the entire match or click on the time segment for the area of the game you you want to see. Or you can do both if you want to get it all and then focus on a part of the strategy used.

These timestamps are to the beginning of the rally, except where I am showing a specific item:

:40 This rally shows the importance of knowing who is responsible for the shot. Lance and Rachelle got their signals mixed, resulting in a easy point awarded to us.
2:14 My paltry excuse for a paddle tap, which I corrected shortly thereafter. Cannot stress enough the importance of this aspect of pickleball doubles play.
2:22 The role of the male player in squeezing the middle and making life uncomfortable for their opponents.
3:32 Hitting behind the male player to make him “stay home” more
3:56 Poach gone wrong – how NOT TO recover in time - yikes!
4:09 Hitting behind the male player to make him “stay home” more
5:06 Hitting behind the male player to make him “stay home” more
6:44 How to execute a stack switch on return of serve (particularly when they scored the last 2 points when you were in the other formation)
10:17 Pretty sick baseline defense – just grinding out a pickleball point
11:55 (Two rallies). ¼ return of serve stack. We were stacking ¾ for much of the match.
12:45 Good shake and bake (but a small NVZ fault)
14:16 “I” Formation play with a disruptive player in front and great defense behind
15:54 Poach gone right (for the most part)
16:11 Lob defense in mixed doubles – important stuff
16:24 Hitting behind the male player to make him “stay home” more
16:54 Non-Volley Zone Lob Attack
17:47 disciplined play by Leslie (leftside nearest to camera) – sticking with what you want to do the whole rally
18:15 Offensive timeout – don’t only use them defensively
19:54 Attack shot
20:58 How to attack a stack unwind
21:34 Imparting pickleball stress on your opponent
22:03 The role of the male player in squeezing the middle and making life uncomfortable for their opponents.

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Stay well out there.

Tony
Better Pickleball Player Development
Tony@betterpickleball.com
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Mixed Doubles Pickleball Strategy Extravaganza