Three questions to improve pickleball doubles communication and get your team on the same page before the next point.
You reach the changeover down 6–3. Your partner says you need to be more aggressive. You think you need to stop rushing. You switch ends carrying two different plans.
The score is clear. The next decision isn’t.
A short, specific conversation can give you a shared plan for the next rally. Start with three questions: What is earning points? What is conceding them? What single adjustment will we commit to?
What the numbers actually tell us
In his October 13, 2026 report on the Veolia Chicago Cup finals, PPA Tour statistician Jim Ramsey recorded that the player or team leading when sides changed at six went on to win all 11 games. His reported domestic-season tally was 42 of 51 games, approximately 82%.
That is a description of those professional finals, not a prediction for your next game. Being ahead already improves your position. These figures do not show that the changeover caused the result, or that a particular conversation changes your odds.
They offer a useful prompt: when you have a permitted break, take stock of how the game is being played.
Changeover procedures vary by event and format. “At Six, Assess” is a memory cue inspired by this report, not a universal rule. Use the exercise during an allowed changeover, timeout, or between games, within the applicable time limits.
1. What is earning us points?
Look for a pattern you can describe. “We’re playing well” gives your partner little to act on. “Our deep returns are keeping them back” identifies something worth repeating.
You might notice that a crosscourt dink is drawing a high reply, or that a particular return target gives you time to establish position. Name the setup as well as the finish. The put-away may be the memorable shot; the preceding ball may have created the opening.
Keep your observation modest. One successful rally is a clue. Several similar rallies give you more reason to keep testing the pattern.
Say: “The deep return to their backhand has been working. Let’s keep using it while it’s there.”
2. What is conceding points?
Describe the problem without assigning blame. “You keep missing” puts your partner on trial. “We’ve attacked several low balls and been countered” gives both of you a decision to examine.
Separate an execution miss from a choice you would change. A sensible shot can miss. A rushed attack can occasionally win. Judge the decision by the situation you faced, as well as the outcome.
Be specific about what you can observe: returns landing short, uncertainty over the middle, or attacks attempted while off balance. Avoid diagnosing your partner’s confidence or effort from the other side of the court.
Say: “We’re getting caught after those low speed-ups. Let’s be more selective about the ball we attack.”
3. What single adjustment will we commit to?
Choose one instruction you can both remember when play resumes. A changeover is a poor place to rebuild your entire game.
The adjustment might be a return target, an agreement about middle coverage, or a commitment to reset when stretched. Make it something you can carry out, then keep watching how your opponents respond.
Say: “When we’re stretched in transition, let’s reset through the middle and work forward together.”
Agreement matters. Ask your partner whether they are seeing the same pattern. If they have noticed something different, resolve that difference before adding more instructions.
Keep the conversation small enough to use
Here is a hypothetical exchange:
- Keep: “Our deep returns are giving us time.”
- Notice: “We’re rushing the next attack when we’re off balance.”
- Commit: “Keep the return target. Reset when stretched.”
The same questions work when you are leading. Identify what has earned the advantage and whether your opponents have begun adjusting. When trailing, use them to find a specific response instead of treating the score as an instruction to swing harder.
After the match, revisit the adjustment. Did you execute it? What response did it produce? What would you test next time?
This is Dink & Grind’s practical reflection exercise, not a scientifically validated intervention. Its purpose is simple: make your next decision explicit and give your partnership something concrete to work on.
Control the moment. Earn every point.
For the habit between individual points, read The Score Changes. Your Routine Doesn’t.
Source: Jim Ramsey, Championship Sunday Standout Stats from the Veolia Chicago Cup, PPA Tour, October 13, 2026; finals played October 11, 2026. Match statistics are descriptive and do not establish a causal benefit from changeovers or this exercise.
For another perspective on deliberate shot selection, read our JW Johnson pickleball profile. Explore the Execution pickleball T-shirt collection for designs inspired by positioning, precision, and tactical decisions.
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