Over the years, pickleball strategy breakdowns have been some of our most viewed and requested content by players.

Today we’re breaking down a 4.0+ women’s doubles match rally by rally with the help of coach Tony Roig, a senior pro pickleball player and well-known instructor.

Roig takes a closer look at what made the good rallies work and what made the others harder than they needed to be.

The theme running through it all: Most points are set up long before the putaway. A deep return. Getting set at the kitchen line before hitting the fourth shot. A serve that pushes the returner back. Those are the pieces. Once you see how they connect, you can use them to score easier points in your own games.

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Also discussed in this video:

  • Why the return side starts with a deep return, and why you need to be set at the line before the fourth.
  • The serve as an offensive weapon (not a trick serve, a deep one).
  • Aiming the third shot to the moving player.
  • Respect the X in action, and when it makes sense to break it.
  • Why you shade to the middle on defense: Make them beat you on the outside.
  • Taking the fourth, sixth and eighth out of the air to rob opponents of time.
  • Backing off the line to defend, then resetting your way back up.

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