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At the Line Pickleball: The Winning Doubles Pickleball Strategy
Would you like to learn the winning strategy used by all of the top pickleball players? Look no further than this shot-by-shot guide that will take you through every phase of the game, showing you the highest percentage shot for about every playing situation. Players at all levels can benefit from this well illustrated and easy-to-understand strategy guide.
Author Joe Baker’s videos on pickleball strategy have been watched by hundreds of thousands of fans. In collaboration with top players and coaches in the sport, he is now sharing the techniques and strategies in this guide.
Baker also covers topics like court coverage teamwork and communication, dinking targets, the pitfalls of too much aggression, ball striking technique, and his winning philosophy. Diagrams make the information easy to follow.
Advanced pickleball strategy is not obvious and as a consequence, most players never reach their potential. Not understanding the best strategy is often what keeps a good recreational player from becoming a tournament player. This book can help you avoid common mistakes and help speed your way to playing high-percentage pickleball. Quizzes at the end of each chapter test your knowledge of the material and help you process the advice.
Author Joe Baker’s videos on pickleball strategy have been watched by hundreds of thousands of fans. In collaboration with top players and coaches in the sport, he is now sharing the techniques and strategies in this guide.
Baker also covers topics like court coverage teamwork and communication, dinking targets, the pitfalls of too much aggression, ball striking technique, and his winning philosophy. Diagrams make the information easy to follow.
Advanced pickleball strategy is not obvious and as a consequence, most players never reach their potential. Not understanding the best strategy is often what keeps a good recreational player from becoming a tournament player. This book can help you avoid common mistakes and help speed your way to playing high-percentage pickleball. Quizzes at the end of each chapter test your knowledge of the material and help you process the advice.
- GenresSportsNonfiction
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2017
230 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 25, 2019
Very good book for advanced players
This book on doubles pickleball play is an excellent reference for advanced players on proper shots and strategy for doubles play. Not recommended for beginners or social/recreational players.
This book on doubles pickleball play is an excellent reference for advanced players on proper shots and strategy for doubles play. Not recommended for beginners or social/recreational players.
September 9, 2021
Pickleball is my obsession. But when I was a beginner, I was at a loss for strategy. For example, what do you do when you get the ball deep in your court, and there are these two tall guys looming at the net on the other side? This book has the answer. In fact it has the answer for every possible position you and they might be on the court and how the ball is coming at you. However, the caveat is that the author determined all this strategy from watching (mostly) tournament-class players. That's a problem if you don't have the skills (yet) to make those shots.
Chapter 11 to the rescue! (Not *that* Chapter 11, in the book!). Chapter 11 is for what Baker calls "social" players, but most places where I've played call them "recreational" players. In other words, 2.5 and 3.0 players who are either happy to stay at that level, or are moving up. In 11 pages, Baker tells you everything you need to know to win playing at this level. I have read chapter 11 at least 10 times, and I am living testimony that it works.
By the way, you could probably learn everything in this book for free by spending hours watching scores of YouTube videos, not just the tournaments themselves, but all the instructional videos as well. This book puts it all in one place, which I like.
Chapter 11 to the rescue! (Not *that* Chapter 11, in the book!). Chapter 11 is for what Baker calls "social" players, but most places where I've played call them "recreational" players. In other words, 2.5 and 3.0 players who are either happy to stay at that level, or are moving up. In 11 pages, Baker tells you everything you need to know to win playing at this level. I have read chapter 11 at least 10 times, and I am living testimony that it works.
By the way, you could probably learn everything in this book for free by spending hours watching scores of YouTube videos, not just the tournaments themselves, but all the instructional videos as well. This book puts it all in one place, which I like.
February 2, 2019
Joe is the Man
I came to this book via Joe Baker’s youtube page not long after picking up this sport seven months ago when I was a very inconsistent social player with only a vague background in 1990s-2000s college racquetball cutting his teeth against mostly social senior players (and getting pushed around a lot!!!). Joe’s YouTube videos, which overlap many of the ideas of the first five chapters of this book, are very insightful — so much so that when I had totally consumed all the ideas from the videos I wanted more so I came here. There is a lot of great info out there but Joe’s style is especially thorough in breaking every situation down showing you not only what your best play is but also why everything else is secondary by stating statistical percentages of success at advanced and pro level play. His book is geared mainly for intermediates wanting to improve their game but also in part for social players wanting to become intermediates too. Now as a 3.5 player, I relish the time I get to play with 4.0s and pushing them around the court with increasing frequency. Looking back , Chapter 5 in training is probably the most important part of the book because as Joe explains good players play a lot but serious players drill more than they play due to time efficiency. My recommendation is to read the book slowly and master the early formal moves of the game. When you get to stuff like dinking, resting paddle positions, avoid hitting out balls, and footwork, pick one thing to work on every time you go out to play and focus on that. The goal here is to slow the game down in your head so you can make good strategy decisions rather than just reacting. Thank you Joe!
I came to this book via Joe Baker’s youtube page not long after picking up this sport seven months ago when I was a very inconsistent social player with only a vague background in 1990s-2000s college racquetball cutting his teeth against mostly social senior players (and getting pushed around a lot!!!). Joe’s YouTube videos, which overlap many of the ideas of the first five chapters of this book, are very insightful — so much so that when I had totally consumed all the ideas from the videos I wanted more so I came here. There is a lot of great info out there but Joe’s style is especially thorough in breaking every situation down showing you not only what your best play is but also why everything else is secondary by stating statistical percentages of success at advanced and pro level play. His book is geared mainly for intermediates wanting to improve their game but also in part for social players wanting to become intermediates too. Now as a 3.5 player, I relish the time I get to play with 4.0s and pushing them around the court with increasing frequency. Looking back , Chapter 5 in training is probably the most important part of the book because as Joe explains good players play a lot but serious players drill more than they play due to time efficiency. My recommendation is to read the book slowly and master the early formal moves of the game. When you get to stuff like dinking, resting paddle positions, avoid hitting out balls, and footwork, pick one thing to work on every time you go out to play and focus on that. The goal here is to slow the game down in your head so you can make good strategy decisions rather than just reacting. Thank you Joe!
January 28, 2019
You may be familiar with Joe Baker’s work from his quality pickleball videos on YouTube. He has now compiled an illustrated strategy guide based on hours of analyzing pickleball matches. I found his book informative and easy to read (Full disclosure: Joe Baker is a fellow North Carolina State Mechanical Engineer, so I might be a little biased).
The book has a shot-by-shot guide with recommendations for the highest percentage shots and the preferred location of the shots for about every situation. The process 5.0 players use to make their way to the NVZ line is clearly described. Joe Baker also describes recommended shots and placements when you play opponents that are unwilling or unable to embrace the “get to the line” philosophy. Tips are given for adjusting for various skill levels and capabilities of your opponents. The book also covers teamwork, communication and low percentage shots to avoid.
As a 3.0 player that aspires to improve, I found the book to be helpful. I’ve noticed that I now analyze how expedient my opponents are at arriving at the NVZ line and try to adjust my shot selection accordingly. I would think the book would benefit upper level players as well. I would recommend sharing it with you regular pickleball partners to help you pursue a common pickleball philosophy.
The book has a shot-by-shot guide with recommendations for the highest percentage shots and the preferred location of the shots for about every situation. The process 5.0 players use to make their way to the NVZ line is clearly described. Joe Baker also describes recommended shots and placements when you play opponents that are unwilling or unable to embrace the “get to the line” philosophy. Tips are given for adjusting for various skill levels and capabilities of your opponents. The book also covers teamwork, communication and low percentage shots to avoid.
As a 3.0 player that aspires to improve, I found the book to be helpful. I’ve noticed that I now analyze how expedient my opponents are at arriving at the NVZ line and try to adjust my shot selection accordingly. I would think the book would benefit upper level players as well. I would recommend sharing it with you regular pickleball partners to help you pursue a common pickleball philosophy.
April 15, 2022
Don't laugh. I'm the first to rate this book on Goodreads and a Pickleball Book can receive a 5 star rating. Did you know?
- 70% of rallies are over by 6 shots. Get your serve, return, and third shot in!
- Never lob with a tail wind at your back.
- the average service fail rate for a 3.0 player is 3.5%. Just get the ball in. Aim for the middle of the service box.
- the first two shots in pickleball are gimmes
- the fail rate for the return of serve for a 3.0 player is 8%. Aim for the t at the kitchen.
- lob is not a good third shot. 1/3 of these lead to direct loss of the point
- aim for your opponents left heal (backhand) is always the most difficult shot to return.
-5.0 players miss about 17% of third shot drops
- Don't hit "out balls". If you are never pausing to not hit a high ball and a few of these go in...you are hitting way too many out balls
- 4.5 players miss about 27% of third shot drops
- if a player is deep keep them back
- hit overhead smashes not the player further back but at the feet of the player further forward
5 stars.
- 70% of rallies are over by 6 shots. Get your serve, return, and third shot in!
- Never lob with a tail wind at your back.
- the average service fail rate for a 3.0 player is 3.5%. Just get the ball in. Aim for the middle of the service box.
- the first two shots in pickleball are gimmes
- the fail rate for the return of serve for a 3.0 player is 8%. Aim for the t at the kitchen.
- lob is not a good third shot. 1/3 of these lead to direct loss of the point
- aim for your opponents left heal (backhand) is always the most difficult shot to return.
-5.0 players miss about 17% of third shot drops
- Don't hit "out balls". If you are never pausing to not hit a high ball and a few of these go in...you are hitting way too many out balls
- 4.5 players miss about 27% of third shot drops
- if a player is deep keep them back
- hit overhead smashes not the player further back but at the feet of the player further forward
5 stars.
August 27, 2022
I have been playing pickleball for over four years at an intermediate level. I found this book to be very instructive for players just starting out through the advanced level. The book was written five years ago but the advice and strategies largely still apply today. Very easy to read and there are plenty of graphics and illustrations to highlight and explain the points that the author is making.
I would highly recommend this book to any player wishing to improve his game and strategies for competition.
Main takeaway from book : The basic strategy of Pickleball can be summarized in just a few sentences: (1) get your team fully forward as quickly as possible,(2) keep the other team back as long as possible. (3) if you have to hit up on the ball, which is almost always, hit soft shots designed to bounce before being returned. (4) If all players get fully forward keep the ball low until a put away opportunity arises.
I would highly recommend this book to any player wishing to improve his game and strategies for competition.
Main takeaway from book : The basic strategy of Pickleball can be summarized in just a few sentences: (1) get your team fully forward as quickly as possible,(2) keep the other team back as long as possible. (3) if you have to hit up on the ball, which is almost always, hit soft shots designed to bounce before being returned. (4) If all players get fully forward keep the ball low until a put away opportunity arises.
May 30, 2019
The Book Every Pickler Should Read
Reading this book has greatly improved my game. As a beginner player, the diagrams and quizzes helped me put into perspective exactly what shots and moves to make, and when. Read the book, played the next day and people were asking what happened to the "old" me....yes the next day!
Reading this book has greatly improved my game. As a beginner player, the diagrams and quizzes helped me put into perspective exactly what shots and moves to make, and when. Read the book, played the next day and people were asking what happened to the "old" me....yes the next day!
November 24, 2024
Great Actionable Advice
With only one tournament under my belt, I’m itching for more. This book has a lot of drills and tips that I hope to take advantage of. Some of these I would have figured out myself, but who knows when? Weeks, months, years?
Thanks to Joe Baker for writing this book.
With only one tournament under my belt, I’m itching for more. This book has a lot of drills and tips that I hope to take advantage of. Some of these I would have figured out myself, but who knows when? Weeks, months, years?
Thanks to Joe Baker for writing this book.
January 14, 2024
Great reminders for those familiar with the game and working on their strategy. However, it may be overwhelming to a beginner so I might start with something more basic if you’re just getting started!
Read
February 9, 2024With its well researched, concise instructions and clear, simple diagrams, this easy read helped improve my game almost immediately. It also covers many levels of play, so I look forward to reading it again as I progress.
June 4, 2017
Great book
Good stuff I enjoyed it. Getting up to the net is the only way to behind to be successful in this crazy game
Good stuff I enjoyed it. Getting up to the net is the only way to behind to be successful in this crazy game
July 26, 2017
A great little easy to read guide on the Ins and outs of playing Pickleball.
May 15, 2019
A great book for a pb addict
Volleyball is fun, exciting, and good for the body and mind. This book explains the game and strategies very simply.
Volleyball is fun, exciting, and good for the body and mind. This book explains the game and strategies very simply.
October 24, 2019
Great
Tremendous statistical analysis, with very practical tips that has improved my pickleball game. I would recommend for almost every level of player.
Tremendous statistical analysis, with very practical tips that has improved my pickleball game. I would recommend for almost every level of player.
February 1, 2020
probably the best pball book for strategy.
Read
December 13, 2020Lots of great analysis, tips, and strategies. Great diagrams and drilling examples.
November 7, 2021
Joe has a perspective that garners respect. Enjoyed this very much.
December 11, 2022
Data driven pickle ball tactics
A good first step towards developing your game based on stats. Very helpful with good diagrams. Easy to understand too.
A good first step towards developing your game based on stats. Very helpful with good diagrams. Easy to understand too.
January 6, 2024
Coach-in-a-book for those of us want to understand what we should be trying to do on a pickleball court.
April 1, 2025
An easy and useful read. Primarily for new and intermediate players and includes diagrams.
July 6, 2024
Book for all levels of players.
I would read a few chapters, play a few games and know what I was doing right and wrong and then try to do better. Knowing the strategy, even though you can’t always execute the shot, helps immensely.
I would read a few chapters, play a few games and know what I was doing right and wrong and then try to do better. Knowing the strategy, even though you can’t always execute the shot, helps immensely.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews