Pickleball · Improver Plan · Week 3

Walk the stack

Line up off-centre so your stronger side always covers the middle — and take the balls that aren’t strictly yours.

Video walkthrough

Coming soon

The on-court video for this drill is in production. The full step-by-step is below — and our in-depth guide goes deeper still.

Stacking, explained→

What it is

Stacking is lining up off-centre — on serve, return or both — so your pair’s stronger forehand always covers the middle. Two players in the right places beat two better players in the wrong ones.

When to use it

When one of you has a clearly stronger forehand, when one partner is left-handed, or when your opponents are targeting one of you. Call the score, then call your side — out loud, every time.

When not to

Not until both of you can walk the pattern without thinking — a positional fault costs the point before the rally starts. And don’t poach a ball your partner is already set for; “mine”, “yours” and “switch” beat enthusiasm.

How to do it

1Walk the serving stack and the receiving stack — fifteen repetitions of each, until neither of you has to think about it.
2Partner lobs; whoever is nearest takes it and the pair switches sides.
3Add the poach: partner dinks cross-court, and you step across to take it out of the air. Twenty attempts each.
4Play to 11 fully stacked. Any positional error costs the point.

Coaching cues

Call the score, then call your side. Out loud, every single time.
“Switch!” is the loudest word on the court.
Poach on their backswing, not after their contact.
Middle balls belong to the forehand — call it, don’t reach for it.

Common errors

Stacking in silence. The fault always arrives on the point you didn’t call.
Two paddles reaching for one middle ball — that is how good teams lose points.
Poaching late. Move on the backswing; after contact you arrive out of position.
Half-remembering the pattern at 9-9. Walk it in practice until it’s automatic.

This is the Week 3 drill from the RacketRise Pickleball Improver Plan. Go deeper with stacking, explained, or see all drill guides.