When One Player Is Targeted
Adjusting positioning and shot selection to rebalance the court
By Stephen Pyka
February 18, 2026 • 3 min read
IN COMPETITIVE doubles pickleball, targeting is not accidental. It is deliberate, calculated, and often effective. When opponents identify what they believe is the weaker side, they simplify their strategy by directing the majority of shots toward one player. Dinks consistently land on the same paddle, drives are aimed at the same body, and transition balls repeatedly test the same defender. While it can feel personal in the moment, targeting is rarely emotional. It is a percentage play designed to reduce variables and increase pressure.
The key difference between teams that unravel and teams that respond effectively lies in recognition and adjustment. Targeting will happen at every level of play, from recreational leagues to tournament finals. What determines the outcome is how quickly a team identifies the pattern and how intelligently it adapts.
Recognizing the Pattern
Targeting usually begins subtly. A few more cross-court balls drift toward one player. The middle seems slightly less available. The stronger forehand on the opposite side is quietly avoided. If these early signs go unnoticed, frustration tends to build before strategy does.
Strong teams treat these moments analytically rather than emotionally. Between points, they communicate calmly about what they are seeing. Is the ball consistently being driven at the backhand? Are cross-court dinks being used to isolate? Is the server favoring one returner? By naming the pattern early, the team removes its emotional weight and replaces it with tactical clarity.
Recognition allows response. Without it, targeting feels overwhelming instead of manageable.
Adjusting Positioning
Once the pattern is clear, small positional shifts can dramatically alter the geometry of the rally. The non-targeted partner can shade slightly toward the middle, narrowing passing lanes and reducing the angles opponents are exploiting. Even modest adjustments of several inches can influence decision-making because opponents often repeat shots that feel visually comfortable.
In some cases, stacking or switching formations after serves and returns can interrupt rhythm and change visual cues. When opponents must reassess spacing and coverage, the certainty that fuels targeting begins to weaken. The objective is not to hide one player but to disrupt predictability and force broader court engagement.
Court positioning in doubles is fluid. When partners move cohesively, they present a united defensive front rather than two isolated halves.
Shot Selection Under Pressure
The targeted player’s instinct is often to respond with aggression, increasing pace in an attempt to reclaim control. While understandable, this reaction frequently accelerates the opponent’s plan. Targeting thrives on volatility, and forced drives or rushed counters tend to produce errors.
A more effective response involves disciplined depth and intelligent placement. Deep resets into the middle reduce sharp angles and require both opponents to participate in the rally. Patient cross-court dinks slow tempo and reestablish neutral positioning. By directing balls toward shared space rather than sharp sidelines, the targeted player shifts the burden back to the opposing team.
Precision under pressure disrupts rhythm far more effectively than speed alone.
Communication and Composure
Targeting is as much a psychological test as it is a tactical one. Body language, facial expression, and tone of voice can either stabilize or destabilize a partnership. The targeted player must resist visible frustration, while the partner must provide steady reinforcement. Short, constructive conversations between points maintain focus and reinforce unity.
Composed teams project resilience. Opponents who sense steadiness are more likely to press for low-percentage winners in search of breakthroughs. Emotional steadiness, therefore, becomes an active component of strategy rather than a passive trait.
Doubles success depends on partnership strength as much as individual skill.
Turning Predictability Into Opportunity
Ironically, repeated targeting can create advantage. When a player knows where the next ball is likely headed, preparation improves. Anticipation sharpens footwork, paddle readiness increases, and defensive positioning becomes more precise. What once felt like pressure can transform into predictability.
If the targeted player maintains consistency and the team adjusts thoughtfully, opponents may become impatient. They may chase sharper angles, attempt premature speed-ups, or overextend to force separation. At that point, the original targeting strategy begins to unravel.
The teams that respond with clarity, coordination, and composure often discover that targeting was not a weakness being exposed but an opportunity to demonstrate cohesion. ●
About Stephen Pyka
Stephen Pyka is a PPR-certified coach, three-time brand ambassador, and Director of Pickleball at Glastonbury Tennis Club. He brings decades of experience in racquet sports, club leadership, player development, and instruction, including previous roles as a PGA golf instructor and competitive racquetball athlete. Passionate about growing the sport, he leads clinics, workshops, and DUPR events that help players of all ages and skill levels improve their game, build confidence, and reach their full potential.
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