Questions for a good Partnership

 Ramin asked about setting up a partnership in five easy steps.  Well, I'm not sure five is the proper answer.  

I did run across a video on YouTube about this very topic.  I've included the link to it at the bottom of the post.  

I'm listing their points and I'm going to insert comments of my own.  

I've spent a lot of time playing bridge, where you sit down and fill out a card that explains the major 50 or so understanding that partners need to agree on.  If you have professional or very high level partnership, your agreements might run hundreds of pages of notes and understandings.  

Pickleball is a touch easier and less complex than bridge, but being on the "same page" is a good idea.  And as the ladies in the video point out, we are here to have fun and being a good partner will make it easier for your partner to have a good time.  Hopefully your partner is trying to make sure you have one too.  

Ok, on to the understandings...

 

1) Which side will you do the most damage on?  I think this is most useful if you are stacking.  But maybe if you have a partner who has a preference, then you should stack.  If no one cares, then this question is moot.  But if partner has a great forehand and not much backhand, then stacking to minimize the weak backhand in the middle might be a good idea. 

2) Who will take your lobs?  The question boils down to which shot you will be hitting when you get to the lob.  If you are forced to hit a weak backhand, it might be a good agreement that partner will chase down lobs over your head and you get partner's.  When you are on different sides of the court, then it makes sense for each player to get their own.  This is an interesting discussion point and I'll confess I've never talked about it with a partner.  Pro Tip, always get a young, fast partner and let them get everything!

3) How can I set you up for your best shot? - seems a bit advanced to me.  If I knew how to setup for partner's kill shot, I'd do it every time.

4) Pet peeves... For example: partner displaying unhappiness with your play, sighs, eye rolls that are too loud, etc.  Basically anything you do that causes partner to think about the last point or two, will detract from future performance.  Don't do it.  Always encourage.  Most points will have something good about them.  For example, partner hits a sitter into the net, well, you were winning the point to get the sitter, so comment on that.  Pros miss the easy shots too.  If partner misses shots and it bothers you , you're playing the wrong game.

5) Disagreements on out calls -- tell partner if you have any problem with them over ruling your call.  And I'd comment that we are in a rec environment, so err on the side of calling the balls in if it's really, really close.  In a tournament setting it's a bit different.  Also, even the pros, used to very fast play, often call the balls incorrectly.  I think the last thing you want is to become known as is someone who never calls a close shot in.  Whether a shot is in or out, they can look very different from the other side of the net, too.  This is particularly true of serves that "hit the kitchen line."  So be a good opponent and get tighter when you are playing in a tournament.

6) Calling who will hit the shots particularly at the net.  I've not done this much with partners.   I think the crisscross understanding resolves 90% of all responsibility, but if someone likes/wants/needs to call the shots, I've got no problem.  Again, go along to make partner happy.

7) Standing at or near the T when partner is returning the serve - ask if it bothers partner to be that close to the center.  If it does, start off to the side and then close after partner's shot has been hit.  No comments on my part on this on.  I've never been hit by partner on a service return, though I think it's been close a couple of times.  :-)

8) Make partner happy!  A good general philosophy.  A happy partner plays better.

9) The ladies in the video didn't mention about the partnership getting to the net.  Maybe this is more resolved in upper circles than I've seen with my partners.  But here are a couple of rules...  A) if you return the serve, always follow it in to the kitchen line.  B) If we are serving then we rush the net after we have hit a good short shot - don't rush it when your partner is about to hit the third shot.  

OK, that is about it.  Five rules did seem a bit restrictive, but we kept it out of double digits!  Below is the link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqoNeRpEDhY&t=252s