Covering crosscourt lobs is far easier .
The highest-percentage lob for your opponents is the one hit crosscourt , since they are hitting to the greatest distance of court . This shot is negated from both angles when you have a lefty / righty since you can both cover lobs over your partner ’ s head with a standard overhead instead of a backhand overhead . And in the event you are forced to run down a lob off the bounce , you will be retrieving the lob with the easier forehand stroke .
Isolating a corner is easier .
The isolation strategy is one that is commonly employed to pick on the weaker member of the opposing team . To make this strategy most effective , it is preferable to have the player crosscourt from the targeted opponent to take more of the setup shots to keep their partner from shifting out of the perfect countering position directly in front of the targeted opponent . Either player can make use of their forehand from the center , which opens up more possible angles , spins , and attacks , and allows them to squeeze the middle and begin to hover closer to the targeted corner . Having the option to employ this tactic equally in either direction is a major advantage .
Ernes are enhanced .
It is easiest to cut the corner to execute an Erne with the added wingspan of a forehand . Balls hit farther from the sideline can become Erne opportunities and you can wait longer to jump the kitchen . You also have the option to Erne with your backhand side , which is preferable in some cases to make contact as you reach in front of your body . Whether hitting the Erne with your forehand or backhand , it is ideal to have your paddle-side hand to the inside of the court .
Cleaning up after aggressive initiations made by your partner is easier .
Whether it is shifting over the centerline to finish off the point when your partner executes an Around the Post , an Erne , or a speed-up combination , it is always easiest to cover their side with the added reach and power of a forehand .
Having the paddle-side hip on the inside of the court makes attacking the body more difficult .
One of the most difficult attacks to defend consistently is the attack being hit into your vulnerable paddle-side hip / shoulder from directly in front of you . This jamming shot is largely negated by forcing the opponent to hit the attack across your body , rather than into it , in order to target your chicken wing . By being able to hit the ball as it comes across your body with the wider coverage of a backhand volley , you afford yourself more safety from the awkward jamming shot . This is further accentuated by players often forgetting that the vulnerable paddleside hip is reversed when facing a lefty .
Covering middle balls when your partner is having an off day is easier .
Everyone has off days from time to time and if your partner is struggling to consistently execute something like a third shot or you simply want to set up for a shakeand-bake poach , you can help out by shifting over with your forehand to take manageable balls . By having a second option on middle balls , your team is less likely to suffer from rough patches in play .
Specialization
Since lefties are almost always paired with a righty — and with all of the above reasons to place them on the right side — they are nearly always positioned on their preferred right side . This constant preference for the right makes lefties gain far more experience and comfort there than on the left . Repeatedly seeing the angles of the court from one specific perspective makes a difference , and players should be matched to the side they specialize in whenever possible .
And lastly , the above points address the positives of stacking the lefty , but it is every bit as important to note the reverse of the positives , a . k . a . the adverse effects of not stacking . Without stacking , you end up with less reach in the middle with two backhands , more difficulty isolating a corner effectively , backhand poaches on shake-and-bakes , less effective Ernes , less possible coverage of your partner ’ s side during ATPs , Ernes , crosscourt lobs , or third shots , the opening of more effective attacking angles to the body for the opponents , and the vulnerability of leaving lefties on a side that is foreign to them . All the negatives of not stacking weigh just as heavily as the positives of stacking .
So , with all these reasons in mind , start leveraging those pesky lefties by positioning them where they ought to be . It will be a lot more fun for your team and a lot less fun for your opponents . •
Collin Johns is a PPR clinician , 2022 US Open Men ’ s Pro Doubles Champion , Team Electrum Elite Pro , and co-owner and founder of Pickleball 360 .
MAY / JUNE 2022 | MAGAZINE 79