Many recreational players have experienced the same frustrating feeling in doubles: you're comfortable on the left side, making good decisions and hitting quality shots, but the moment you switch to the right side, everything feels different. Your drops become less consistent, your dinks feel awkward, opponents seem to target you constantly, and suddenly the game feels much harder.
At the professional level, this difference becomes even more pronounced.
In a recent discussion, pro players Gabriel Tardio and Hayden Patriquin pointed out that for right-handed players, the right side and left side can feel like two entirely different sports. Many professionals spend their entire careers specializing in one side because switching positions often means relearning an entirely different set of patterns, decisions, and responsibilities.
So why is the right side so difficult? What exactly makes it challenging? And what can everyday players learn from understanding the role?
Let's break it down.
Why the Right Side Is Harder in Pickleball Doubles (Court Geometry Explained)
Most players assume the right side is harder because it requires more defense.
That's only part of the story.
The bigger issue is court geometry.
Imagine you're a right-handed player standing on the right side at the kitchen line. Your opponent hits a high-quality third-shot drop that lands near your NVZ.
What options do you really have?
You'll quickly realize that your available angles are surprisingly limited. Going straight ahead often feeds the opposing left-side player, who is usually the stronger attacker. Crosscourt angles are narrower. Middle balls can easily be intercepted. And directing the ball toward your partner's side may shrink your team's court coverage.
As a result, you're often forced into safer, more conservative choices.
Tardio described it perfectly:
"When I'm on the right side and my opponent hits a great drop, it's difficult to avoid the opposing left-side player."
That's the essence of playing the right side:
Your margin for error and your available space are both smaller.
The left side is a completely different story.
A left-side player typically has more court to work with. They can create sharper angles, attack crosscourt, manipulate positioning, and more easily avoid their opponent's strongest player.
As Patriquin noted, the left side simply offers "more usable court space."
That extra space changes everything.
The Right Side Gets Targeted Differently
Many players notice that as soon as they move to the right side, opponents seem to find all of their weaknesses.
That's because the right-side player naturally becomes a target.
At the professional level, opponents repeatedly attack several key areas:
- The right-side player's backhand hip
- The middle transition zone
- Balls just outside the kitchen line
- Aggressive crosscourt pressure
These locations are particularly uncomfortable because they limit both body positioning and shot selection.
Once a right-side player gets pinned down, they're often forced into defensive resets or neutral balls. And neutral balls frequently become attackable balls on the next shot.
This is one reason why elite left-side players often appear more aggressive while right-side players look more conservative.
Their jobs are fundamentally different.
Why Right-Side Dinking Requires More Precision
Modern pickleball is increasingly won and lost in the kitchen.
But the dinking responsibilities on the right and left sides are far from identical.
On the left side, the court often provides some built-in forgiveness. A dink that's slightly higher or slightly more central may not immediately expose you.
On the right side, however, a dead dink can be disastrous.
A dead dink—one that's too high, too shallow, lacks spin, or sits in the middle—gives opponents an ideal attack opportunity.
Again, geometry is the reason.
The right side naturally opens up attacking lanes for your opponents.
That's why elite right-side players focus on making their dinks:
- Lower
- Deeper
- More precise
- Better disguised
- More difficult to attack
Many high-level right-side players intentionally choose uncomfortable but safe placements. Their goal isn't necessarily to win the rally with a single shot.
Their goal is to prevent the opponent from gaining control.
That's a very different mindset from the left side.
Why Playing the Right Side Is Mentally Exhausting
The right side often feels tiring because you're constantly making decisions with limited options.
Left-side players frequently create opportunities.
Right-side players often spend their time:
- Neutralizing pressure
- Redirecting pace
- Resetting rallies
- Managing risk
- Waiting for the right moment
That requires continuous decision-making.
Questions like:
- Do I have an angle here?
- Is the middle exposed?
- Is their left-side player poaching?
- Should I stay patient or counterattack?
- Is my partner moving to take this ball?
Those decisions accumulate over the course of a match.
That's why many of the world's best right-side players are known for their composure rather than flashy offense.
Why Pros Rarely Switch Sides
Many recreational players think:
"Left side, right side—how different can it really be?"
At the professional level, the difference is enormous.
Players develop thousands of hours of side-specific habits, including:
- Footwork patterns
- Shot selections
- Defensive coverage
- Transition movement
- Dinking strategies
- Poaching instincts
All of these skills become deeply tied to one side of the court.
That's why many pros spend their entire careers primarily playing one position.
They may be capable of playing the other side, but that doesn't mean they'll perform at the same level.
Changing sides often means rebuilding years of muscle memory.
Should Recreational Players Learn Both Sides?
Eventually, yes.
But not at the same time.
For most players, specializing first is far more effective than trying to develop both sides equally.
Many players don't struggle because they lack skills—they struggle because they haven't developed consistent court awareness.
By committing to one primary side for a period of time, you'll build:
- Better spatial awareness
- More reliable shot patterns
- Stronger middle-court communication
- Better kitchen positioning
- Improved chemistry with your partner
Once those foundations are established, expanding to the opposite side becomes much easier.
The Most Important Skill for a Right-Side Player
It's not power.
It's not speed.
And it's not even offense.
The defining qualities of great right-side players are:
- Consistency
- Precision
- Decision-making
- Patience
- Emotional control
The best right-side players make very few unforced errors because the position offers so little margin for error.
They understand when to slow the game down and when to accelerate it.
They control the middle effectively.
They know which balls belong to them and which balls should be left for their partner.
Most importantly, they understand match flow and team balance.
In many doubles partnerships, the left-side player determines the ceiling.
The right-side player determines the floor.
The Hardest Part of the Right Side: Accepting Limitations
Many players struggle on the right side not because they lack technique, but because they haven't adjusted their mindset.
The left-side mentality is:
"How can I create opportunities?"
The right-side mentality is:
"How can I deny opportunities?"
That's an entirely different philosophy.
The right side isn't incapable of attacking.
The challenge is that every attacking decision must be made within tighter angles and stricter constraints.
That's why the best right-side players often possess exceptional court IQ.
They may not be the most spectacular players on the court.
But they're often the hardest players to beat.
How to Improve Your Right-Side Game
If you're serious about becoming a stronger right-side player, focus on these areas:
1. Master Middle-Court Control
Many right-side exchanges revolve around controlling and protecting the middle.
2. Develop a Reliable Low Drop
The goal isn't flashy spin. The goal is a ball that clears the net and immediately drops below attack height.
3. Improve Your Reset Game
You'll face pressure frequently on the right side. Learning to soften and neutralize pace is essential.
4. Train Body-Bag Defense
Expect opponents to attack your torso and backhand hip. Learn to absorb and redirect those shots.
5. Build Chemistry with Your Partner
The right side isn't a solo position. Understanding your partner's poaching tendencies, coverage range, and movement patterns directly affects your positioning and decision-making.
Understanding the Right Side Means Understanding Doubles
Many players feel like they have solid skills but still can't translate them into successful doubles play.
Often the problem isn't technique.
It's understanding geometry.
Doubles pickleball is ultimately a game of space, angles, coverage, and limitations.
And nowhere are those concepts more visible than on the right side of the court.
The next time you find yourself on the right side, don't simply ask:
"Why is this so difficult?"
Instead, ask:
- Which angles are disappearing?
- Which lanes are being taken away?
- Why are my opponents targeting this area?
- Why is my partner moving the way they are?
Once you start seeing those answers, you'll realize you're no longer just playing pickleball.
You're beginning to understand it.
If you're looking to improve your right-side control and reset game, explore MEHAU E Series paddles designed for precision and stability in doubles play.
