Understanding your position's traditional responsibilities is important, but being able to adapt and create offense from anywhere on the court is what separates good players from great ones.
The pickleball world has spent years obsessing over one fundamental question: Are you a left-side player or a right-side player? It's become almost tribal, the way people identify with their court position.
But here's the thing; that rigid framework? It's crumbling.
In a recent video breakdown , APP pro Jack Munro challenges everything we thought we knew about doubles positioning.
He argues that while traditional roles still matter, the modern game has evolved into something far more fluid and dynamic. The old alpha-versus-beta dynamic is giving way to a more nuanced understanding of how both sides operate, and frankly, it's reshaping how competitive players should think about their game.
The Traditional Left-Side Player: More Than Just the Alpha Let's start with what we've always known about left-side players. They're typically right-handed, the ones initiating offense. But Munro goes deeper than the surface-level stuff.
The real advantage? Their forehand sits in the middle of the court. That's not just a minor detail; it fundamentally changes their shot selection. While a right-side player's backhand occupies that middle real estate, a left-sider can unleash forehands with multiple options: inside-out angles, middle shots, inside-in plays.
They can hide speedups beautifully be... FULL ARTICLE FOUND ON: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/right-side-or-left-side-how-modern-doubles-is-rewriting-the-pickleball-playbook/
