Stacking and Switching Rehearsal
Walk, then play, through all four stacking scenarios with loud calls — making the doubles formation procedural instead of mysterious.
- LevelAdvanced
- Players4 Players
- Duration20 min
- EquipmentNet
Stacking — the doubles formation where partners line up on the same side so each can cover their dominant wing — is standard equipment for advanced players and a complete mystery to everyone else. Teams try it once in a match, lose three points to confusion about who serves and who covers where, and shelve it forever. Stacking and Switching Rehearsal exists to remove the mystery before match day, because stacking's difficulties are almost entirely procedural, and procedures are exactly what rehearsal fixes. Four players spend twenty minutes walking, then playing, through every stacking scenario with no ball pressure at first. The rehearsal covers the four situations that actually matter. Situation one: when the right-side player serves, both players simply play their normal sides — the stack only activates when the left-side player owns the serve. Situation two: the left-server serves from the right-hand box, with their partner crouched behind them in the same box; after the serve, the server sprints to the left side and the partner fills the right. Situation three: the same mirror-image shuffle when the left-side player is receiving — they receive in the right box, then run, while the partner slides across. Situation four: the return-of-serve switch, where a team that wants one player permanently on a given side executes the crossover mid-point. Each situation is walked through slowly, called out loud — 'I go, you stay' — then run at half speed, then embedded in live points. The checklist that keeps teams sane is posted courtside: whose serve is it, which box does each player start in, who crosses, and who calls the switch. Teams that drill this for twenty minutes discover that stacking is not exotic — it is a small set of rehearsed movements with loud calls, and the real benefit, forcing opponents to face a right-side forehand all match, is worth every confusing Tuesday.
Equipment: You will need a net.
How to run this drill
Walk through the four stacking situations slowly with no ball: normal sides, left-server stack, left-receiver stack, and the return-of-serve switch.
Call every movement out loud — 'I go, you stay' — so each partner's role is confirmed before anyone moves.
Run each situation at half speed with a fed ball, checking that the server arrives on their side before the third shot.
Embed the stacks in live points and post the courtside checklist: whose serve, which boxes, who crosses, who calls.
Sets, reps & pass standard
Sets & reps: 4 situations x 5 walks, 2 games to 7
You're ready to move on when: The formation is match-ready when a live point completes with correct boxes, correct sides after the switch, and the call made on every crossover.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Stacking on both serves when only one requires it — the right-server point needs no movement, and unnecessary shuffling causes faults.
- Silent crossovers — a switch nobody called is a court half-covered, and the middle ball arrives on schedule.
- The server admiring their serve — the whole formation depends on the crossing player sprinting to position before the third shot lands.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do you need for the Stacking and Switching Rehearsal?
You need a net.
How long does the Stacking and Switching Rehearsal take?
About 20 minutes, typically organized as 4 situations x 5 walks, 2 games to 7. It is rated Advanced and works for 4 players.
What does success look like on this drill?
The formation is match-ready when a live point completes with correct boxes, correct sides after the switch, and the call made on every crossover.