Shea Underwood’s Guide to Pickleball: Pickleball player Shea Underwood recently shared hand signals used by top-level doubles teams. In a video posted online, he explained how these signals help teammates coordinate returns and court movement during matches, giving recreational players insight into pro-level strategies.
Underwood demonstrated two lesser-known signals he believes every team should use. His breakdown also included three basic signals that many teams already use but may not fully understand.
Understanding the Basic Hand Signals
Underwood began with the three most common hand signs in doubles. “The first one is switch,” he explained. “So if Shay’s returning here and I’m on this side and we want to switch it up, meaning he hits the return, I go to this side, he comes over here, that’s what I’d use switch for.”
The second was a stay signal. “If I want Shay to just hit the return and come up to the kitchen and I’m going to hold my ground, then I would say stay,” he said.
He also revealed a third called fake, used to confuse opponents. “If I want to fake the server out by acting like we’re going to switch and Shay’s going to come over here but really we end up on the same side, well then that’s what a fake is going to be useful for.”
The Two Secret Pro-Level Signals
Underwood highlighted two important signals not often used by casual players. These involve showing where the returner plans to hit the ball. “That’s going to be the communication of where the returner is returning,” he said.
He added, “The first signal is going to be the play. So if I’m going to stay here, I’m going to do this. And then if I want Shay to return over there, I’m going to put my pinky out like this.”
To signal a return to the left side, Underwood explained, “If I want Shay to return to the left side over there—or I guess the right side in this case—I would go like this.”
The signals can also combine with the earlier commands. “This also works for switches and fakes. Basically, you would show what you’re going to do, which is switch or fake, and then you point where you’re going or where you want the return to go.”
How These Signals Could Impact Gameplay
Underwood’s tips may help many amateur teams improve their communication and strategy. By using these clear signals, players can avoid confusion and better control court positioning.
The shared system of signs could reduce errors and increase teamwork. As more players adopt these ideas, pickleball games at all levels could become more organized and competitive.
News in Brief: Shea Underwood’s Guide to Pickleball
Pro player Shea Underwood shared secret hand signals used in pro pickleball doubles matches. He explained common commands like “switch,” “stay,” and “fake,” plus two signals to show return direction. These tips can help players improve court strategy and communication, especially during fast-paced points.
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