🥒 Talk to Your Partner

One word, early, loud. The calls that keep two people from both going for the same ball, or neither.

Plenty of points get lost because both players went for the ball, or neither did. The fix is a handful of one-word calls you both know before the game starts.

The calls

Say	It means	When
Mine!	I'm taking it.	Any ball either of you could reach. Usually, whoever calls first gets it.
I got it / I go	Same as Mine. Redundant, but common.	Use whichever comes out of your mouth fastest.
Yours! / Go!	You take it.	When your partner has the better angle or the forehand.
Switch!	We're trading sides.	After a lob over one player, or when one of you gets pulled wide.
Stay!	Don't switch. I've got it covered.	When a switch would leave more open court than it closes.
I got your side	I'm covering the space you left.	When your partner is out of position and can't get back yet.
No! / Out!	Don't hit it. It's going out.	A ball headed long or wide. Say it before your partner swings.
Bounce!	Let it bounce. It might be out.	A deep ball you're not sure about. If it lands in, you can still play it.

How to use them

One word.There isn't time for a sentence. “Mine” beats “I think I can get that one.”
Early.Call it as the ball leaves their paddle, not as it arrives at yours.
Loud.Your partner is watching the ball, not you. They need to hear it.
Agree before you start.New partner? Take ten seconds before the first serve: “What do you say for switch?”

When nobody calls it: the player with the forehand in the middle usually takes it. That's the default from Positioning Basics, and it settles a lot of the balls that come down the center.

For the calls that matter most, a lob over your head or getting pulled wide, see Who Gets the Lob.

Advanced: the wide dink

Someone hit this on me twice. I've repped the hell out of it since.

The wide dink goes from kitchen edge line to kitchen edge line, sideline to sideline. It's totally unexpected.

If it doesn't work, there's a good chance the middle is open, and the ball comes back one of two ways:

Straight to the opposite playerat the perfect angle for the middle.
Straight to the opposite player, who flicks the wristto take the other opponent to the outside. That's a harder hit, but it's doable.

There's always the crosscourt, but you're ready for it.

These are the common ones. If your crew has its own words, use those; the only wrong call is no call. Not affiliated with doyouevendinkbro.com. I've spoken to him about it, but he insists we're partners. We have never been seen in the same room.