Playing against stackers is common at all levels of play. When we play against stackers we need to focus.
Stacking
Stacking is commonly used when we have one left and one right-handed team member. It can also be used simply because one player prefers a particular side of the court. If you are uncertain of the rules of stacking or how to keep track of where a player should be on the court, please read the post stacking basics.
Keep Them Thinking
While many players think about when and how to stack, sometimes we fail to consider the impact of playing against stackers. This
is particularly true when our opponent begins to stack in the middle of the game. When I decide to stack in the middle of a game, I might want to simply give my opponents a different look…or something to think about. Often the other team will think, “Why are they doing that now?” Or, “What new strategy do they hope to exploit.” The fact is, when my opponent is thinking about where I am and what I am doing, they aren’t thinking about what they are doing.
Watching Me vs. Watching the Ball
I also know, that when my opponent is watching me, he or she is not watching the ball. We see examples of this when a player makes a sudden move and their opponent hits an easy ball out. Instead of focusing on the ball, they were looking at the other player. Often times, the player’s movement will cause them to change their mind mid-swing. That’s a sure way to make a mistake!
The most important thing to remember when your opponents are stacking is to play the ball. Yes, we want to recognize where a player is, especially if we have decided to isolate a specific player. Of course, we may need to adjust our target. But don’t dwell too long on what your opponent might do or why.
Your number one objective must be to focus on what you want to do. I’ve written before about having a strategy and sticking to a plan. This is not the time to get “squirrelly”.
Using Your Serve
If you are serving to a team that’s stacking, use your serve to your advantage. One strategy is to ensure your serve is deep. Imagine 
pushing them deeper, making them have to travel across more court to get to their assigned spot.
Or consider a short angled serve toward the partner that is standing off the court. You aren’t trying to hit an ace, but rather you hope to cause them to scramble a bit. Sometimes you can catch them not being ready for the next shot and you will be able to pass them in the open court after a good serve.
focus
Remember stacking is just another look in the game and it doesn’t have to make you change anything you have planned. Sometimes people stack just to confuse their opponents and sometimes it works. Stay focused. Stick to your strategy. Look at the ball. It may be you don’t need to change your plans, and you certainly don’t want to change them on a whim.
If your opponent’s sudden changes really affect you, take a time out. Talk it over with your partner. Re-focus and give yourself the best opportunity to win when you are playing against stackers.
