How ambitious players control the game at the net through smart shot selection, better anticipation and the right footwork.
If you want to gain control of the game in pickleball, you must master the dynamics at the net. Often, fractions of a second and small nuances in movement decide whether a ball remains dangerously flat or rises as easy prey for your opponent. To take your own game to the next level, looking at analyses from pros and coaches helps. The experts agree: The difference between recreational players and true experts rarely lies in pure power, but in tactical cleverness, anticipation and clean footwork.
A common problem at the net are balls that go too high, offering the opponent a perfect setup for a hard attack. According to an analysis by Coach Cliff Pickleball, this is often due to unclean technique when dinking. Many players coming from tennis tend to play the backhand with a lot of slice. This spin makes the ball unpredictable. The recommendation is therefore to play the backhand two-handed for balls that land directly in front of the body. This ensures more control and keeps the ball flat. The one-handed backhand should only be used when you have to stretch far.
Pro player Anna Leigh Waters, who boasts an impressive winning streak according to an analysis by Zane Navratil, also uses the two-handed backhand as one of her greatest weapons. She grips the paddle almost in an Eastern grip, which helps her to take even deep dinks cleanly. If, on the other hand, the ball lands extremely close to your own body, this severely limits the angles for the shot. As world-class player Anna Bright explains using a game situation from the MLP playoffs as an example, extreme angles are eliminated in this case. The safest option is then often a shot down the middle to get yourself back into a good position for the next ball.
A tactical variation that is becoming increasingly important according to Holbrook Pickleball is the so-called "Third Shot Drip". This is a mix of a soft drop and a fast drive. This shot is played with a lot of topspin so that it sinks quickly and ideally lands about a foot behind the opponent's kitchen line. This presents the opponent with a difficult decision: either they take the ball as a low, fast volley or they have to back up to play the awkward, high-bouncing topspin ball after it lands.
True peak values in game intelligence are shown when you do not just react to the ball once it has been hit. According to Troy Akin, the key lies in taking your eyes off the ball and instead watching the face of the opponent's paddle. If it points upwards, the ball will fly high; if it is closed, a flat, fast ball is coming. The opponent's footwork also provides valuable clues: a player who is leaning back or has to stretch can hardly exert pressure. This is the moment to move up and attack the ball early and high at the net.
For powerful groundstrokes like the forehand drive, coach Cori Elliott also emphasizes the importance of the kinetic chain. Power does not come from the wrist, but from the interplay of feet, knees, hips and shoulders from a closed body stance. If you stand too far from the ball and have to stretch, you lose control and the necessary energy for the shot.
Your takeaway: In your next match, specifically watch your opponent's paddle face to anticipate their shots early.
This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.