Pickleball is an extremely fun , yet complex sport with many nuances . In order to be a successful pickleball player , you must exhibit patience , be content to hit dink shots until they drop , and recognize when you have the opportunity to attack and hit an offensive shot . In my opinion , however , learning to become a solid defensive player in pickleball is the most important ingredient in one ’ s recipe for pickleball success .
When people are first introduced to the game and begin to engage in recreational play , they often focus too much on attacking and don ’ t exhibit the patience to wait for the right opportunity to attack . What makes this sport so unique is that a person may not be very offensive in terms of skill set , but stellar hands and defensive skills allow him / her to win many matches . Playing solid defense is the name of the game more so than playing offense . Being a good defensive pickleball player will help you neutralize opponents and allow you to transition to offense more easily while you play .
I myself do not exhibit as many offensive weapons as some of the top players in the game , but my ability to play solid defense has allowed me to be a successful tournament player over the past few years . With that said , here are some tips to help you become a better defensive pickleball player .
Be a wall : This not only applies to your physical skills
1 but also to your mental game . Whether you are playing against a hard hitter , a finesse player , or a very consistent dinker , your ability to stay mentally strong will allow you to stay physically strong as well . Be content to hit one more ball back than your opponents on every point . It ’ s likely that if you continue to make your opponents hit shots in each rally , the more likely they will make a mistake . Understand that getting one more ball back in the court than your opponent will translate into more points for you on the scoreboard .
Maintain happy feet : Your feet need to be moving
2 before every shot in this sport if you want to become a better defensive player . Using a split step and having a basic ready position before each of your opponents ’ shots will allow you to maintain your balance and transfer your weight to retrieve any shot much easier than if you were flatfooted . Pickleball is a sport where players are forced to change directions nearly every point . Staying light on your toes will allow you to move easier on the court , retrieve more shots , and be a solid defensive pickleball player by getting more balls back over the net .
Keep your eyes on your opponent ’ s paddle – it
3 improves anticipation : Oftentimes in racquet or paddle sports we are told to keep our eyes on the ball and not our opponent . However , in order to increase your defensive pickleball acumen , you must keep your eyes on your opponent ’ s paddle . By doing this , you will achieve a few key tasks that will improve your defensive pickleball skills . First of all , watching your opponents ’ paddles closely will allow you to keep your eye
DEFENSIVE PICKLEBALL
on the ball as well . Second , watching your opponents ’ paddles increases your anticipation of where they will hit their next shot . With more and more new , tricky shots coming into this sport ( paddle fakes , body fakes , etc .), it is easy to get distracted by watching your opponent ’ s body . However , watching the paddles before contact will allow you to read where they will hit their shot . This strategy will reveal the angle of their shot , its direction in the court , and will also likely reveal the height of their upcoming shot . Overall , by watching your opponent ’ s paddle before contact , your anticipation and understanding of the upcoming shots will greatly improve , and will allow you to transition from defense to offense .
Practice your defensive skills : Find a regular drill or
4 practice partner to practice these tactics with . Drill often and incorporate these defensive skills into your drills .
Make it a focal point to watch your opponent ’ s paddle – whether he / she is hitting a dink , volley , groundstroke or a smash .
Practice your split step before every volley you hit . One easy way to practice this in a controlled setting is to stand at the kitchen line and have your opponent hit balls at you while at the baseline . This will allow you to consistently simulate an environment where you will have to volley every shot . In this case , you can practice your split step before every ball you hit . Lastly , incorporate drills that require shot tolerance ( your ability to outlast your opponent each rally by hitting one more shot than him / her ). You can do this by having a target number of dinks ( 20 , 30 , etc .) that you and a partner have to hit in a row . This will allow you to focus on the task at hand , not go for an aggressive shot , and become a mental and physical pickleball wall .
Remember , if you want to take your pickleball game to the next level and win more matches in recreational or tournament play , becoming a better defensive player will allow you to reach your goal . Being a wall , maintaining happy feet while playing , keeping your eyes on your opponents ’ paddles and , most importantly , frequently practicing these skills will make you a better defensive pickleball player and lead to increased success on the court . •
“ Oftentimes in racquet or paddle sports we are told to keep our eyes on the ball and not our opponent . However , in order to increase your defensive pickleball acumen , you must keep your eyes on your opponent ’ s paddle .”
JULY / AUGUST 2016 | MAGAZINE 23