PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTION
The No
Volley
Zone is
Much
Like
Chess
BY SARAH ANSBOURY
56
W
hat makes pickleball different from every other
sport? The two parallel lines we stand on that
define the no volley zone. This is what neutralizes
players and creates the opportunity to dink and set
up the point. Within the no volley zone is 7 feet from line to net,
and a minimum of 14 feet from player to player. When players
get comfortable with their position at the no volley line, it
creates opportunities to take the ball earlier and take time and
space away from opponents.
From a tactical side, we talk about player positioning on the
court and paddle positioning. These contribute to our ability
to stay offensive. Often players move too much and lose their
position on the line. This affects their ability to take balls out of
the air—as well as having to adjust with every shot.
A high-level player is going to be as close to the line as
possible to get a more consistent shot and to reach into the no
volley zone to cut down the 14 feet player separation.
In an ideal world, when positioning yourself on the line, you
want to be one step away from the outside of the court and one
step from the inside. You also want the ability to step forward
and cut off the balls when needed. If you’re moving around with
every shot, you’ll lose this advantage.
A simple thing to do is to turn your toes in the direction of
the ball instead of shuffling from side to side. This allows your
knees to bend in the correct way and, more importantly, helps
you maintain your position at the no volley line.
We are witnessing taller and taller players join the sport. For
them, it means a huge advantage to the space in the no volley
zone…but they do need to position themselves correctly. The
advantage comes with the ability to reach into the space in front
of them.
If I stand directly behind the no volley line and extend forward
with my paddle, while still maintaining balance, I can gauge
what’s reachable in the air. Try this. Next, stand a few
inches back from the no volley line. Pay attention
to the difference. When the ball is coming back
quickly from the short distance, those few inches
can make a huge difference—the difference
between cutting the ball off or backing up on
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