INSTRUCTION
Two Things That Separate Pickleball Pros From the Rest
By Alice Tym with Katie Dyer
Katie Dyer , a professional player from Ooltewah , Tennessee , is ranked by Pickleball Global as 8th in the world . She ’ s also a teaching professional certified by the IPTPA . Players like Dyer continue to advance the skills in the sport of pickleball . The game is rapidly changing , with added strategy and power .
Dyer believes there are two main areas of the game that separate regular players from the pros . In addition to having a good third shot and good dinks , she notes that the pros are good at transition block / reset and misdirecting the ball . The transition block / reset is that shot hit when approaching the net and being caught in no man ’ s land . Misdirecting is setting up at the net in a dink exchange as though you are going crosscourt , but then at the last second going down the line .
These two shots in the pros are hit against players who are quick and can handle pace . Having the ability to hit these shots sets the pros apart from the rest of the pickleball community .
THE TRANSITION BLOCK AND THE DRILLS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR SHOT
The transition block is your shot that is the result of hitting a poor third shot drop . Your opponents are at the No Volley Zone ( NVZ ) line already and they pound your weak third shot . You ’ re probably in no man ’ s land and have to transition their forceful shot into a softer , controlled drop into the NVZ or kitchen . Because they have better position ( i . e ., both at the NVZ line ), you must buy time to convert your defensive position into an offensive one without giving your opponents a put-away shot . That ’ s why the pros dink !
When you hit your third shot and realize , “ Oh , crap , this is not good ,” you ’ re still moving forward toward the net . Dyer advises players to split-step so they maintain balance . “ You don ’ t want to be lunging at the ball . The block shot to reset is a legs shot so that you can cushion the ball into the kitchen ,” she explains . “ This shot is a neutralizer . It allows you to reset the point despite your poor position and a poor third shot drop .”
She adds , “ This shot is what a 4.0 player needs in order to move to the next level . It ’ s important for seniors , too . If they don ’ t have good mobility , it allows them more time to get to the NVZ line . For seniors , this shot neutralizes a power play and gets you in better position . It takes practice and determination to get down , stay down , and keep in the point .” Drill like the pros .
Drill 1 : RESET FOR SUCCESS
Only two players are required for this drill . A bucket of balls is useful for the feeder , who is going to drive the ball as hard as he can to the feet of the receiver . The receiver in this case is the person working on her transition block . She positions herself 2-3 feet inside the baseline and stays there throughout the drill . The feeder pounds the ball at her feet , and she blocks the ball back into the kitchen , taking pace off of the ball . Dyer and fellow pro Josh Cook explain that the drive is so hard and fast you don ’ t have time to aim or place the ball . They maintain that you just do your best to drop it back in the kitchen softly . I contend that you should attempt to place the ball because it makes you watch the ball more closely . Either way , the key is soft hands and staying low so your legs can help you cushion the shot and dig those low balls off of your shoestrings . The drill is simple ; the execution is not . The drill should be done both down the line and crosscourt .
Drill 2 : CREATE THE UNATTACKABLE SHOT
Once again only two players are necessary . The feeder is at the NVZ line and the receiver is on the baseline . The receiver hits a third shot drop and continues to work her way to the net and when she gets to the net , they play out the point . En route to the net she hits several transition blocks as the feeder continues to drive the ball at her feet . Dyer says , “ If you play good defense , you ’ ll get to play offense again .”
Even though the purpose of these two drills is to work on a transition block , the feeder benefits by working on his accuracy at placing the ball at the feet of the receiver and adding power to his game by getting down on the transition shot blocks . Both players benefit when they improve their control . It ’ s a mentality to never give