INSTRUCTION
Continued
THE REDIRECT DRILL Two players are needed and a bucket of balls is handy . The player who is the feeder begins a crosscourt dink exchange . The player working on redirects looks for the attackable ball , a ball that is a little too high or a little too deep . ( Stronger players can both be working to redirect .) The drill is not complex , but good decision-making is required . To disguise and misdirect , practice setting your feet but rotating your upper body at the last second . Be a little sneaky and lull the opponent into a crosscourt competition . The redirect is a placement shot . It does not need to be especially hard . Going down the middle , you need enough pace to prevent your opponent from regaining a good court position . Preparation is key . Be looking for that attackable ball .
This drill should be done with forehand crosscourt dinks as well as backhand crosscourt dinks . Work hard on not letting that backhand shot get behind you . Keep the dink out in front so that your opponent cannot detect the redirect .
As you get comfortable with this shot , add a little topspin , or what pickleball players call “ roll .” Let that paddle come up and over the ball to help keep it in the court as you drive it . Use your legs to come up and forward into the shot . Roll it over the net so it dips down on the other side . If you stay low , it will help disguise the redirect .
Josh Cook feeds crosscourt dink shots to Katie Dyer as she looks for an attackable shot to redirect down the middle or down the line .
Recapping the fundamentals of this drill : 1 . Look for the attackable ball . 2 . Disguise the change of direction by keeping your lower body in a crosscourt configuration and keep your head down .
3 . Stay low with bended knees to come up and over the driving redirect .
4 . Exaggerate your follow-through for better accuracy and control . •
Katie Dyer is hitting crosscourt dinks , hoping that Josh Cook will give her an attackable ball that she can misdirect down the line . Her feet are indicating a crosscourt , but her upper body could drive the ball down the center or down the line . Notice that her head is down on the ball and her cap prevents Josh from seeing where her eyes are looking .