low . Keep your paddle out in front and close the center . Put on an offensive face even with a defensive stance . Make the opponent beat you . Make sure the next time you return the serve that you watch the ball closely , move your feet , and return safely deep down the middle . Don ’ t turn an error into a pattern . You can make a weak return once , but if it is a habit you are going to be playing way too much defense .
When you get a goofy let serve or a cracked ball , or an unexpected shanked shot — those shots you really are not prepared for — go down the middle . Play it safe . Don ’ t give an angle . Don ’ t surprise your partner . Do play a shot you both can cover and one that is most likely to go in the court . Use the same strategy with a slippery court .
If you or your partner falls on the court , you need to buy time with a high , deep lob . Learn to lob . Learn to carry that ball on your paddle so that you can loft it up there for good hang time . An offensive topspin lob is great when you are in control . But if you are in a defensive mode , loft that ball high while you scramble back into position .
Of course , if that lob is short , you are back in another defensive position . Nobody wants to lose an eye , but if you watch the ball closely and watch your opponent ’ s
Both Vic and Soheil are hitting rapid-fire down-the-line volleys at the NVZ line . First Soheil hits to Vic ’ s forehand and Vic hits to Soheil ’ s backhand . Then they reverse and Soheil hits his forehand to Vic ’ s backhand . Then they go crosscourt forehands , then crosscourt backhands . Do not let the ball bounce . These are not dinks . Increase the pace so long as you do not lose the ability to place the ball . Examine which shot is your strongest and most reliable . Practice keeping your paddle up and in front .
foot position , you can often reflex the opponent ’ s overhead and keep the ball in play . My endless short lobs have made my mixed partner the great defensive player that he is !
Try to put the opponent ’ s overhead back in the air or reset with a drop into the kitchen . Make him earn the point with multiple overheads or at least force him to move . Practice this in a drill . It helps the person hitting the overheads to become more consistent and it helps the person lobbing to become a good defensive player . Practice head-on and on the diagonal . Don ’ t hit right back at your drill partner . Change the pace and make him move . Don ’ t just feed balls and retrieve balls . Hit soft drops then hit lobs . Weave your drill partner up and back .
If you are trapped in no man ’ s land you must hit a reset . This sequence was well-covered in the January / February issue of Pickleball Magazine on page 32 . If you are caught in a bad court position , you should block the ball back into the kitchen and close in to the NVZ as early as possible . Don ’ t overplay the ball . Take pace off of the ball to give yourself time to get to the NVZ . It is a control shot so you need to practice your timing by drilling . Many defensive shots require less pace rather than more pace . Players tend to hit a “ Hail Mary ” when a simple soft placement shot would suffice .
Defense from the NVZ is critical . Safety glasses are a good investment . Quick hand drills are helpful . Control drills are valuable . Move the ball side to side , hard and soft , angle and head-on . You need all the defensive skills you can muster . Your offense will improve while you focus on your defensive skills .
So , what to do ? If you have hit a high ball and your opponent is going to slam the ball , keep your paddle out in front and try to accelerate into the ball . Sounds counterintuitive , but if you hang back , the ball will spray off your paddle . You are better off meeting it head-on . Keep your body centered over your feet . Stay balanced . Good players don ’ t back off . Stand your ground even if you have hit a weak shot . It is a wiffle ball for crying out loud !
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MAY / JUNE 2021 | MAGAZINE 31