It can be tempting to hit high balls that may or may not be headed into orbit , but fear of letting the ball fly into the unknown is a poor excuse to play very questionable incoming shots . It is easy to justify hitting high balls because it seems easy to make a good play on them . However , if a ball is in reality going out , you win the point instantly 100 % of the time ; in contrast , by continuing to play the point , you will win the point less than 100 % of the time , even when you have a significant advantage .
The difficulty , of course , is training yourself to trust the math and let questionable balls go — because nobody wants to look foolish . If you misjudge even one ball out of 10 , that single point hurts disproportionately to the overall number of points won and lost , and it becomes easy to forget that you won the other nine out of 10 . However , if you can conquer this fear and let more balls fly past you into the unknown , you take the first step toward leaving out-balls — receiving feedback on your judgment .
To help you overcome this hurdle , here are some tips to keep you from hitting extra pickleballs :
Get low . Keep a low athletic base by bending your knees and widening your stance ; this lowers your center of gravity to put you in the best position to dodge incoming shots . The more of your body you can keep below the level of the net , the less of a target you present to your opponent . You will be far faster at moving just your head out of the way than your shoulders or torso .
Get skinny . Think like a boxer dodging punches — you present a much broader target to your opponent when facing them head-on rather than when you are staggered sideways . If you suspect an incoming body shot , prepare yourself by rotating yourself to the right or left to narrow the opponent ’ s target area .
Play the percentages . Forcing balls from bad positions loses points and slows down attackers . The importance of not playing out-balls against players who play aggressively cannot be overstated . It is very difficult to slow down attackers unless you are letting their outballs go . If you give them a free pass to attack by hitting everything they hammer at you , they will continue to be able to play their favorite game style . It is when you force them to abandon their low-percentage attacks that you can unravel their game . Remember that refusing to play out-balls is the best way to put the odds in your favor against an aggressive team .
Decide whether the ball has a poor chance of going in before your opponent strikes it . This is one of the single best ways to leave more out-balls , and especially applies to shots coming low from the kitchen line or low from midcourt . This is true particularly in reflex exchanges in which you start with the downward angle . This skill is developed by recognizing the geometry of the court and , of course , accumulating experience . Because the height of the net is high relative to the length of the court and the amount of potential topspin is limited , any ball struck hard from a low contact point on the court , especially from the kitchen line or midcourt , has a poor chance of going in .
If you recognize that your opponent is preparing to take a giant swing from a low contact point , you should anticipate letting it go before they even strike it . Moving aside preemptively based on the shot setup is often what allows you to lay off . Another method is committing your paddle just above the level of the net and leaving anything above that line . Protect level 1 , so to speak , and forget level 2 . If the ball is doing a flyby of the penthouse , the best thing to do is simply keep your hands at the level beneath it .
Look for this tell-tale sign . This is one of the most important things to focus on . It is highly specific to whom you are playing , but one of the most common giveaways that a low-percentage attack is coming is that your opponent will take a bigger backswing . The sooner you can determine that a high-risk shot has been launched by your opponent , the better chance you have of letting it go .
Communication is key . Often one member of the team will recognize an incoming out-ball before the other . This can be due to their angle of view , or more often because they delivered the last shot to the opponents . It is critical you call off your partner before they continue to play the point that could ’ ve been yours . Call it loud and as early as possible , and keep it to one-syllable exclamations . Brevity beats eloquence when you have a fraction of a second . “ No ” or “ Out ” is quicker than phrases like “ Bounce it ” or “ Don ’ t you dare hit that , you over-eager nimwit !”
With these tips in mind , it should be easier to judge out-balls and cash in more free points from your opponents ! •
Collin Johns is a PPR clinician , 2021 US Open Men ’ s Pro Doubles Champion , an Electrum Elite Pro Team member and head racquets pro at Baltimore Country Club .
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021 | MAGAZINE 69