INSTRUCTION
ATP
MASTER OF SURPRISE
One of our favorite attack shots is the ATP — otherwise known as the Around the Post .
It ’ s not a shot that you plan for so much as it just happens organically as you and your crosscourt opponent start dinking wider .
As you become a better dinker , you ’ re going to start making your opponents work harder by having them reach and hit wider shots . As they return your wide dinks with their own wide shots , you ’ ll have the opportunity to hit around the net post for a winner .
First , yes , it is completely legal to hit around the post . At the advanced level we generally hit a couple of ATPs each game we play .
Second , while you are not allowed to volley while standing inside the “ kitchen ,” you are allowed to walk through the kitchen to hit a ball that is going to bounce .
After the ball bounces in the kitchen , allow it to travel wide of the sideline . The temptation is to rush the shot and hit the ball when it ’ s still thigh-high , but the problem is then we do not yet have the clearance around the net . The big trick is to let the ball travel wide and drop low . By letting the ball drop below the knee , we gain a few more feet of width around the net post .
To put it all together , follow the ball through the kitchen and be patient waiting for the ball to drop low . When you ’ re past the post , take a controlled swing down the line and make sure not to overhit .
ATP RECOVERY
Once you master the ATP , you ’ ll certainly want to know how to defend it too .
At the advanced level , we successfully defend against the ATP probably more than 50 % of the time . Here ’ s how we do it .
By Lisa Dollard
Defending the ATP begins with recognizing when your partner hits a wide dink to your opponent . When you see this , take a step back and evaluate the possibility of an ATP .
As the ATP becomes likely , take several more steps back near the sideline , and roughly 5-7 feet from the baseline . Get your body low and put your paddle tip down on the court . From there , you ’ ll wait and just try to block-lift the ball back straight ahead .
You can practice this shot with a friend . Have this player stand wide of the kitchen , near the net , and hit low balls down the line . Stay calm and just try to make contact with the ball . With a little practice , you ’ ll be able to defend the ATP .
To view an ATP video instruction , go to https :// youtu . be / mBW2kk7g _ Iw . •
Lisa Dollard is a director for LevelUp Pickleball Camps and a 5.0 women ’ s doubles and 5.0 mixed doubles US Open champion .
PHOTO BY STEPHEN JACKSON
JULY / AUGUST 2023 | MAGAZINE 23