INSTRUCTION by WAYNE DOLLARD
Moving in Together
Perhaps the number-one thing separating intermediate and advanced players is the ability to effectively and consistently make it up to the non-volley zone line when serving . Intermediate players struggle approaching the net — successfully making it up 25 to 40 percent of the points . At the advanced levels ( 4.0 +), serving teams are very proficient in the use of drop shots and positioning . These players have an 80 to 98 percent success rate in approaching the non-volley line . The key to getting up to the line relies primarily on the serving team ’ s ability to move in together .
The first two shots of the pickleball point are generally a formality at the intermediate and advanced levels . For the starting team , get the serve in ; for the receiving team , get the return back deep and run up to the non-volley line before the serving team hits the third shot . For intermediate and advanced players , the point truly begins with the third shot .
Most intermediate players do not understand how to work together . Often when one player is hitting a drop shot , we see the partner blindly kamikaze-charging toward the non-volley line . This is one of the trademark mistakes of the intermediate player . Advanced players understand that moving up to the non-volley area requires a consistent plan and teamwork .
As the serving team , we should see our side of the court in three zones : The baseline area is Zone 1 , the mid-court transition area is Zone 2 , and the non-volley area is Zone 3 . Working through the zones as a team takes shot selection , ball placement , observation , and proper movement together , up or back .
Shot Selection
You and your partner need to be on the same page . The first thing you need to know is whether your partner is driving or dropping the third shot . It ’ s good to alert partners a second or two in advance so they are more prepared for the next ball coming back . For example , if your partner says , “ I ’ m dropping the ball ,” you know you have a couple of seconds to evaluate the point . If your partner says , “ I ’ m driving ,” you know that you need to prepare for the next shot a little sooner .
Ball Placement
At the intermediate level , the third shot drops should normally be hit back at the returner running in . The reason is that intermediate players generally fail to make it all the way up to the non-volley line . In contrast , your opponent ’ s partner is already at the line waiting to attack your third shot . So , for 3.0 to 3.9 players , we recommend wide drops to the returner running in .
Observation
Two of the most important things the serving team can do are : 1 ) recognizing early who will be hitting the third shot , and 2 ) evaluating the success of the third shot once it is hit . These two observations are extremely important to your success in the final stage — Moving in Together .
Moving in Together
The final stage in approaching the net is how we work our way in as a team . When serving and working your way in , you and your partner should rarely be more than one zone apart from each other .
At the beginning of the point , we are serving and standing in Zone 1 . As soon as the return of serve is hit back to a player , the non-hitting partner needs to immediately walk into Zone 2 — closely watching and awaiting the success of the partner ’ s drop shot or drive . The second or two after the partner hits the third shot , the teammate waiting in Zone 2 has the duty of observing the trajectory of the ball and the positioning of opponents .
If the ball is hit too high and / or the returning player takes the paddle back in an aggressive manner , retreat
22 TO SUBSCRIBE , CALL 412.914.8294 OR GO TO PICKLEBALLMAGAZINE . COM