OFFENSIVE
DEFENSIVE
Now, in reverse, if you are the Steady Eddie, walk with confidence and an even pace. Keep your opponents out on the court as long as it takes. High, deep balls make them work. Move them around from the get-go. Wear them out. If they win the first game, but you outlast them in the third, you have won the match.
Because pickleball is won at the net, an aggressive player has an advantage. A steady control player in pickleball still has to be able to put the ball away when the opening is there.
How should you play against a steady player? Minimize your risky shots. Hit a lot of balls down the middle. Do not open up the court for the hitters. Make them keep the ball in play and take chances. Run down every ball. Make your opponent earn every point.
Let’ s examine specific patterns. The attacker, the offensive player, should return deep to the backhand corner and press the opponent until the opponent pops the ball up. Relentless pressure. Stacking is also a way to keep the pressure on by focusing on strengths. Your left-side player should have a strong overhead. Practice hitting overheads deep, and work on angling the ball to put the ball away.
The steady player wants to maintain a comfortable pace that gives him time to set up drops and dinks to work the point rather than“ wham, bam, thank you ma’ am.” A steady player must be able to reset and slow the game down when he is getting blasted off the court. Practice doing drills that require patience. Learn not to overplay but to place the ball with little pace. Don’ t give opponents what they want.
Learn to size up your opponents to determine their preferences. Sometimes it is more important to not give them what they like than it is for you to hit what you like. You cannot always play your game and win. Sometimes you must win by taking their game away from them.
It is worth noting that because of the scoring system of pickleball, it is possible to play a riskier point when you are serving because you will not lose a point, you just lose the service. When you are receiving, you are wise to be more conservative. If you make a mistake when you are receiving, you lose a point.
No matter what kind of a player you are, you need to be able to play defensively sometimes. For seniors, a lob is imperative. Resets are necessary for all players. Sometimes things do not go your way, but a reset keeps you in the game. Defense can neutralize. Then you have a second chance.
Here is where attitude comes into play. Pickleball is a“ never-give-up” sport. Let cords happen. Lucky shots are made. It seems like the most flexible players are the luckiest because they stay in the game. It doesn’ t hurt to play Mary Chapin Carpenter’ s“ I Feel Lucky” before you go on the court!
Choose the type of player you want to be, then build your game around that style. Imitate players who play the style you want. If you like Anna Leigh Waters’ rolling backhand volley, then practice that shot along with the footwork she demonstrates when hitting it.
Aggressive players and steady players are self-fulfilling prophesies. A little“ flash and dash” goes well with Steady Eddie and vice versa! •
Alice Tym was ranked 13th in the world for tennis in the’ 60s. She’ s been named USPTA Coach of the Year and is a USPTA Master Professional. As a 4.5 pickleball player, she has won gold in Huntsman, NSGA Nationals, US Open, and USA Pickleball events around the country. Alice is an IPTPA member, SSIPA founding board member, Bainbridge Cup Originator and gold medalist in Spain, Italy and Germany.
JULY 2026 | MAGAZINE 29