i
INSTRUCTION by ALICE TYM
THE ART OF DECEPTION
We have established the importance of consistency, doing repetitive drills, and establishing good muscle memory. The problem is you do not want to be predictable. Yes, you want your shots to be consistent, but if your opponent knows where you will hit the ball, you have given him the advantage.
Deception is setting up to hit one shot and at the last minute hitting the ball in a different location. A deceptive shot is especially effective early on in a match to keep your opponent honest.
A good example of this is when you are in the backhand corner and can either hit a deep or short crosscourt, or drive the ball down the line. A drive down the line is effective in keeping a poaching opponent honest. You change it up as your opponent catches on. To be able to do this effectively, however, you must practice your down-the-line forehand from the backhand corner.
Move your feet. Line up for a knees-bent drive where you hold on to that line drive follow-through for the longest time. Then practice hitting your inside / outside forehand drive to your opponent’ s backhand corner. You need to hit some of them short near the service corner and some of them deep, depending on your opponent’ s position and proximity to the net.
It is not about the pace on this shot. It is more about placement, and easing that ball so that it curves wide and pulls your opponent away from the center of the court.
If you have a ball machine, you can alternate: first shot down the line, second shot crosscourt and short, third shot crosscourt and deep. Moving your feet is the key to accuracy. You are a ballerina whose body is centered so that your extension is balanced.
Another good deceptive shot is the lob, especially when opponents are crowding the net. Line up for a drive. Set your feet and keep your head down. Do not telegraph your intentions by looking up too soon. Remember to always practice good footwork so your opponents don’ t think that sloppy play on your part will probably result in a lob.
A lob should be intentional, not just reactive. You have moved your feet, so at the last second, lift( almost a carry) the ball over the opponent’ s head. Make it smooth rather than a smack. You will have more control by carrying the ball on the paddle as long as possible and by setting your feet. Keep your feet stable for greater accuracy.
Try putting hula hoops on the court as targets for lobbing drills.
Think of the deceptive lob as offensive rather than defensive. You need sharp, not lazy, footwork. Just because the lob is high does not mean that you have time to waste. For deception, you can prepare to lob and if you see your opponents backing up, you are ready to crank a drive at their feet. Preparation is the key to effective deception.
Dinking deception is a big part of pickleball net play. A visor is useful in hiding your eyes. You can lean. You can look in the direction you are going to hit— or not look, to fake. It is critical to not outsmart yourself at the net, however. If you use deception, be sure to deceive the opponent rather than yourself.
Try not to be so extended that you cannot pinpoint your shot. And, most of all, you still have to watch the ball hit your paddle rather than looking up too soon.
Practice dinking down the line as well as crosscourt. Try not to get into a predictable pattern. Another deceptive shot is to lob your dink. Your opponent is looking for a dink return and may be in tight to the NVZ line. Surprise him by lifting the ball over his head rather than returning another dink.
Playing dink games and doing dink drills are fun ways to acquire deception skills. Getting low to the ball increases your options for deception.
Another good source of deception is the use of spin. You need to prepare as if you are hitting a drive— forehand serves, for example. Then you come under the ball with a slower paddle speed. It looks the same to the opponent, but the ball falls short without much pace.
And it is low. You can put a heavy slice or a light slice on the ball and have it look pretty much the same. It
26 TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL 412.914.8294 OR GO TO PICKLEBALLMAGAZINE. COM