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. 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 telltale 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 made his professional pickleball debut at the 2019 US Open, where he made the semifinals in Men’ s Pro Singles. Over the course of the following year, he quickly climbed to the top 10 in both divisions, including a stint as the World # 1 in men ' s doubles in 2024. He was the set partner of his younger brother, Ben Johns, from 2021-2024 and they were the # 1 men’ s doubles team for the majority of their time together on tour.
SPRING 2025 | MAGAZINE 47