Shots & Strategies

Whether you’re just starting out, you have a few seasons under your belt, or you’re a gherkin’ pro, I’m about to serve up some shots and strategies that even the most brined player should know to up their game.

SHOTS

1. Lob:
   
   1. Hit it high in the air and over the heads of your opponents. It forces your opponent to turn around quickly and run the ball down in the backcourt.
2. Cross-Court Dink:
   
   1. A ‘Dink’ shot is only used at the net (in the kitchen), are very soft, and are meant to carry the ball just over the net.
   2. A Cross-Court Dink moves it from one side of the court to the other, rather than straight across.
3. Drive:
   
   1. Basically, hit it as hard as you can.
4. Block Shot:
   
   1. This is meant to stop a drive. Hold your paddle out in front of you in the backhand position and let the ball collide with it; do not swing at it!
5. Backhand Punch:
   
   1. Hold your paddle in the backhand position and ‘punch’ the ball instead of swinging at it.
6. Overhead Smash:
   
   1. This is meant for one thing and one thing only; to destroy the ball and make it impossible for your opponents to return it. Simply smash the ball downwards, close to the net!
7. Topspin:
   
   1. Move your paddle from low to high when you hit it.
8. Sidespin:
   
   1. Move your paddle from up high, down to the side.
9. Dropshot:
   
   1. Hit the ball after the highest point in it’s arc, right before it would hit the ground on it’s second bounce. The goal is to get the ball just over the net, inside the kitchen, so that your opponent is forced to let it bounce before hitting it.

STRATEGIES

1. Serve up a vlasic shot, don’t try anything fancy. Focus on getting the ball over the net and forcing your opponent to move his/her feet.
2. Confuse your opponent; serve up a shot that’s right down the middle. If you’re lucky, both of them will go for it or both of them will leave it.
3. Know all of your third-shot options:
   
   1. Down the Hallway:
      
      1. Hit the ball between the players, straight up the middle. See point number 2 if you’ve already forgotten why you should do this.
   2. The Lob:
      
      1. This can surprise your opponents and can cause their focus to be interrupted, according to Pickleball experts. Be warned, though; this can give your opponent the opportunity to smash it right back to you.
   3. Drilling the Net Person:
      
      1. If you’re opponents are positioning one of them at the net and one at the back of the court, shoot straight for the net person. They’ll have to react extremely quickly to get it back to you.
   4. Side Drop Shot:
      
      1. Hit a drop-shot to the backhand of your opponent. After hitting this shot, rush to the net and get ready for the short return.
   5. Middle Drop Shot:
      
      1. This is just a drop-shot version of ‘Down the Hallway.’
4. Check yo’ grip. Players should use a ‘continental grip’ with the skin between your thumb and index finger on the top of the paddle handle.
5. Hit towards their backhand.
6. Don’t hit the ball to your opponents, hit it near them so you force them to move.
7. Don’t swing your paddle, simply punch the ball back with a flat paddle.
8. Aim the volley at your opponent’s feet.

Give yourself a pat on the back; you’re officially a Pickleball expert! Have fun out there.