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10 Strategies To Improve Your Pickleball Defense

1. Stay in Ready Position

One of the most important aspects of pickleball defense is staying in a ready position. This means that you should be standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, your knees slightly bent, and your weight evenly distributed on both feet. This position allows you to quickly and easily move in any direction, so you can react to shots and get to the ball before your opponent. To stay in a ready position, make sure to keep your eyes on the ball and be prepared to move at any moment.

2. Protect the Middle

Another key aspect of pickleball defense is protecting the middle of the court. This is the area between the non-volley zone and the back line, and it’s where many pickleball shots are aimed. To protect the middle, you should be positioned near the center of the court, with your feet pointing towards the net. This way, you’ll be able to quickly react to shots and get to the ball before your opponent. Additionally, you should be aware of where your opponent is positioned, and try to anticipate their shots so you can be in the right place at the right time.

3. Improve Your Center Coverage by Shifting Back

To improve your center coverage, you should shift back from your ready position when your opponent is positioned near the center of the court. This will give you more time to react to shots and will allow you to cover more of the middle of the court. Additionally, shifting back will help you avoid being caught off guard by quick shots, and will give you more time to get to the ball before your opponent. When shifting back, make sure to keep your eyes on the ball and be prepared to move at any moment.

4. Work on Your Blocking

Blocking is a powerful tool in pickleball defense, as it allows you to quickly and easily return shots that would otherwise be difficult to reach. To improve your blocking skills, you should practice blocking shots from different angles, and work on your timing so that you can get to the ball at the right moment. Additionally, you should pay attention to the spin on the ball, and adjust your blocking technique accordingly. With practice, you’ll become a master at blocking shots and will be able to use this technique to your advantage in pickleball matches.

5. Don’t Chase Bad Balls

One of the biggest mistakes that pickleball players make is chasing after bad balls. This is when you try to return a shot that is simply too far away or too difficult to reach. Instead of chasing after bad balls, you should focus on getting to the right position and being ready to return the next shot. By doing this, you’ll be able to conserve your energy and avoid making mistakes that could cost you the point.

6. Adjust Your Grip Pressure and Shot Speed

Another important aspect of pickleball defense is adjusting your grip pressure and shot speed. This means that you should be aware of the pace and spin of the ball, and adjust your grip accordingly to ensure that you’re able to return the shot effectively. If the ball is slow and has a lot of spin, you should grip the paddle more loosely to allow for more spin on your return shot. If the ball is fast and has little spin, you should grip the paddle more tightly and hit the ball with more speed. This will help you return shots that would otherwise be difficult to reach and will give you more control over your shots.

7. The Best Defense is a Good Offense

One of the most important strategies in pickleball defense is to have a good offense. This means that you should focus on hitting shots that put your opponent on the defensive, and force them to make mistakes. By doing this, you’ll be able to control the pace of the game and put your opponent on the back foot. Additionally, a good offense will give you more opportunities to score points, and will put pressure on your opponent to make a return shot.

8. Anticipate Your Opponent’s Shots

Anticipating your opponent’s shot is a critical aspect of pickleball defense. By paying attention to your opponent’s position and shot selection, you can be in the right place at the right time to return the shot. Additionally, anticipating your opponent’s shot will help you avoid being caught off guard and will give you more time to react. To improve your ability to anticipate your opponent’s shot, pay close attention to their body language, footwork, and shot selection, and try to guess where they’ll hit the ball next.

9. Communicate with Your Partner

Communication is key in pickleball, and it’s especially important in defense. By communicating with your partner, you can coordinate your movements and ensure that you’re both in the right place at the right time to return the shot. Additionally, communicating with your partner will help you avoid confusion and ensure that you’re both on the same page. To improve your communication on the pickleball court, make sure to communicate clearly and concisely, and always be aware of your partner’s position.

10. Focus on Your Footwork

Finally, one of the most important aspects of pickleball defense is your footwork. By having quick and agile footwork, you’ll be able to get to the ball faster and make more accurate returns. Additionally, good footwork will help you stay balanced and avoid making mistakes that could cost you the point. To improve your footwork, practice moving quickly and smoothly around the court, and work on your agility and balance. With time and practice, you’ll develop quick and nimble footwork that will help you become a more effective defender in pickleball.

What is Rally Scoring in Pickleball?

Currently, the sport of pickleball uses what is known as “side out scoring.” In other words, you can only score a point on the pickleball court when you are serving.

There has been some discussion in the pickleball world of changing the scoring structure to what is known as “rally scoring.” In rally scoring, a point is scored on every single rally—regardless of who serves the pickleball.

More research into scoring formats for the sport of pickleball is in the works. However, it is important to know how the Rally Scoring works because some tournaments adopt this format.

How does Rally Scoring work?

There are a few ways to implement rally scoring. This pickleball blog will describe the format for rally scoring used at certain Major League Pickleball events.

Determine which team will serve, receive, pick the end of the court, or defer using any fair method (e.g., pick a 1 or 2, coin flip, rock-paper-scissors, etc.).
Each partner on a team determines which side of the pickleball court (the left side or the right side) to start on. Then, each partner remains on those respective sides throughout the entire game. (However, a team may switch sides of the pickleball court on a time-out or end change.)
The team that serves first will start the game. The player on the right-hand side of the court will serve first (serving cross court).
If the serving team wins the rally, then they will win a point and continue to serve. However, the partner on the left-hand side of the court will serve (but, remember, the players will stay on their respective sides of the court). The serve alternates between the players on the left- and right-hand side of the court (without the players changing positions) until they lose a rally.
If the serving team loses the rally, then the receiving team will win a point and the receiving team will win the serve. To note, there is no second server (so the score will only be two numbers—the serving team score and the receiving team score—and there will be no third number for the server number).
Which player will serve on a team is determined by the serving team’s score. If the score is even, then the player on the right-hand side of the court will serve. If the score is odd, then the player on the left-hand side of the court will serve. So, for example, if the score is 0-0, and the receiving team wins the rally, then the receiving team will win a point and the right to serve. The score will now be 1-0, so the player on the left-side of the receiving team will serve next.
The teams will change ends of the pickleball court when a team reaches 11 points.
The first team to 21 points wins (win by 2 points). However, points after the 20th point may only be scored on the serve. Further, if one team is at 20 points, the other team’s points will “freeze” at 18 points, and such other team may only score points when serving.
Again, players will remain on their respective sides (the left side and the right side) for the entire game, unless there is a time-out or an end change (in which case the players on a team could change sides). A point is scored on every rally, regardless of who has served (except the final point, which the final point may only be won when serving). Whichever team wins the rally, wins a point. If the serving team wins the point, the players alternate serves until they lose a rally/point. Then, the serve goes to the receiving team, and the serving player will be based on the serving team’s score. The final point (or points after the 20th point (or 18th point for the opposing team)) may only be scored on the serve. The first team to 21 points wins (win by 2 points)!

What is Stacking in Pickleball?

Stacking in pickleball is a doubles strategy where both players on a team line up, or stack, on the same side of the court before a serve or return. Every player 3.5 and above must be familiar with this strategy. Below is a useful link where you can learn everything about this advanced technique.

https://www.pickleheads.com/guides/what-is-stacking-in-pickleball