PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTION
GIVE
BY ALICE TYM
A
N
E
AN NGL AN GLE
A GET
P
ickleball is about limiting your opponent’s options
and maximizing your own. Because of the court
dimensions and the geometry of possibility, there are
certain conventions that work better than others to limit
your opponent’s options.
As a general rule, you want to limit their choices when
you are in relatively poor court position, such as when you
are not at the net.
When you are serving, your team starts in the backcourt.
When you are receiving, only one of you starts on the
backcourt. Neither is an ideal position. The old tennis
maxim, “Give an angle, get an angle” applies in both cases;
however, you do not want to give an angle when you are in
a weaker court position.
Begin with the return. If you choose to return with a
sharp cross-court angle, you give your opponent multiple
options: pass your partner down the line, hit a sharper
SERVER
B
Option 1
A Lob
Option 2
A Passing
Shot
cross-court shot (opening up your middle), drive deep
down the middle, or lob over your partner — two players
on your side and four good options for your opponent. It
would be better if you hit deep down the center by the T
with no angle. Now your opponent has only the lob and a
return to you, which might be picked off by your partner at
the net. You have minimized the options against you and
created an opportunity for your partner.
The server has several choices. Of course, the key is
depth to force your opponent to take more steps to get to
the net. A good serve down the center reduces the chance
of a sharp angle return. You don’t want any surprises.
Obviously, varying your serves and returns makes you
less predictable, but a basic principle to build your game
around is to limit your opponents’ options when you are in
a weaker court position. Give an angle only when you are in
good position and can cover their response. •
SERVER
Option 3
A Sharp
Angle
Option 4
A Deep
A
Return
RECEIVER
B
A
Option 1
RECEIVER
Will pass by B (net man)
enabling an easy poach
JULY/AUGUST 2017 |
MAGAZINE
31