I Taught My 4.0 Friend How the Pros Defend

In today's video I share with Tyler, and you!, how the pros defend and reset in pickleball.
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[@jmogyoro]

More videos with regular people like this please. So many vids with pros demonstrating perfect technique. I want to see the guy making the errors and correcting them. This is way way more valuable. Keep it up.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@auntlizard262]

Yes PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Brittanithepro]

Totally agree.

[@DavidCNealACTOR]

Very well stated. Love your video style consistently as it is, but I do agree as it feels like eavesdropping into a mini lesson with your typical cogent encouragement.

[@tricia3114]

I’m in.

[@CryptoxLawyer_eth]

The analogy to digging a volleyball is perfect. Split step, get on balance, and low wide base with firm stable platform (paddle) and lift with your legs. As soon as one can implement your advice and conquer the fear of getting bagged or taking one to the face, the transition zone and 1-2 steps off the kitchen line will become areas of strength in your game. Great video Kyle!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kimballleighton4999]

As a 4.0 who plays with 100% bangers, this is the missing link. Thank you!

[@j.wittmus9614]

Great video and lesson! Thank you! I'm a hard hitter and this is the first video that addresses how not to be! Most just address how to play against hard hitters. Thank you!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeffreinardy7570]

Watching this, I "think" part of the reason he was returning to high was that he, as he said needed softer hands, but also soft through the shoulders. They seemed very tight and ridged. Part of this is the new factor to him and he is trying really hard to do it right. I am not 4.0 but what I have learned and continue to tell myself is stay relaxed and less is more.

[@ianmacdonald5278]

Yes. In a different comments video I was told that the lift starts with the shrug of the shoulders. I don't understand why this reset isn't taught at the same time and with the same emphasis as the 3rd shot drop. Great reminder and link at the end of the video about going deeper into this skill in a previous video of yours about not giving up.(You might also want to put that reminder and link in the notes?) Great video Kyle!!

[@dl7132]

​@@ianmacdonald5278@thatpickleballguy Could you talk more about starting with a shrug of the shoulders? Around 2:47 when Kyle demonstrates it's amazing how little it seems like he's moving but is somehow still able to arc the ball back over. I can see the body moving up some but I'm still a little dumbstruck how the ball doesn't just limp off the paddle. There's more going on to this than I can tell!

[@ianmacdonald5278]

@@dl7132 If you look at many of the KZbin reset videos you will see that the harder the ball is slammed at you the less counter-action you have to do to get it back over the net. So a more vertical shrug with or without additional leg lift with the correct paddle face angle may be all you need. And a stable paddle as Kyle mentions, which is why you will see 2 hands on the backhand resets even for those players who don't use a 2 handed backhand drive or drop. Look at Kyle's other video that he linked that I mentioned earlier.

[@dl7132]

​@@ianmacdonald5278 Thanks, I found the link at the end of this video (the video is named "How to Play Better Defense in Pickleball"). The vertical shrug without much leg lift makes a lot of sense for a hard ball; the video might be a little misleading but it didn't seem like you were crushing balls at Kyle around 2:47, it seemed pretty moderate but he was still getting them back over with very minimal motion. Still working on replicating that, it's pretty awesome :-). The second hand for stability makes a ton of sense. I do it occasionally on backhand resets but really making it the default when returning something in this range has been helpful already.

[@ravhannah]

My favorite pickleball channel! We can see you're having fun, funny, and informative.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thank you! I am :)

[@terigiese1322]

Super helpful!Always about not hitting that ball so hard.Doesn’t take much to get those balls where they need to go👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻😊

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@billpaige6595]

That’s for the tip ,using the other hand to stabilize is a great idea

[@thatpickleballguy]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@markjanzen5527]

Thanks for the video. You are producing great videos and I always look forward to seeing new content.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@vincevita6872]

Thank you Kyle !!!! this is a shot that was not even a thought for me [ newbie ] used this 2 hand shot today and i saved so many shots....Still learning.... and watching your content.... Vince

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@tinamarles1035]

thank you thank you thank you!!! I just got back from a 2hr drill/1hr play session and used your technique for resets! Worked like a charm!!! YAY!!! :)

[@thatpickleballguy]

Youre welcome!! Glad it worked out;)

[@KatiePoole-pj5tn]

Thank you 🙏 so much for this! I operate a youth league in North Phoenix and i have 50 student 👩‍🎓 . I am taking my high schoolers to the AZ State championships in December and they need to work in this!! I love your humor!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Wonderful! Thanks for watching.

[@davidjkittner]

Great video. Very helpful. I enjoy your style of Teaching; clear and concise and easy to understand. Thank you for the great content Kyle. 🙏🏻👍🏻

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@felicitymoss6783]

I love all of your videos....I learn so much. I look forward to your newest venture with your video teachings....Keep it up

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for the kind words :) Glad its been helpful! Im excited too!

[@lizmurphy5597]

Great tips for me, Kyle, as I had my first Pickleball game last week and now will try some of those great ideas . I now know why people get addicted to this game!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Its true!! Good luck

[@jamin634]

Hey, is that Tyler from PGC? Multitalented!

[@nealawakened]

Thank You so much for making this video. I started implementing what you taught the same day I watched this video!! Thank You Brother! Keep making more videos!

[@thatpickleballguy]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@nhowe1652]

At 1:24 , you show the grip, but i can't tell if you changed the grip of your right (non-dominant) hand. Pls clarify. Great video! I really want to add this skill to my game!

[@thatpickleballguy]

I shift my hand a little bit to a eastern grip when I put my left hand on the paddle to use a two handed backhand!

[@susanhachigian5503]

Great video! I see people I play with do that very shot, and I said to myself, self 😂, you need to learn how to incorporate that shot into your game! I love your instructional videos. I’ve learned a lot! I live in Michigan. Would love to have seen you play live!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks a lot. Glad they're helping :)

[@joq702]

Kind of like moving your body as a shortstop to field/catch a ground ball. Looks like that. Good footwork once again important. I am going to try what you taught.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes exactly!

[@toms9864]

Thank you for all the good information. I feel my game is better already without being on the court.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dl7132]

What's the range of this two-handed defense? I'm guessing that, like balls in the forehand zone, a backhand side ball I can't get near my body is going to require a one-handed backhand (better to reach the ball than not, even if the one-hander is clearly less stable than if I could keep my left-hand supporting the paddle too, right?). I also noticed the highest ball Kyle defended using this technique was around elbow height. Kyle talked about letting a face height ball go (it's likely out), but what about balls a little higher than the elbow? I'm guessing if we believe the ball isn't sailing out, then any higher than the elbow and we need to flip the paddle back up to block it? Thanks for an amazing video! Went out and practiced it a bit already and looking forward to improving it. Definitely "skying up" a lot of balls for now, but will work to find a better arc.

[@thatpickleballguy]

I agree with everyone said here. And thanks for the kind words!

[@brucebaker8259]

Great video Kyle. I am a 3.5 player but I plan to incorporate these drills this week.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you liked it!

[@viliamifusi6667]

3:40 😂😂😂

[@MrGbustamante]

One of the most helpful videos I have watched. Thanks!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ginjaninja3627]

These defensive shots will really up my game if I can practice them.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Love to hear it!

[@leo35577]

Look at Tyler being great at something that's not basketball. Looking good!

[@djstreams718]

Love this video. Immediately taking this to the court to practice

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoyed it! Good luck!

[@djstreams718]

@@thatpickleballguypracticed this for 30 mins. Then lobbied most balls in the games I played. Shocked myself with some of the dogs and resets I had

[@joecouch5427]

Great video and easy to understand!! Thank you.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tommyzai7038]

Outcome . . . more stability and control.

[@kabnis2022]

For two-handed backhand, what grip should the non-dominant hand be in (eastern, continental, semi-western etc?)

[@thatpickleballguy]

Gosh, I gotta be honest. I don't know the answer to this. I put my left hand up on the top of the grip like I show in the video). Im not a tennis guy and all the grip conversation always confuses me. So I don't want to say the wrong one and confuse you.

[@phyllisrosen7637]

Great video! How can I read my opponent is going to lob when my partner and I are up at the net? Ty

[@j.wittmus9614]

Great question

[@thatpickleballguy]

Typically they change their swing path and open their paddle face a little bit. Look for their pre lob cues.

[@marvindennis3664]

volleyball! This I fully understand.

[@kabnis2022]

For resetting hard shots at your feet, do you primarily lift with your arm/shoulder or your legs for the blocking/lifting motion or both?

[@thatpickleballguy]

More legs. Get lower so you can "lift up" with your legs more so than your arms. IMO, you lose control the more arms you use.

[@aqeelel-amin905]

Gonna try and implement this into my game headed to the courts now

[@thatpickleballguy]

Let's go! Thanks for watching

[@forthedoggiesguitars2277]

Where’s so go places to play in Phoenix since you live there, you know, the good parks or some indoor facilities?? ThAnks.

[@thatpickleballguy]

picklemall is good. Tempe sports complex. Pickleball kingdom. All good options.

[@wht80vette]

Lob that back in Fl and point over 😂

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@Evan-ed7pu]

This is a winner video. can’t wait to try it tomorrow

[@thatpickleballguy]

Let's go!

[@stuthill1]

Good teaching.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thank you!

[@kathrynmorelli5226]

Do you have a reset video perhaps?

[@thatpickleballguy]

yep - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIjLZoiXitOil7M

[@charlievthetuna]

Kyle, use your resources to examine common pickleball injuries and how to prepare for action. Include the differences in age groups. Get a physician to explain what happens to muscle mass as a person ages and recommended exercises or stretches for the 80+% of pickleball recreational players. I play with a small circle of friends (10-12), all active 2.75-4.0 players 50-70 years old. 3 of these 12 players, including me have had calf muscle strains during the past year. Seems it's the most common injury. I researched, visited a doctor and do my proper prep now, but it might help many others who enjoy your take. Thanks for your time.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Good idea. I'll look into it.

[@EddieDBama]

Fantastic video!!!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you liked it!

[@igorhiller5596]

great vid. super helpful

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it helped!

[@stuthill1]

Help video!! with swing volley from transition in the future when you’re making new videos.

[@thatpickleballguy]

I will keep that in mind!

[@kathrynmorelli5226]

Let me add, at the kitchen, specifically, left to right and vice versa for 3.0 players.

[@earlewilliams4262]

great video. super relevant

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it helped!

[@kevinespina3289]

Teach us how to half volley next!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Coming soon!

[@scottfaith9759]

4.0 in what state?

[@kyebean]

EVERY SINGLE TIME (for some strange reason) he's massively articulating his wrist, you praise him and act like he's doing it right but he never stops

[@thatpickleballguy]

What does articulating his wrist mean? Also, yeah, it was his first time ever. Still learning how to teach it better :)

[@afterthesmash]

I watched the video around 5:00 frame by frame and if there's any wrist involved it's extremely minor. There's a lot of upward rotation through both shoulders and a moderate extension from the knees. I wonder: does anyone who uses all-caps for _anything_ ever watch more than 15 s of any KZbin clip? Every single time I dig in to check this out, evidence continues to pile up that all-caps has a 100% correlation with short attention spans.

[@kyebean]

He kinda stopped doing it one time around 5:00 after he was shown, but then goes back to it. Look how his right wrist joint is sticking out all the time because it's bent

[@kyebean]

​@@thatpickleballguy he's like trying to "swing" or "follow through". He doesn't understand that it's a block, not a swing.

[@Ramenscooter]

Really? There is a pickleball rating system 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes there is!

[@Largecanyondog]

Please teach the pros a half volley instead of backing up.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes, will add that to my upcoming videos!