Top 3 Ways To Defend Any Hard Shot In Pickleball

Are you comfortable when a hard shot is coming your way? Do you know what your defensive options are? Because I'll let you in on a little secret...
...defense is not all about blocking and resets. Often, the best defense is a strong counterattack. Especially if your opponents attacked when the shouldn't have.
Do you know when you should be defending back soft vs. defending back hard? If you need more clarity on this then today's video is for you.
You'll learn what all your defending options are as well as when to use which one. Being clear about what to do and when is a big part of the equation when it comes to successful defending. Check out today's video where we break it all down.
► FREE 3rd Shot Drop Course: primetimepickleball.com/3rdshot
Reset, Block & Defense Videos:
5 MAIN Reasons 3.0/3.5s Pop Up Blocks (& How To Keep It Low Instead)
• 5 MAIN Reasons 3.0/3.5...
5 Common Hard Shot Defending Mistakes...Do THIS Instead!
• 5 Common Hard Shot Def...
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[@Tracyleck13]

Great tips and explanation on blocks. Really enjoy how you visually break things down and show examples of play. Also, it’s so nice not to have tons of ads and worthless jokes that I see in so many instructional videos. 🙌

[@johnkirsch5136]

You and Jorden rock have your doubles program and watch all your videos. Definitely making my game better, quicker and better though out as the point progresses

[@primetimepickleball]

So happy to hear. Thanks John!

[@SpicyCurryProd]

Good stuff--was hoping you would have some drills for each of those--or at least the full counter and pushback counter (I have plenty of reset drills ;-). Where can we find drills for the first 2? Thanks!

[@gregflakus66]

Great tips and a great video camp two weeks ago.. loved the intentionality session.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Greg! Glad you’re getting value from the videos 😊

[@durdicamac9662]

I really enjoy your advice it is very close to my understanding of the game. It is related to high level tennis strategy...

[@primetimepickleball]

Happy to hear you get value out of my videos and that they resonate with you. :)

[@gabrielafasnacht3914]

One of the best videos I have seen on this subject. Thanks for posting this

[@primetimepickleball]

Happy to hear it! Thanks for the comment.

[@jhors7777]

Thank you for posting this helpful video

[@primetimepickleball]

My pleasure. Glad it’s helpful.

[@bonitastewart6125]

Thanks, for the great tips.

[@primetimepickleball]

You bet!

[@Grinkles]

Great tips. As I advance to higher levels, these will be invaluable.

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad these Weill help 😊

[@bretwallach9863]

I'm still working hard on the reset and I use the "Push Counterattack" quite often. I'm getting better at both at an acceptable rate to the point where I'll return a really fast moving ball that I swear I didn't even see but somehow I moved my paddle a foot or two to get in front of it to hit it back. Nobody on the court is surprised as I am when I see the ball still in play! One of the things that has helped me was one of your videos that talked about not "flinching" when receiving an attach at the kitchen. So I'm curious about the return at 2:42. It looks a bit flinchy to me and if I jumped like that it would greatly reduce my likelihood of a good return. Why the vertical motion on that shot? Extra topspin? I'm generally not fast enough for a "Full Counterattack" unless it's a pretty slow attack or I happen to be a few feet back from the kitchen. Maybe I'll get faster hands eventually and hopefully I'll get better at predicting where my opponent is going to hit it (I used to be really good at that in tennis) but it's a lot harder in pickleball because players can get away with modifying their wrist positions, something that's a lot riskier in tennis. For example, just yesterday I played against two different people whose body motions, swing, weighting - basically everything - screamed shot to my forehand, but at the last instance they somehow opened the paddle face and it went to my backhand. Which had me leaning the wrong way and therefore I ended up way out of position and I wasn't even able to touch the ball. Any hints about what I can do about that? You mentioned patience. I'm super patient against weaker players but not at all patient with stronger players. Why? Because, pretty much by definition, the longer the point goes against a stronger player, the less likely I am to win it because odds are that they'll out play me. In other words, I need luck to beat a stronger player and the longer each point goes, the more luck I need. So I take the risky shots as soon as an even vaguely plausible opportunity presents itself. I'll have to admit that worked better in singles tennis than doubles pickleball but it still works somewhat.

[@Athletics005]

Hi Bret! I am actually the player at 2:42. I think an even more stark example of my vertical movement when countering is at 3:00. I can't say for sure what I am doing is correct as I don't see too many pro players do it, and I know ideal tennis volley technique is to never jump, but I can explain why I do it on occasion and why I find it beneficial. I am leaving the ground after they hit the ball once I determine they are going to attack mid or high on me. By having vertical movement I am able to get over the ball easier and hit it back down at my opponents. As you suggested an additional benefit is I get more topspin as the paddle naturally brushes the ball as I go vertical. Finally I am able to open up the hips and body a little better which helps prevent me from getting jammed.

[@bretwallach9863]

@@Athletics005 Thanks for the explanation - that all makes sense! Lots of tradeoffs when learning and playing a game like pickleball and I'm still trying to simplify and therefore reduce overall motion whenever possible at this point, especially the motion of my eyes/head, to make shots easier to learn.

[@primetimepickleball]

Super interesting points Alex. Thanks for jumping in here to drop these insights. If you'r reading it early and it's intentional, it's not flinching at that point and it's also true that it's not something you commonly see at pro level. It's like you're doing a reverse scorpion. You know it's going high so you jump instead of duck. lol

[@primetimepickleball]

Sounds like your brain and hands are picking things up faster than your eyes can move. That's cool. When you let yourself be in the zone and intuitive, that can happen. Eyes can't track the whole way from that close and at high speeds anyway. Awesome that you're working on keeping things minimal. There's a lot of bang for your buck when working on that. Everything will just look and feel slower. As far as your question about all signs pointing to them going this way and then they make a minor wrist adjustment and go the other way...not a whole lot you can do about that right at that moment. The term for that is misdirection...basically a fake out that they were able to draw you into. It's something you'll have to pick up on as a pattern that they do over time and come to expect it. They'll usually have a preferred type of ball to do that with and from a preferred side of the court so if you see that they got that ball... expect it.

[@rborges66]

do you offer singles stategy courses???

[@frank88ster]

Anticipating a counter attack at all times and look for gaps in the middle of two opposite players or a line drive if you are confident. A push shot their left or right gives you time to attack a pop up coming...

[@primetimepickleball]

Love that plan

[@Adi0-e8v]

Hello, I have a question. What is this shot called kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHS5cohrZZZ0rLs at 0:36? Also if possible could you do a video about it? Thanks!

[@primetimepickleball]

That's some Ben John's magic right there. It's a backhand roll initially disguised as a slice. I'll see if I can put it on the list. It's not nearly as useful in doubles...just fyi.

[@Adi0-e8v]

@@primetimepickleball I play singles and doubles, It would be really fun to use this tactic!!

[@Mobev1]

Thanks for your tips. I’ve been doing keto and not eating until 2 and stopping at 5 and I have abs and speed now. Speed is more important than anything

[@primetimepickleball]

Speed is SO valuable. I'm also been managing my eating. it works!

[@RogerGauthier-qy6oq]

Merci !

[@primetimepickleball]

Wow, thx! Sorry for the delay.

[@condoismdotcom]

Great tips

[@primetimepickleball]

👍