How to Hit the 'Cookie Jar' Shot: Pickleball Legend and Creator Kyle Yates Explains

It's a highly skilled maneuver. Not for the faint of heart. But if you can pull it off, you'll have a highlight shot for life.

Kyle Yates is one of the most influential names in pickleball you may have never heard of.

The pickleball pioneer joined Zane Navratil on the PicklePod to talk about his journey from learning shots from other players to inventing his own signature shot he happily takes full credit for: the Cookie Jar.

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The coach of USA's winning 2025 Pickleball World Cup team was instrumental in bringing Ben Johns into the sport. Suffice to say, he's got more than a few tricks up his sleeve.

The Kyle: When Your Shot Goes Viral (and Stops Working)

Zane is no stranger to inventing new pickleball shots. He is, after all, credited with coming up with the infamous (and now illegal) "chainsaw" serve.

One of the many shots that helped put Yates on the map has become known as "The Kyle."

You know the one:

• You set up for a one-handed backhand dink
• Then flip your wrist at the last second
• And flick a deceptive forehand instead

It's a misdirection play that, when executed properly, leaves opponents completely confused.

It's become a favorite of PPA pro Jack Sock, shown here:

Yates didn't actually invent The Kyle either, at least not entirely. He saw Steve Dawson working on something similar during a camp in Southern California years ago.

But Yates was the one who perfected it. He was one of the first to pull it off effectively in competitive tournaments. And for a while, it was unstoppable.

"The first few times I did it, it was flawless," he said. "The person would start going right and the ball would go past them on the left.

Then pickleball went mainstream and the rest is history. People started expecting it. Suddenly, everyone knew what was coming. And just like that, the shot became less and less effective.

"Now I can't do it anymore," Yates admitted. "People try it against me all the time and it never works. It's obnoxious at this point."

He even shared a story about playing open play at a public park in Florida. In one hour, he faced seven attempts from different players trying to hit The Kyle against... THE KYLE.

All seven failed miserably.

The Cookie Jar: Finally, Something That's Actually His

This is where The Cookie Jar comes in. Unlike The Kyle or the backhand roll (another shot he gets credit for but says he only helped perfect), Yates actually invented this one from scratch and happily takes full credit.

So what is it?

Simply put, the Cookie Jar is when you Erne an around-the-post (ATP). It's a highly skilled maneuver. Not for the faint of heart. But when it works, it's magical.

The concept is simple. Execution is anything but.

• On most APT attempts, the player hitting it is pulled out wide of the sideline
• As soon as their head drops, the player across from them gets ready
• Instead of preparing to play defense, they're going airborne instead
• As soon as contact is made, they take to the air to initiate the Erne attempt

Court geometry helps this shot immensely: the player attempting the APT has a small window of space to hit into. That's exactly where you need to be.

Time it perfectly and you'll have a highlight shot for life.

"I had never seen anyone try it before," Yates said.

Just don't try it against Yates himself. He'll read it like a book every time.

What This Means for Pickleball

Pickleball is evolving rapidly as a sport. It's not just about individual shots anymore. It's about the speed at which innovation happens, the role of social media in democratizing knowledge, and the pressure on elite players to stay creative.

Yates summed it up perfectly: "That's what I loved about pickleball from the beginning. You just be creative."

There's still room for innovation. But in the age of Instagram and YouTube, nothing stays secret for long.

Your competitive advantage has a shelf life. The shot that wins you tournaments today might be neutralized by next month. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. It just means the best players are the ones who can adapt, innovate, and stay one step ahead.