How to Play Better Defense in Pickleball

ThatPickleballSchool

Pro Jack Sock, Photo by Bruce Yeung; IG:@yeungphotography

Hey guys, it’s Kyle from ThatPickleballSchool. By the end of this article, you’re going to understand one of the most important defensive principles in pickleball. If your opponent’s paddle is up high on the other side of the net, get your paddle down low. I’ll show you exactly what I mean—let’s go!

If I ever see my opponent’s paddle up—meaning they’re hitting a high ball—I should immediately get into a paddle-down scenario (figure 1). My friend Shannon calls this the seesaw effect. It works both ways—if my paddle goes up, the opponent would want to get their paddle down.

(figure 1)

Why This Matters

There will be plenty of times in doubles when the ball gets popped up—whether it’s your partner or you who pops it up. When that happens, don’t give up on the point! The point isn’t over. You want to be in a position where you can recover the ball.

Technique Breakdown

1. Paddle Down

The way I do this is by holding my paddle with two hands. The first person I ever saw do this was Vivienne David. I take my second hand and place it on the paddle, with one finger at the top for better control (see below).

The trigger for this is simple: when the ball goes up, my paddle goes down. I don’t need to keep my paddle high when I’m in the mid-court on defense. If my paddle is up and they hit a high ball, I’m more likely to hit it out. When I’m farther back, on the defensive, I want my paddle down because that’s where the ball is most likely going. If the ball is going out, let it go!

2. Lift Like a Volleyball Player

I want to lift the ball up like a volleyball player digging a spike from the other team. The goal is to create a higher trajectory, which gives us a better chance to execute the next principle.

3. Miss High

If you hit the ball into the net, the point is over—you can’t win. If you miss high, you give yourself another chance to keep the point alive.

4. Move Back to the Kitchen

Once you’ve executed a good defensive shot, move back up to the kitchen line. If my partner hits a third shot drop, and I have to lift a few defensive shots to stay in the point, once I get a good one, I move forward.

Game Situations

If I hit a third shot drop and see it’s too high, I know my opponent will attack. As soon as I recognize my drop is still rising as it crosses the net, I get my paddle down, stop, get on balance, and prepare to lift the ball back over the net.

The moment the ball goes up, I don’t wait—I immediately drop my paddle down. This eliminates reaction time and makes my defense faster. If I’m at the baseline, I don’t need to stand tall with my paddle high—I keep it lower in case my partner or I miss, so I’m ready to react.

The closer I get to the kitchen, the higher my paddle naturally goes. If my paddle is way too high and my opponent hits a ball that might be going out, I could still mistakenly hit it. I like keeping my paddle at about chest height as I move forward.

If my opponent speeds up the ball while I’ve kept my paddle low, I can counter more effectively. If I keep my paddle too low when my opponent attacks, I have to bring it up quickly, which takes too much time. Since we’re only 14 feet apart, I need to be ready to react instantly.

Dinking and Defensive Adjustments

Let’s say you’re dinking and your partner accidentally pops a ball up. Don’t just stand there and take it! Instead, take a step back and get your paddle down. As I step back, my paddle naturally lowers because I don’t want to be swinging at high balls that might be going out.

A common mistake is players standing still and giving up on the point when their partner pops the ball up. Don’t give up! You can defend and get those balls back. Paddle up means your paddle goes down—got it?!

Handling Waist-Level Balls

If the ball comes to my waist and isn’t going out, I sometimes rise up with two hands, but other times, I let go and hit a tennis-style volley. When I do this, I keep a loose grip—I don’t death-grip the paddle. The looser my hands, the better my control.

The more you keep balls alive, the more frustrated your opponents get. That frustration often leads them to try too hard, making errors like hitting the ball into the net. If I dig out a shot and keep the ball in play, my opponent might overhit the next one—there’s a psychological aspect to making one more ball.

Balance and Stopping Before Contact

If my opponent is about to hit the ball, I need to be stopped, on balance, and ready to defend. A big mistake players make is running through the shot. If you miss a third shot drop and are still moving forward, you’re likely to pop it up. Instead, stop and get balanced before hitting.

Pro Jack Sock, Photo by Bruce Yeung; IG:@yeungphotography

Another common mistake when dinking is running backward while trying to make contact with a defensive shot. If your opponent pops a dink up, don’t keep running while you try to hit the ball. Instead, stop, balance, and make a controlled shot to keep the ball low and in play.

Two Drills to Improve Defense

Drill #1: Mid-Court Defensive Training

Sit in the mid-court and pop the ball up for your opponent so they can hit down on it. This drill helps develop quick hands and the ability to react defensively. Set a timer and do this for 10 minutes.

Drill #2: The First-to-50 Game

This game was shown to me by my friend Michael Lloyd. If someone knows the original source, I’ll add it in the description.

How it works:

• The game is first to 50.
• One player feeds the other a ball they can take out of the air (not a lob or bounce).
• The defending player works on keeping the ball in play as long as possible.
• Once the defender misses, they switch roles.
• The first player to reach 50 successful hits wins.

This drill helps improve reaction time and defensive consistency.

Final Thoughts

Remember: if your opponent’s paddle is up, get your paddle down. If you want to learn how to hit a third shot drop more effectively, click here—you’ll see why it works.

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