Key Strategies to Maximize Your Space on the Pickleball Court

An extra reach on the court can be the difference between winning and losing a rally. Positioning yourself strategically can take away space from your opponents and make your opponents’ shots more difficult. Make the most of your radius on the court with strategic shot selection and creative pickleball techniques. These valuable pickleball tips will help you make the most of your space on the pickleball court to control the game and limit your opponents’ options. 

1. Court Positioning: As a player, you should always aim to position yourself strategically to cover the most critical areas of the court. For example, playing at the Kitchen line will give you the ability to hit sharper angles than if you were playing at the baseline. Also, positioning yourself closer to the sideline can help you hit crosscourt shots with greater ease (e.g., as opposed to in the middle of the court). Understand where on the court you have the strongest angles and lure your opponents into hitting the pickleball there. Anticipating your opponent’s shots and adjusting your position accordingly can help you maintain control over the game and restrict your opponent’s options, ultimately maximizing your space on the court.

2. Focus on Footwork: Efficient movement across the court allows you to cover more ground and reach shots that might seem out of reach. Stay light on your feet and be ready to move swiftly in any direction to effectively cover the court and create opportunities for strategic plays. 

3. Follow the Flight of the Pickleball: Position yourself correctly on the pickleball court in order to cover the most court space. One way to help accomplish this is for you and your partner to follow the flight of the pickleball. For example, imagine you hit a crosscourt forehand dink to your opponent. Your partner should follow the pickleball and cover the line, and you should follow the pickleball and squeeze the middle of the court, remaining within six to eight feet of your partner. Suppose your opponents return the pickleball to your partner and your partner hits a crosscourt backhand dink to your opponent. In that case, you should follow the pickleball back to the line on your side of the pickleball court, and your partner should follow the pickleball and now squeeze the middle of the court; again, remaining within six to eight feet of you. Follow the flight of the pickleball to make the most of the pickleball court and limit your opponents’ angles of attack.

4. Master the Third Shot Drop: The third shot is considered the most important shot on the pickleball court, and for good reason. This shot is critical in putting the serving team in a position to score a point by helping them move from the baseline to the Kitchen line. Most points on the pickleball court are won from the Kitchen line, so it is important to get there quickly and then stay there. By executing a well-placed third-shot drop, you can neutralize your opponents. This strategic move not only maximizes your space on the court but also sets the stage for offensive plays, allowing you to take charge of the game.

5. Get Extra Reach with a Creative Technique: When you need a little extra reach on the court the answer may be a move like the “Erne” or the “flamingo.” These pickleball maneuvers are useful when you need to maximize your space to be aggressive and win the rally.

• The Erne is a shot where you hit the pickleball either in the air as you are jumping around the Non-Volley Zone or after you run around or through the Kitchen and re-establish your feet out of bounds. With Ernes around the sides of the Kitchen you can take away space from your opponents and make your opponents’ shots more difficult.
• Another way you may be able to narrow the gap in certain circumstances is by employing the “flamingo.” The “flamingo” is a creative way to maintain a legal position on the pickleball court, while still being able to reach high shots and volleys near the net. Like the bird for which it is named, a “flamingo” on the pickleball court requires balancing on one foot. By leaning on one foot behind the Kitchen line, players can raise their other foot into the air, which allows them to lean in and gain extra reach over the Kitchen (without having a foot fault). This technique leads to more reach than if a player kept both feet firmly planted on the ground behind the Kitchen line.

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Like any technique in pickleball, the “Erne” and the “flamingo” require practice and good balance, as they involve adjusting your court positioning while maintaining stability and control. They are useful skills to have in your repertoire as they allow you to effectively grab some extra shots out of the air, while maintaining proper court positioning during fast-paced exchanges near the net. However, use maneuvers like the “flamingo” and the “Erne” sparingly when you can go on the offensive and try to win the rally. This is because you are taking yourself out of the usual court positioning and it may be difficult to react to the next shot from your opponents if they are able to keep the rally alive. 

By focusing on court positioning, footwork, and strategic shots and techniques, players can consistently take control of rallies and set the tempo of the game. Make the most of your space on the court to gain a competitive edge and claim victory on the pickleball court.

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