Unwinding the Stack Attack: Three Key Strategies for Winning Points

Toward the end of a Kyle "ThatPickleballGuy" Koszuta video "A Third Shot Drive Strategy Masterclass," he shares an advanced concept he calls "Unwinding the Stack Attack."

This attack exploits stacking opponents by targeting three places with your third-shot drive.

1. Target where they are going
2. Target the protecting partner
3. Target between the players

Here's each strategy in more detail:

No. 1 - Target where they are going

Target the spot where your opponent is going

As the player sprints to their preferred side, they are often outstretched and off-balance. By hitting the ball to where they are heading, you can catch them on the move, leading to weak returns or pop-ups that are easy to put away.

This approach capitalizes on the opponent's vulnerability during movement.

No. 2 - Target the protecting partner

If you notice their partner poaching, hit behind the person at the net

When the opponent's partner at the net anticipates a drive towards the moving player, they often shift to cover the middle.

By recognizing this, you can aim behind the partner, particularly targeting their backhand. This can result in an error or a clean winner as the partner struggles to adjust.

No. 3 - Target between the players

Confuse your opponents by hitting between them

In an unwind-the-stack scenario, particularly when a player moves from the right to the left, there's a sweet spot between the partners. Hitting this zone creates confusion – should the partner with the backhand cover the shot, or should the incoming player take it with their forehand?

This indecision can lead to a winning shot.

Use these strategies the next time you play against players who stack and you're guaranteed to win some free points off of them.

Also, in case you're interested, Kyle currently has a "Pickleball IQ Test" that you can take to find out how much you know about pickleball.