The Arm Dilemma: Rethinking Soft Game Fundamentals

I don’t think people fully realize how important arm positioning is—especially in the soft game. I was recently giving a lesson to a few friends, and it became clear just how much this detail can affect both drops and dinks. One of them—let’s call her Ella—has been struggling with paddle positioning for a while. She’s been trying to find the right balance between keeping her arms too stiff and holding them too close to her body, and it’s been hurting her consistency.

It’s pretty well-known that keeping your arms too close to your body makes it hard to play consistently. Many coaches refer to this as “T-Rex arms.” In this position, you simply don’t have the coordination or control that comes with a more athletic arm posture. On the flip side, locking your arms straight removes the natural fluidity and finesse needed for soft shots. There needs to be a comfortable, natural bend in the arms to allow for optimal touch and responsiveness.

Now, I could look back on this one day and feel differently. But as I continue to play more advanced pickleball and coach a variety of players, I find myself drifting away from the mantra: “Take everything out of the air that you can.” Don’t get me wrong—if you’re in the transition zone or in a position to attack with authority, then yes, absolutely take it out of the air. But when it comes to dinking, I’m starting to think that phrase shouldn’t be treated as gospel.

During that same lesson, Ella faced off against another friend who has a very aggressive topspin roll dink. It gave her a lot of trouble—especially when she tried to take those balls out of the air or off the short hop. The issue? Those dinks were still accelerating. It’s significantly harder to control an aggressive ball that’s still gaining speed. But when Ella began letting the ball bounce and waiting until it decelerated before returning it, her consistency improved dramatically. The number of popped-up or lifeless dinks she hit back dropped almost immediately.

Of course, there are benefits to taking the ball out of the air. It cuts down your opponent’s reaction time and can help you stay on offense. But my question is: does that really matter if you can’t do anything productive with it? More often than not, when a player like Ella—or even myself—tries to stretch and take a ball out of the air that’s just a bit too far, we end up popping up a dead dink that’s just asking to be sped up.

The same applies to short hops or half volleys. Yes, when executed well, you can absorb the pace and redirect it effectively. But when facing a player who’s applying heavy spin and pressure, like Ella’s opponent was, it’s incredibly difficult to maintain soft hands and control.

At the end of the day, every situation is different. But arm positioning, patience, and shot selection are all closely tied together, especially in the soft game. Sometimes, the smartest play isn’t the fastest one.

At the end of the day, success in the soft game isn’t about following hard-and-fast rules—it’s about reading the situation and making the smart play. Whether that means adjusting your arm position, letting a ball bounce, or rethinking how aggressively you take shots out of the air, it's all about control. The more I coach and play, the more I realize that consistency, not just aggression, is what separates solid players from great ones. So next time you're on the court, take a second to check your positioning—and don’t be afraid to let the ball bounce.

Thanks for Reading!

Subscribe to the Playmaker Pickleball blog for weekly updates—and don’t forget to check out my favorite paddle gear over on my Linktree. My top pick right now? The CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 paddle and the CRBN Bucket Hat—especially in this summer heat.

🗓️ Want to level up your game in the Folsom area? Book a private lesson for just $30/hour—whether you're brand new or prepping for your next tournament.





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