Punish the Passive: How to Exploit Poor Positioning in Pickleball

This past weekend, I was at my friend Bonnie’s mixed doubles tournament at the 3.25–3.5 level. They went 6–0 and won the whole thing—no one even came close to beating them. Safe to say, it might be time for them to move up to 3.75 or even 4.0.

But while watching that level of play, one thing kept standing out—something I see over and over again as both a coach and a player: the returning team’s built-in advantage is being completely overlooked.

Pickleball is literally designed to favor the returning team in point construction. Even though they can’t score, they’re handed a golden opportunity—one player is already at the kitchen, and the returner simply needs to hit a solid return and charge up to join their partner. Meanwhile, the serving team is stuck behind the baseline, trying to fight their way forward.

Yet somehow, that advantage keeps going to waste.

So here’s the challenge—and the opportunity—for the serving team: if the returner doesn’t come up to the kitchen, don’t let them off the hook. Punish that hesitation.

Too often, I see players hit a soft drop in this situation, which only invites the returner forward. It's a free pass to the kitchen. And once they're up, you’ve lost your window.

Instead, if that returner hangs back, drive it at them. Make them pay for staying deep. They’re now isolated, forced to hit a tough shot from no-man’s land, and your team can instantly take control of the net. Their partner is up, sure—but now they’re on an island, either backing up to help or getting caught in a 2-on-1 attack.

This isn’t just strategy—it’s court awareness. It’s the difference between passive and aggressive play. At the intermediate level, that awareness wins matches.

So don’t just play the point. Seize it. Recognize the positioning. Know when the advantage flips. And when it does, go get it.

Moral of the story:

If you're the returning team—get to the net. Even if your return isn’t perfect, your chances of winning the rally skyrocket when you're up at the kitchen, ready to volley. Hanging back just turns doubles into singles, and it leaves your partner stranded in a 2-on-1.

But if you're on the serving team and you see the returner hesitate—punish them. Drive it at their feet. Take the net. Make them pay for giving up their advantage.

This is where games are won—not with fancy shots, but with smart positioning and decisive pressure.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best Small Pickleball Paddle Brands 2025

Image
In this blog, I’ll be ranking the top five small paddle companies in pickleball. These up-and-coming Brands have grown in popularity thanks to their impressive balance of affordability and performance. I’ll admit—I have strong opinions when it comes to small paddle companies, so this list might spark some disagreement. But I stand by my picks and won’t shy away from sharing my honest perspective. #5: Reload  Kicking off the list at number five is one of the most innovative brands in pickleball—Reload. Unlike traditional paddle companies, Reload markets itself as a paddle system rather than just a paddle. They’re the only brand currently offering replaceable top sheets, allowing players to restore spin performance without buying an entirely new paddle. While Reload earns points for creativity and value, it lands at number five because of its limited offerings—there's currently only one paddle shape and no Gen 3 core technology. If spin is your top priority, Reload is worth a seri...
Read more

Top 5 Paddle's the Pros Play With

Image
The debate over which paddle is best will never end. Some players love experimenting with new gear, while others are fiercely loyal to their chosen brand. In this blog, we're narrowing the paddle space from the hundreds of models on the market to the five most common brands used by professionals. This isn’t a list of the best paddles for recreational players—nor is it necessarily a ranking of which brands offer the best performance for pros. When players decide to pursue a professional career, it's common for them to seek out paddle sponsorships. On the flip side, there are brands that don’t sponsor pros—either due to limited resources or lack of interest—which naturally shrinks the field of options for aspiring professionals. I know not everyone is going pro, but if you’re a pickleball nerd like me and watch a lot of PPA and MLP events, you probably find this stuff just as interesting as I do. This list highlights the five paddle brands you’ll see most often on the PPA and ...
Read more

Why the Fourth Shot Matters More Than You Think

Image
Pickleball players and coaches often put a huge emphasis on the third shot—serve, return, and then the all-important drop or drive. It's a popular topic, and for good reason. But what rarely gets talked about is the fourth shot —the ball played immediately after the third shot. Whether it's a counter to a drive or a response to a drop, the fourth shot can actually be one of the most important weapons in your arsenal. When you are about to hit a fourth shot, you and your partner should be established at the kitchen line. If you aren't, refer to my previous blog .  There are several smart options for how to handle the fourth shot , and your choice depends entirely on the type of third shot you receive: 1. If you receive a third shot drop into the kitchen: Dink it cross-court. This is often the safest and smartest response, especially if your opponent hits a solid drop and you’re unsure of a better option. It keeps you on point and resets the rally. Or Attack a hig...
Read more