Quite often I get asked, “What should I do when my partner gets pulled out wide? So, this week I want to show you a really great way to save your body and, in some cases, save your partnership.
The tendency is to tether with each other, which is a tennis concept and something I would do on a pickleball court if I could close the net, but we can’t do that we have the non-volley zone.
So, if I’m in the proper position, and if I’m in a cross-court rally and I get pulled out to the point where I have to turn my toes to the sideline trying to push that ball back cross court does not help the situation. If anything, when I get pulled out, my partner might try to come in cover and now it’s a winner down the line or down the middle they have options.
What I have to do is get my partner back involved in the point but also save us. So, what we’re going to do is once that spot becomes vulnerable I’m going to reset the ball at the closest distance in front of me, and now that’s going to keep us both in a better position.
One of the reasons we get pulled out wide is we are too close to the middle.
I’m actually going to pull myself out of position (see video), turn and push the ball out in front of me, there’s my turn, there’s my reset, and this is where the ball is coming from and now it’s in front of me.
So, instead of you thinking about recovering somewhere, think about where you should hit the ball.
The number one reason players struggle with this is because they’re too close to the middle in the first place.
So if you are positioned properly your toes will be in this direction, and you’re keeping that ball out in front. You will find yourself less likely you’re going to get pulled out wide.
Remember this if you’re out here and you do find yourself turning and tracking the ball down, reset it right in front of you and get yourself back in the point but also give your partner a better chance to survive and create a better opportunity for both of you.
