Product & Member Login

The Cross-Step Controversy: A Pickleball Quandary

I get a lot of questions from students regarding the cross-step. This is a habit many pickleball instructors discourage, particularly at the non-volley zone.

cross-step

cross-step controversy

In pickleball, as in life, there are few absolutes. It is not as simple as yes or no. Whenever someone says “never” to something, I get concerned. First, I have found when we tell someone not to do something they think about it too much. It gets in their head. They are focusing then on the wrong thing.

What to Focus on instead

As I have written before, I want you to move less at the non-volley zone line. Instead of shuffling from side to side to follow the ball, I want you to think about following the ball with your paddle and your body position.

I find players often are forced to cross-step when they are too square or parallel to the non-volley zone line. If I am on the right (even) side of the court and the ball is coming from the left, I want my body aligned with the path of the ball. I don’t simply pivot my eyes or head, but rather shift my weight and body. These are not huge movements. There is not a need to take a big jump or step to achieve this movement. But as I shift my weight, my hips, torso, and head move to face the ball.

paddle in front

If my arms are extended in front of me, my paddle naturally protects my bulls-eye and is in the properpickleball bullseye position to make contact with the ball in front of me. Ideally, we cut off the ball in the non-volley zone rather than being forced to take a step outside the court.

When we are shuffling, cross-stepping, or moving too much we are not in a stable position. As a result, we tend to be in a defensive position often causing the ball to fly higher than we would like. This allows our opponent to hit a winner behind us.

footwork is key

Footwork is so important in pickleball. It is key to being in the correct position to hit the ball where we intended and at the height that we wanted. Remember my key is to be able to cover my half of the court. For me, this is generally one step to the right or left. If I am tracking the ball properly, there is rarely a need to cross-step.

Power Source - Drill

Mastering Weight Transfer for Powerful Volleys

One of the most overlooked aspects of a strong volley is weight transfer. If you’re not engaging your lower body properly, you’re missing out on power, control, and consistency. That’s why I love this drill—it helps you learn how to shift your weight efficiently through the ball, improving both your

Read More »
Turning Your Toes - Mini Lesson

Turning Your Toes Is the Key to Better Court Movement

Hey everyone, Sarah Ansboury here! Today, I want to talk about something that could transform your movement on the pickleball court: turning your toes. It’s such a simple adjustment, but it has a huge impact on your speed, balance, power, and even injury prevention. Let’s break it down. Why Turning

Read More »
Finding Your Forward Movement - Mini Lesson

Finding Your Forward Movement

Hey everyone, Sarah Ansboury here! Let’s talk about something that drives me absolutely insane: the obsession with shuffling on the court. Shuffling side to side might seem like the right way to move, but it’s actually holding you back. Let me explain why—and show you a better way to cover

Read More »
Offensive Dinking Air vs. Bounce Strategy

How To Improve Offensive Dinking: Air vs. Bounce Strategy

Today, we’re diving into offensive dinking and how to make it a weapon in your pickleball game. There’s a lot of theory out there about dinking, but I want to focus on two key approaches: dinking in the air and offensive dinking off the bounce. Understanding when to use each

Read More »
The Serve - Bounce or In The Air

Pickleball Serve: Bounce It or Take It In Air?

One thing I often see from players is the reliance on the bounce serve. While there are times when the bounce serve can be useful, it often limits your ability to be more offensive. Today, I want to dive into how transitioning to hitting the serve in the air can

Read More »
The Pickleball Serve Key Progressions for Consistency

The Serve: A Simple Progression for Consistency

In pickleball, the serve is one of the most fundamental aspects of the game. However, as adults, we often complicate what should be a straightforward motion, making it trickier than it needs to be. Today, we’re going to break down the serve into a simple progression that will help you

Read More »

Sign Up For My
FREE Email Tips!

In One Click...
Subscribe To My Channel!

Recent Posts