Turning the Tide in a Point: How to use Defensive Strategies to stay in the Game

Defence is just as important as offence. Knowing how to handle an aggressive opponent can change the direction of a match. When you’re under pressure, giving yourself more time can help you reset and get back into position. Remember, hitting the ball slower with more shape can provide more time in comparison to hitting the ball faster and straight, which can take away time. A soft reset shot is one of the best ways to regain control and break their momentum. By taking the pace off the ball and dropping it into the non-volley zone, you force your opponent to move from attacking to dinking, giving yourself time to recover.

Why Good Defence Matters

You’ve seen it happen: a strong opponent attacking over and over while the other team scrambles, making mistakes. Good defensive skills can disrupt that pattern. A calm, controlled reset can take the sting out of an opponent’s power, forcing them to play your style instead. The best defenders know how to stay balanced, read the attack, and buy time until they can get back on even ground.

Defence isn’t just about surviving — it’s about giving yourself a chance to turn things around.

The Reset Shot: Your Defensive Safety Net

One of the simplest but most powerful defensive tools is the reset. By playing a soft, low shot into the kitchen, you take away your opponent’s angles and force them to hit up on the next ball. This levels the playing field and stops them from keeping the pressure on.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should be soft and controlled. That way you avoid feeding them another attackable ball.

Tips for Better Resets:

• Keep your paddle soft, with a gentle grip

• Aim for the middle of the kitchen to reduce angles

• Stay balanced and avoid backing up while resetting

• Focus on absorbing pace rather than counterattacking

Using the Defensive Lob

The lob can also be a valuable defensive play, especially against teams crowding the net. A high, deep lob can push opponents back, giving you time to reposition and reset your court coverage. But keep in mind that a short or low lob can be punished with an easy overhead.

Tips for Better Defensive Lobs:

• Get under the ball and lift with a smooth motion

• Aim high and deep, well over your opponents’ heads

• Use the lob sparingly so it’s not predictable

• Recover quickly to your ready position after you lob

Defending Body Shots

When opponents target your body, stay compact. Swinging too much can turn defence into an error. Instead, use a short, controlled motion and angle your paddle to block the ball back into play. This keeps you safe and can help you remain in the point.

Tips for Defending Body Attacks:

• Keep your paddle close to your torso

• Stay light on your feet so you can adjust quickly

• Angle the paddle to soften and redirect shots

• Avoid reaching too far — move instead

Turn DefenCe into Offence

A solid defensive mindset helps you weather the storm. Think about how you can give yourself more time to reset, get into position and be ready for the next shot before your opponents have a chance to attack the ball. The next time your opponents go on the attack, focus on resets, smart lobs, and calm blocks to stay in the point. Once you’ve neutralized their power, you can look for opportunities to turn the tables and go on the offensive yourself.

Good defence is more than survival — it’s a way to take back control of the game.

Death of the Meaningless Return

It’s official: the return of serve has now become a key shot in pickleball. While some old-school coaches and players may still refer to it as the shot you have to play before the “real” game starts, watch any advanced players and you’ll quickly discover that this just simply isn’t so. Increasingly, the return of serve is used to gain an advantage against the serving team and to give the returners better opportunities at the net. Here are a few ways in which they do it:

• Return Deep. Pinning your opponent behind the baseline does a few things to make your life at the net easier. First, it means that they have the ball to you from a longer distance. Since the baseline to the net is 22 feet and you’re (presumably) seven feet beyond that at your own kitchen line, that means they have to hit 29 feet -- at least! -- to get the ball back to you. That gives you a lot of time to get ready for their shot. Conversely, if you return short and let them move inside the baseline to hit the ball, you’ll have less time to get prepared.

• Aim for a Weakness. Don’t just hit anywhere but aim for a spot that will annoy your opponents. This could mean hitting to a particular person (see this video about picking on the weaker opponent) or it could be just aiming for a backhand. Is there more risk? Of course. But there is also great reward to be had.

• Use Spin. Whether it is topspin, sidespin or backspin, hitting your return with spin can cause your opponent to play a less-than-ideal shot. It gives them one more thing to worry about as you approach the net for the volley.

• Take Away Time. Whether it is because you are hitting the ball hard or hitting on the rise, give your opponents less time to prepare for the third shot. This will put them under pressure and can cause them to make bad decisions. Just make sure you give yourself sufficient time to get to the kitchen!

Of course, whenever you attempt to make a higher quality shot you risk a drop in consistency. But with a little deliberate practice and some patience, you can turn your return of serve into a shot that sets you up to win more points rather than being a meaningless shot that lets your opponents off easy.

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