This Mind-blowing Pickleball Tip That Will Help You at the Kitchen Line

Anything can happen on the pickleball court, but some types of shots happen on the line that are difficult to defend against on the fly, particularly for new players. Some of the most difficult pickleball shots to block happen at the non-volley zone line.

Here is one such scenario: You’re at the kitchen line in a dinking rally, trading shots over the kitchen area. Then, your opponent drives a hard shot at your dominant elbow. You squeeze your arm in an attempt to return the volley with the forehand side of your paddle. Your return pops up above the shoulders of your opponent, and they slam it home to win the point.

Sound familiar? It happens to all pickleball players. We call it “getting handcuffed.”

There is an incredibly simple strategy to defend against this kind of shot. So simple that it will blow your mind that you haven’t thought about it before.

Check out the video below for a demonstration.

Switch Your Grip to Avoid Getting Handcuffed

Just as Lowell demonstrates, when you counterattack a speed-up, you will want to change the position of your paddle. Instead of an open forehand, turn the paddle around and defend against this shot with a backhand grip.

This type of move is easy to pick up with practice and will come more naturally because you have full motion and extension of your arm. This enables you to move the paddle across your body and return a shot down the sideline or centerline instead of popping it up and having it slammed back down over your head towards the baseline behind you.

While this position works for this particular scenario, it won’t work well when defending against a pickleball serve or when trading groundstrokes. It’s best to learn to use this movement when you see the potential to be handcuffed, but otherwise, keep your ready position.

How to Anticipate this Type of Shot

Many shots aren’t predictable, but if players follow pickleball kitchen rules, it can be more obvious when this type of block may be needed. This type of shot typically happens at the non-volley zone line after trading a series of dinks. If you find yourself close to the line, prepare to switch your grip and step to the side to prevent yourself from getting handcuffed.

Another obvious sign is to watch for opponents who try to repeatedly hit the ball towards the elbow of your dominant hand. If you notice the intent and aim at that part of your body, you can more easily block it.