Twisting the Screws on Your Opponents

Most players think pressure means hitting hard.

And sometimes it does. A good speedup can force a reaction, create chaos, and blow a point open.

As an ex-tennis player, hitting hard was my first form of pressure and for about 3 months, I thought that was basically the whole game (mini-tennis anyone?)
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Hit harder, win more points. It took me some time on the court, playing, coaching, watching high-level matches from the sideline, to realize how wrong that was. If hitting hard is your only way of creating pressure, good players figure it out fast. They reset the ball, absorb the pace, and you're right back where you started, wondering why your best power is going nowhere.

At its core, pickleball is just a battle over who gets to make the other team more uncomfortable.

While pressure starts with the serve, as we improve, more of that battles start to happen at the kitchen line.

So here's the question: how do you actually create pressure once you get there?

Pace is one answer. A well-timed speedup forces your opponents to react quickly and can earn you a weak ball or an outright winner.

Placement is another. A dink at someone's feet forces them to hit up. A ball stretched wide pulls them out of position. A good lob forces movement and creates uncertainty. In each case, you're making life a little more difficult on the other side of the net.

But the type of pressure I think gets overlooked the most is posture. The threat of a move can be just as powerful as the move itself.

Think about the player who shows an aggressive move toward an erne. Maybe they never take it. Maybe they never even touch the ball. But suddenly you're aware of them, distracted by them, feeling like your margin for error just got smaller.

Or think about the player leaning forward at the kitchen line, looking ready to attack anything that floats a little too high. Nothing has happened yet. But you feel it. You know that if your next dink isn't good enough, there's a consequence waiting for you.

That's pressure. And it doesn't require hitting a single hard ball.

There are other forms too. Consistency creates pressure because eventually someone has to hit one more ball. Disguise creates pressure because your opponent can't anticipate what's coming next. Taking time away creates pressure because rushed players make poor decisions.

The best players aren't relying on just one of these. They're speeding you up, stretching you, disguising their intentions, holding good court position, and forcing you to solve problem after problem.

In other words, they're constantly twisting the screws.

Last week's youtube video breaks down four of these pressure tools — pace, placement, lobbing, and posture — and shows exactly what they look like on the court. If you're only thinking about pressure one way right now, this video will help you to start expanding your options.

Watch it here →

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One question before I go: which type of pressure do you naturally rely on most?

Hit reply and let me know. I'm curious whether you're a banger, a puppetmaster, or something else entirely.

Your Fave Mid-life Lady Coach,

Jess

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