The pickleball counterattack is one of the most ignored weapons of the game. But how do you know when you should be counter-attacking on the pickleball court? We will take you through 4 tips on how to counterattack in pickleball, what the pickleball should look like on your opponent's court right before your counterattack, and a drill that will teach you fast hands during the counterattack.
Tip #1: 3 components to identify an attackable pickleball
The most important key to hitting a good pickleball counterattack is being able to identify what an attackable ball looks like to your opponents.
To do this, you will need to study the type of dink or shots you are hitting to your opponents and understand whether that shot will be attackable or not. There are three components that you want to look for when you watch the shots coming to your opponents when thinking about a counterattack.
Component #1: High-bouncing balls
The first ball to look for during the counterattack is a ball going over to your opponent's side that bounces really high — around net height or above.
Component #2: A pickleball without spin
Another component of a counterattack would be a ball that doesn't have a lot of spin on it, or something that we refer to as a “dead dink.” If there's not a ton of action on that ball and it's bouncing high, that's a sure sign that an attack could be coming.
Component #3: If your opponent is ready for the shot
If your opponents don't have to move to their shot and their feet are planted and they're prepped early for that shot, it's a sign that they could be hitting a good attack. In this case, you should be ready for a potential counterattack coming your way.
The most important thing is to be able to identify shots going to your opponents that have those three components because that's going to give you the ability to prepare and hit a great counterattack.
Tip #2: How to be in the pickleball-ready position
You will want to make sure that you're in the right “pickleball-ready position” with your paddle: You’ll want your paddle up and out front.
New players have a tendency drop their paddle down by their side, like they're carrying a purse, in between points. If you want to be an effective counterattacker, you’ll want your paddle to stay in the ready position. This allows you to get to counterattack with minimal movement.
The next time you see your opponents about to speed the ball up make sure you're in the ready position.
Tip #3: Swing path of your counter-attack
The swing path that you're going to take during your pickleball counterattack is going to be completely dependent on the type of attack or the ball that's coming at you. For example:
If the ball coming at you is between your upper thighs and your feet, you cannot counterattack. That's a ball that you simply have to block because your opponents are hitting down on the ball near your feet and therefore you will have to hit up on it.
If your opponents attack a ball that's heading between your hip and your bellybutton area, you can counterattack — but the only way that you can actually counterattack it is if you hit up on the ball. Your swing path has to go from low to high, otherwise that ball is going to go straight into the net if you don't hit up on the ball.
If your opponent attacks a ball that's going between your belly button and your chest level, you can hit forward and maybe slightly down on the ball, depending on how high it is.
If the ball is going towards your head or higher, you will want to let that ball go.
Tip #4: How to have a quick reload with your pickleball paddle
Learning to have a quick reload will help you win more hands battles. When you think you hit a winner, but the ball comes back — if you have a quick reload, you're going to be in that battle and you're likely going to come out on top.
In order to have a quick reload, you will want to make sure your pickleball paddle stays out front. Keeping your paddle out front will help you eliminate having a big back swing, which will make sure you're ready for the next one.
Another thing that will really help you have a big reload is to not lunge at the ball. When you lunge at the ball, you have a long distance to come back up and get ready for the next one. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet and your paddle out in front and have nice short and compact swings.
Pickleball drill #1: Hot hands
A drill that will help you plan for your counterattack is called Hot Hands.
Line up right across from your partner at the kitchen line.
One of you will be attacking the ball, and the other one is going to be counterattacking (meaning you cannot initiate the attack).
Start off by dinking, and as the counter attacker you're learning to identify what ball could be potentially attacked.
As the counterattacker, you can't initiate any attacks.
After you've gotten a couple reps as the counter attacker, then you will switch roles with your partner, and then you practice the attacking.
To watch how this drill works, watch the video above.