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Pickleball is Evolving
Opinion of Wayne Kerr |
As stronger and faster athletes enter the sport of pickleball, the game is evolving. Great footwork is becoming more and more important. The traditional idea of planting yourself at the Non-Volley-Zone (NVZ) line is being challenged at the upper levels of the game. In fact, some of today's top players have stepped back a few feet (30 -120 cm) off the NVZ line much of the time. Of course, when their opponents are back or have popped up a ball, these innovators are eagerly up at the NVZ line ready to hit a put-away shot. However, when all four are at the net, many modern players take a step back, giving themselves extra time to defend or counter an attacked ball.
Another advantage of being back a few feet is that this allows a player to hit the ball from below the top of the net and have a better chance of it rising above the tape. Using topspin, these balls can be hit with considerable force, clear the net, and stay in-bounds.
Teenager, Anna Leigh Waters of the United States and Catherine Parenteau of Canada are two of the best players in the world at employing this technique.
A good example of this style of court positioning can be seen in the Pro Women's Doubles Gold Medal Final at the 2019 US National Championships at Indian Wells featuring:
Leigh Waters / Anna Leigh Waters vs. Jessie Irvine / Catherine Parenteau. (
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