Shot Placement Over Technique in Pickleball: Pickleball coach Kyle Koszuta shared an Instagram post emphasizing the importance of shot placement over technique when hitting the third shot. He explained the best target areas on both sides of the court to gain an advantage over opponents and create pressure during play.
Ideal Targets on the Right Side
Koszuta advised focusing on specific locations when hitting the third shot.
“When I’m on the right side as a right-hander or even as a left-hander… I like to return the ball right here. Right here at this player’s left foot or kind of in the center of their body.” – (Koszuta)
He also noted that hitting to an opponent’s backhand or inside their body makes it harder for them to attack the ball aggressively. Another advantage of this strategy is the net height.
“You’re also going across the lowest part of the net. It’s 34 inches there. It’s 36 inches on the side, and so I like that target.” – (Koszuta)
Smart Targeting on the Left Side
When playing from the left side, Koszuta recommended aiming at similar spots for the same reason.
“I really like this location right here, but I also like this location right here as well.” – (Koszuta)
He explained that these targets force opponents into weaker positions and make it harder for them to counter effectively. Another benefit is setting up the player’s partner for success.
“It puts the ball right in front of your partner who could come loose and put some pressure.” – (Koszuta)
This positioning allows the partner to close in and force opponents into mistakes, creating better opportunities to win points.
Why Smart Placement Wins Matches
Koszuta stressed the importance of creating pressure with good placement.
“When you put yourself close to the ball, you apply more pressure. When you apply more pressure, players make more mistakes. When players make more mistakes, you win more points. When you win more points, you get happier.” – (Koszuta)
His post encouraged players to focus less on mechanics and more on precision to improve their third shot strategy and overall game performance.
News in Brief: Shot Placement Over Technique in Pickleball
Kyle Koszuta shared an Instagram post advising players to focus on shot placement for better third shots in pickleball. He explained key target areas on both sides of the court and how smart positioning creates pressure on opponents. Koszuta emphasized that forcing errors leads to winning more points and improving overall performance.
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