Pickleball Drill to Elevate Your Game: Pickleball pro Rob Nunnery has introduced a drill called “Nowhere in the Kitchen Is Safe” to help players improve their offensive skills at the kitchen line. The drill focuses on developing forehand and backhand shots with topspin, disguising dinks, and executing speed-ups to keep opponents off balance.
Developing Offensive Shots Across the Court
The drill emphasizes mastering topspin on both the forehand and backhand. According to Nunnery, the goal is to make every shot look the same, whether it is a dink or a speed-up.
“Having the topspin allows you to hit a nice roll which is offensive but also speed up in different spots looking the exact same,” (Rob Nunnery).
The strategy helps players avoid predictable shot patterns, forcing opponents to guess whether a shot will be a soft dink or an aggressive attack.
The Role of the Backhand Roll
Nunnery highlights the importance of creating offense from the backhand side. Many players target an opponent’s left foot on the right side, assuming their backhand is weaker. However, with two-handed backhand roll shots becoming more common, this “safe zone” is disappearing.
“What you’re seeing now is people are taking two hands right here and rolling it back,”. “So they’re creating offense not only on the forehand over here but they’re creating offense on the backhand as well.”(Rob Nunnery)
There are different approaches to hitting the backhand roll dink. Some players, like James Ignatowich, keep the paddle face stable, while Nunnery prefers dropping the paddle tip slightly for added spin.
“If you’re getting it out of the air, I would say just hit it back with a slice, but if you’re getting it off the bounce and you have time, you want to roll that,” (Rob Nunnery).
Creating Disguise and Pressure
A key takeaway from the drill is that every shot should have the potential to be an offensive move. This forces opponents into a defensive mindset.
“This is the idea of just having offense at every single spot,”. “If you’re at home and you’re looking to kind of take your kitchen game to the next level, you want to be able to work on every single spot on this court and have offense off of every single spot.”(Rob Nunnery)
Another technique Nunnery mentioned involves using a subtle movement before hitting the ball, sometimes called “the python” or “the rattlesnake.” While he could not recall the exact name, he explained its purpose:
“Just because you show this doesn’t mean you’re going to speed it up, but it does mean that you can. Just giving them something to look at and think about puts them on their heels a little bit.”(Rob Nunnery)
Impact on Competitive Play
The “Nowhere in the Kitchen Is Safe” drill represents a shift in pickleball strategy, where advanced players no longer rely solely on defensive dinks. Instead, they turn the kitchen line into an offensive zone, creating constant pressure on opponents.
Players looking to refine their game further can find additional lessons, tips, and insights on Selkirk TV, where Nunnery shares more strategies to help elevate pickleball skills.
News in Brief: Pickleball Drill to Elevate Your Game
Pickleball pro Rob Nunnery unveils the “Nowhere in the Kitchen Is Safe” drill, a game-changing strategy for mastering offensive shots at the kitchen line. By disguising dinks, using topspin, and perfecting the backhand roll, players can keep opponents guessing. Nunnery emphasizes unpredictability and pressure, turning the kitchen into an offensive battleground. His expert insights on Selkirk TV help players refine their skills and dominate competitive play.
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