Game-Changing Pickleball Drill: Pickleball pro and coach Susannah Barr shared one of her favorite drills to help players improve their lateral movement at the kitchen line. In a recent session, Barr demonstrated how shifting with the ball after a shot can help players predict their opponent’s next move. This drill helps players get into better positions, anticipate shots, and improve overall footwork.
Practicing Lateral Movement at the Kitchen Line
In her footwork drill, Susannah Barr placed targets in key areas of the kitchen. These spots are where most players aim their dinks. She demonstrated how moving as a team toward where the ball was placed could improve court coverage.
“If I’m going to throw this ball over to Damian on that yellow target, guess what? We’re shifting, right?” Barr said. “We’re going to be shifting towards where we as a team put the ball.”
She explained that when players hit the ball straight, there is no need to shift. But if they send it left or right, both teammates need to move to cover the likely return spot. Barr emphasized the importance of stopping before the opponent hits the ball, allowing players to react from a balanced position.
“You guys shifted as a team, right? So the key here is that we’re anticipating. So anticipating means we are having an expectation,” Barr said.
Knowing When to Anticipate and React
Barr explained that there are two important parts to every rally: anticipation and reaction. Players can anticipate based on the shot they made. But they should not react until the opponent makes contact with the ball.
“We cannot react until they’ve hit that ball. How many times have we tried to guess and we guess wrong, right?” she asked.
Using the example of the court divided into three columns, Barr explained that players can only cover two columns at once. That means one area will always be open. But that’s okay. The goal is to cover the most likely spots and move quickly to handle any surprises.
“I’d rather us covering appropriately and then being ready to be agile enough to react to that ball and go and get it,” she said.
Barr stressed that strong footwork boosts balance, quickens reaction time, and improves agility. She reminded players to stay low, use their legs, and avoid standing still during rallies.
Putting the Drill Into Action
To finish, Barr demonstrated a more advanced version of the drill. In it, one player hits an aggressive crosscourt dink, then moves to cover the middle. The pickleball coach returns a fast shot toward the center or wide.
“You’re going to hit it here, I’m going to speed up middle,” Barr explained.
The player had to react quickly to the speed-up and shuffle back into position. Barr reminded everyone to keep their balance, avoid standing up too soon, and stay ready to counter.
“There it is, beautiful, perfect. So what you’re doing is you’re setting yourself up,” she said. “That aggressive dink to typically an exposed area, following it, anticipating it really well, then getting set for that next ball.”
She noted that while the opponent might hit a wide shot again, the chances are lower than hitting to the middle. That’s why it’s more important to be ready in the right position.
Footwork and Anticipation Improve Pickleball Play
Barr’s drill showed how smart footwork and team coordination help cover the court better. By following the ball, anticipating common responses, and moving together, players can defend more effectively and win more points.
She wrapped up the session by encouraging viewers to continue improving: “If we want to evolve our game guys, like and subscribe to Selkirk TV and continue to learn even more drills.”
News in Brief: Game-Changing Pickleball Drill
Pickleball player Susannah Barr shared a key footwork drill to help players anticipate shots and move better at the kitchen line. The drill teaches lateral movement, balance, and team coordination, helping players stay ready and react quickly during rallies.
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