Anna Leigh Waters’ Pickleball Defense Tips: Anna Leigh Waters, one of the top players in professional pickleball, recently shared how she handles counterattacks during games. Alongside her mother, Leigh Waters, she explained her techniques in a video lesson with content creator and pro player Kyle Koszuta. The session showed how constant movement, smart positioning, and the right mindset help her stay ready when opponents go on the attack.
Staying Ready at the Net
Anna Leigh Waters is always moving during a rally. She doesn’t wait flat-footed when she expects a fast shot from her opponent.
“If you’re a player like Gabe Tardio who stands on the line and your opponent speeds it up and you just know where to hit it, he’s not backing up or moving his feet around. But for me, my feet are always moving. I’m never just standing there waiting for somebody to speed it up. I’m not saying run around the court, but move your feet to be ready for the attack.” – (Anna)
She also split steps with every hit to prepare her body.
“If I don’t split step, I’m just standing there, so I split step so I’m ready for a speed up.” – (Anna)
Her footwork helps her stay balanced and react faster when shots come quickly at the kitchen line.
Adapting to Power and Paddle Technology
Leigh Waters talked about how today’s paddles allow players to speed up balls from anywhere on the court. Because of this, standing still no longer works.
“The days of staying on the line are gone, and that’s due to the paddles. You couldn’t speed up from anywhere back then, but now you can speed up from anywhere if you know what you’re doing.” – (Leigh)
“My advice to an amateur who doesn’t know what to do when a speed up comes at you is to imagine that every single ball that’s coming at you is a speed up and you’re never surprised that way. Just know that the game is changed and the ball is coming. If not, it’s so easy to dink back. But, this helps you be ready for the attack.” – (Leigh)
She also said that male players can often use a flick motion to generate power with little movement. For Anna Leigh Waters, generating speed on a forehand drive means using her whole body to hit with strength.
Paddle Positioning and Mental Strength
One key piece of advice from Anna Leigh Waters is to keep the paddle in front at a neutral spot. That means not leaning too much to the forehand or backhand side.
Once a player learns an opponent’s habits, they can shift their paddle slightly toward one side to prepare for what’s likely coming next.
Leigh Waters also encouraged players to stay confident even when their fast shots don’t work.
“A lot of people think that if you speed it up and get burned, you shouldn’t speed it up at all anymore, but I don’t believe that at all. I think you should keep trying and keep switching up your spot. There’s a tipping point that happens when you’re being relentlessly attacked. It starts to create errors. Something we focus on at the beginning of a match is to shut down all the attacks. Aggression is a big part of the game now.” – (Leigh)
What This Means for Pickleball Players
The advice from Anna Leigh Waters and Leigh Waters shows how important it is to stay alert, keep moving, and be aggressive on defense. As paddles get better and the game gets faster, players of all levels must adjust.
Whether a beginner or experienced, staying ready for speed-ups can help win more points. Anna Leigh Waters’ tips give a clear path for learning how to defend and attack with purpose in today’s fast-paced game.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters’ Pickleball Defense Tips
Anna Leigh Waters shared her counter attack skills in a video lesson with Kyle Koszuta. She focuses on movement, paddle control, and split steps. Leigh Waters explained how paddle tech has changed the game. Together, they encouraged players to stay aggressive and always be ready for fast shots.
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