John Cincola’s One-Two Punch Strategy: John Cincola, a coach at John Cincola Pickleball, recently shared a new way for serving teams to win more points in pickleball. The strategy, called the “one-two punch,” helps teams score four to five points a game without needing to rush the kitchen line. This method uses smart serving and quick follow-up shots to catch opponents off guard.
Changing the Way We Think on Serve
Traditionally, players are told to play safely while serving because the returning team usually has the advantage. John Cincola suggests that this mindset could be limiting. Instead, he recommends applying pressure early and using a more aggressive approach. “Historically, we’ve been taught that as the serving team, the receivers have the advantage,” he explained. “So we’ve got to play it safe, we’ve got to be defensive, we’ve got to be passive—until we can get to that kitchen line.”
The “One-Two Punch” Strategy
This tactic is built around two parts: the setup and the knockout.
Step One: Using the Serve to Set Up the Play
The first part focuses on using the serve to delay opponents from reaching the kitchen line. There are two ways to do this:
Serve deep with power and spin to push opponents back.
Serve wide if the opponents are switching sides (also called “unwinding the stack”). This forces them to run across the court, making it harder to get into position.
“We want them going away from where they want to be,” John Cincola said. “So then they’ve got to change momentum and try to get back to their spot quickly.”
Checking the Setup
Once the serve is complete, the server must check if the setup worked. The best situation is when the opponents are late to the kitchen line and hit a short return. “That’s really green light territory,” Cincola said.
But if the returning players reach the kitchen line on time, it’s better not to use the “one-two punch” and play it safe.
Step Two: The Knockout Shot
If the setup worked, it’s time to hit the second shot—the “knockout.” Cincola gave two important tips:
“Attack the ball with your feet.” Move forward and hit the return early to limit your opponent’s reaction time.
Use a hybrid shot: a mix of a soft drive and a hard drop. “Either way, the goal is to get a lot of spin on it, keep it aggressive, keep it low over the net, and try to get it landing right at the feet of your opponents,” said Cincola.
He also warned not to hit too hard. “If you drive it too hard, they’ll just hit it hard back at you and you’ve gained nothing.”
How to Practice This Play
John Cincola shared how players can train for the “one-two punch”:
Serve Practice: Players can place cones on the court as targets and try to hit them with power, spin, and depth.
Hybrid Shot Practice: Use a ball machine like Cincola’s Titan machine or practice with a partner. “I’ll have it feed me a short ball so I can move in, hit the hybrid shot, and then follow it in with a second volley,” he said.
Why This Strategy Matters
This technique allows serving teams to be more aggressive and score faster. It changes the usual passive mindset and gives players a new way to win. With practice, players of all levels can try it out. As Cincola said, “We need to be applying pressure as much as you possibly can.”
News in Brief: John Cincola’s One-Two Punch Strategy
John Cincola introduced the “one-two punch,” a smart pickleball play for serving teams. It combines a strong serve with a follow-up hybrid shot. This method helps teams score more points by applying early pressure. With practice, it could be a game-changer for many players.
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