Pickleball Transition Zone Mastery: Mark Price, a professional pickleball coach and player, introduced an advanced drill called the “unfair game.” The drill helps players practice resets and shot placement while working from the transition zone, a key area of the court often misunderstood by beginners.
The Transition Zone
Mark Price explained that the midcourt area, also called the transition zone, is not “no man’s land” but the “land of opportunity.” He said, “Best players in the world are comfortable here. They’re not afraid to be here and they’re not rushing through this area.”
The drill begins with one player in the transition zone while the other feeds the ball. “So, I’m going to drop the ball into the kitchen to start. Mike’s going to roll the ball to feet. We’re going to do 10 coop feeds where he just gives me a warm up and I’m going to drop it in the kitchen. And then after that, we play competitively.”
How the Drill Works
Price advised players to always start with cooperative drills before switching to competitive play. “If you go straight into competitive play, then I’ve not got chance to warm up, see the ball, start to find the right paddle angle,” he said.
He explained that the “unfair game” is played to six points. The player in the midcourt cannot move forward, making it harder to win points. “So, this is called the unfair game. I’m not allowed to move forward. We’re going to play to six points. I can back off if I get a high ball. So, Mike should win this game. All my points are actually his unforced errors.”
Placement Over Power
During the demonstration, Price emphasized the importance of ball placement. “Often we can feel we got to put the ball away very aggressively. If we place the ball, all Mike’s winners were a place shot under my laces.”
He also explained how to add shape and spin for better resets. “I’m trying to create shape on my ball. So, getting underneath it, it’s about a 45 degree angle. I’m lifting and trying to connect in front of me.”
Price showed how stopping the paddle at contact can help. “A great tip is to stop at the point of contact. So, when I hit the ball, if I stop, it will create backspin from his top spin and it will float and land shallow where I’ve got time to move in.”
The Purpose of the Drill
The “unfair game” may feel frustrating, but Price said it develops control and confidence in the midcourt. “So, have a go at this game. Stay in the middle area. It feels frustrating being here and feels unfair, which is why it’s called the unfair game. So stay here, play here, work on this shot, and develop your game.”
Why It Matters
The drill highlights the transition zone as a valuable area instead of a danger zone. By improving resets and placement, players can turn defense into offense. Price’s method shows that smart play in this zone can give players more confidence during real matches.
News in Brief: Pickleball Transition Zone Mastery
Mark Price, a pro-level pickleball player and coach, introduced the “unfair game” drill to help players improve resets and shot placement in the transition zone. The exercise begins cooperatively, then moves into competitive play. Price stressed placement over power and said the drill builds confidence in a tough court position.
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