Christian Alshon’s Top Pickleball Tactics: In a recent Instagram video, professional pickleball player Christian Alshon offered valuable advice for dealing with opponents who are “icing” the players out during a match. The term “icing out” refers to when opponents deliberately target one player while largely ignoring their partner. Alshon’s insights focus on how players can use positioning and presence to support their partners and counteract this tactic effectively.
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Maximizing Positioning and Presence
Alshon demonstrated how players can use their positioning to support a partner who is being targeted. “Just because your opponents aren’t hitting you the ball, does not mean you are helpless!” Alshon emphasized. The key is to strategically adjust your positioning to become a more active participant in the match.
When opponents consistently direct their shots to one player, such as Quang in Alshon’s example, the non-targeted player should shift their positioning to help cover more of the court.
“If Quang is getting every single ball, that means I can come over and kind of pinch the middle and, you know, bait my opponents to try and go behind me.” – (Alshon)
Effective Court Coverage
Alshon’s approach involves moving toward the center of the court to limit the opponents’ options. By positioning oneself closer to the middle, a player can effectively block or intercept shots that might otherwise be directed to their partner. “If Ben and Collin hit the ball in the middle, I’m right there,” he noted. This restricts the opponents’ ability to exploit gaps and provides the opportunity to capitalize on poorly executed shots.
The tactic also includes preparing for potential attacks on weak dinks. Alshon illustrated how positioning can lead to advantageous situations: “If they go too far out wide, Quang can hit an easy ATP.” By constraining the opponents’ options and focusing on areas where they have limited success, players can better control the pace and direction of the match.
Strategic Adjustments and Partner Support
Alshon’s strategy highlights the importance of adaptability and communication with one’s partner. By proactively positioning oneself to assist in covering more court space and blocking opponent strategies, players can enhance their overall team performance. “Their only real option or target is a small spot right here and that leads to a relatively dead dink,” Alshon noted. This adjustment helps mitigate the opponents’ tactics and provides a strategic advantage.
