Pickleball Magazine 7-1 WD | Page 32

INSTRUCTION
By Alice Tym

THE SHORT HOP — RISKY OR STRATEGIC ?

The pickleball short hop equates to hitting the ball on the rise in tennis . It is taking the ball early before it reaches the apex of the bounce . It requires a player to prepare earlier and to watch the ball closer . The paddle must be back sooner , and the feet set earlier . The ball is moving rather than pausing at the top of the bounce .

If a player waits and hits the ball at the top of the bounce , he has longer to prepare and the ball is stopped and stable when it reaches its peak . Remember , hitting the ball on the rise does not mean that placement is not important . It also does not mean necessarily that the ball must be hit hard . You are hitting early , not recklessly .
Why would you want to short-hop the ball ?
There are two areas of the court where the short-hop ball is strategic . The first is the baseline groundstroke . The longer you wait on the ball , the more time your opponents have to get into position and to set up their response . The longer you wait , the more time the angled ball has to “ break ” and go wider and wider . You end up farther and farther out of court , leaving a gaping hole down the middle .
By taking the ball on the rise , you can use the pace on the ball generated by your opponents to your advantage . Furthermore , the most aggressive and strategic reason for hitting the ball on the rise is that it is your transport to the net . This is the tennis player ’ s approach shot . In pickleball , this is the critical shot to achieve good position at the NVZ ( Non-Volley Zone ) line . In pickleball , it is not just the shot for the pros , it is the shot for all pickleball players of any level . Why wait ? Snoozing is losing .
The short hop does require practice . Sloppy practice makes a sloppy player , so you should really incorporate this technique in your basic groundstroke drills and your dinking drills . Prepare early . Move your feet in anticipation . Have an aggressive attitude . Play the ball ; don ’ t let the ball play you .
A good way to practice this skill when drilling is to mark the ball with a big dot of a different color . Magic

The first reason to shorthop the dink is similar to reducing the angle of the groundstroke .

markers or spray paint will suffice . Then make sure that you see that dot when it comes off your opponent ’ s paddle , track it through the flight of the ball , and see it strike your paddle . Anticipation is a learned skill that begins with watching the ball come off of the opponent ’ s paddle . You see the spin on the ball when you see the rotation of the dot . That anticipation lays the groundwork for the short hop .
Now you are at the NVZ line ready to volley or dink . Should you wait until the ball sets up high and drive it , or should you short-hop the ball in hopes that your opponents are not set up yet ? The first reason to shorthop the dink is similar to reducing the angle of the groundstroke . Take the ball early before it “ breaks ” or pulls you off the court , exposing the center . A short hop here helps you maintain position .
A bit trickier is the short hop off of a deeper dink that you can drive at the opponent directly in front of you . It offers the element of surprise . The pros can roll a topspin shot that jams the player directly in front of them . Even if you don ’ t topspin , you can hit an aggressive , redirected shot . Use good footwork to work on short-hop shots . If you are prepared early , you can always wait , take your time , and hit a soft controlled dink . The short hop option will keep them guessing .
To become a better player overall and to improve your timing , do your drills taking the ball early . You can always delay , take the ball at the peak of the bounce or even let the ball drop . But to be a more versatile player , you need to be able to short-hop , move in to the NVZ quickly , set up in good position , and keep your opponents guessing . •
Alice Tym was ranked 13th in the world for tennis in the ‘ 60s . She ’ s been named USPTA Coach of the Year and is a USPTA Master Professional . As a 4.5 pickleball player , she won gold in Huntsman , NSGA Nationals , US Open , and USA Pickleball events around the country . Alice is an IPTPA member , SSIPA founding board member , Bainbridge Cup Originator and gold medalist in Spain , Italy , and Germany .
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