How to counter like a pro in pickleball

Podcast with Lee Whitwell. You will not be disappointed! 👇 https://youtu.be/jhtyNRZXT9A?si=A2M8dDph-X-n2H7r

Great video and instruction. Your podcast with you and your brother talked about the X but I liked this better because at the beginning you showed a visual on the board talking about the X and moving the players around. This was very helpful. Thank you for great coaching.

One of the best instruction videos I've seen! Keep it coming. Much appreciated!

Great detail! When demoing the ALW "elbows out past your body" ready position at 13:27 , it would look more realistic and natural if you were crouched down a bit. That "low" position brings your hips back - so your elbows are naturally ahead of your body even with quite a bend in them.

More awesome content! Thank you so much. Funny, I recently realized in a tournament (4.0) that I was getting beat a lot on speed ups and I was jumping, just as you described. We've been working on it. Hard habit to break, though. Also my partner and I are working on stepping back in prep for attacks. We are 4.0s, but close to 4.5s and as we try to make the next step to that level, we are seeing a lot of speed-ups from what we thought were good dinks and drops. In order to make the next level we have to get better at countering those shots. Thanks again for your videos.

I'm 6'1" and I like to position myself real close to the net by extending my arms forward with my paddle in front of me like your video. I've never felt that this extended position used up my energy. Being tall and so close to the net, it appears to me that some players are intimated by my position and often times make errors or I quickly dump the ball to their backhand. It works fine for me at this stage but, I certainly enjoy your techniques and I'm always willing to try them. Thanks for your very educational videos and please keep them coming. I watch every one of them.

Austin, thank you for this. It basically gave me permission to do what I wanted to do (step back) but was told over and over by partners that are a higher level than me not to give up real estate at the NVZ line. But this inherently makes total sense for a reaction time standpoint. Now I can show them your Video. Thanks .

Great video. Thanks

I’ve been waiting for the diagram! Please keep using it as I’m visual and hearing people describe something doesn’t work for me and I bet I’m not alone. I was never quite sure about “respect the x” or one of your videos on who covers middle until after seeing the diagram. Thanks

Good training video.

At the Kitchen since ~ 85% of my Returns will be on the BH. I hold my Paddle in the BH Position 30 degrees from my Shoulder. This gives me an extra .5 seconds that I don't waste raising the Paddle. Staying low is Key. I know most of the Pro's keep their Paddles out in front but this set up works for me ;)

Concerning paddle placement in ready position while maintaining the “X.” If I am the left court player hitting wide cross court and then move to cover middle as my partner slides right, should I adjust my typically backhand ready position to neutral or even slightly forehand anticipating the shot down the middle? Thanks, really enjoy your videos.

If I am at the midpoint and a ball goes like chest level should I reset that ball or counter it?

Are you using the Invikta?

My ready position… I am a right handed player, but I like to stand favoring, backhand slightly. So the paddle head is veering to the left somewhat. My theory is that it’s easier to slide to the right and cover more room in the box to counter. I feel like I’m quicker sliding to the right if I have to instead of opening up to the forehand. As he said in your video, there’s more vulnerable zones on the chicken wing forehand side. so the more I can move my feet to the right makes me feel like I have better coverage.

i'm not even one minute in and i'm laughing cuz i don't know anyone that even dinks! much less does speed ups. they're all just bangin' away from wherever they are on the court. drives me insane. the other day, a guy said i had a "pussy" game. ya. see ball, hit ball--this is the mentality that i encounter no matter where i go.

without a doubt the worst commentating of any sports event in history. Please bring back jimmy miller asap

Too wordy for me. Who is your audience? I think you are obviously knowledgeable but are you a ‘teacher’? Just a thought.