Shot Selection

Shot selection can be explained very simply. It is our ability to hit the right shot at the right time, directing the pickleball to the right spot on the opponent’s court.

Shot selection is important because:

The shots you choose will indicate your overall skill level, broadcasting it to those around you.

Shot selection informs who will want to play with you.

The rally is part of what makes Pickleball so popular. New players like to get on the court and simply hit the ball back and forth. Rallying the ball is fun for players of all levels, as long as the pace of the shots in the rally are geared to the level(s) of the players. Selecting the right pace in a rally is like the difference between playing catch and playing fetch. If I throw the ball too hard, some people won’t be able to catch it. If I throw it too far away from where they’re standing they’ll miss, and they then have to go fetch the ball. In this way it’s the pace and angle of your shots that determine whether the point will be extended or ended.

It’s up to you to choose the angle and pace for each shot you hit. As an example, let’s look at the serve.

If you try to hit the ball really fast, and then try to hit one of the lines identifying the service box, you will be inconsistent and as a result of this uneven play, likely less desirable as an opponent.

Players come to the court to play, not to watch you miss your serve by trying to hit extreme angles. Who wants to play with someone who tries to end the point on every shot? I am convinced that many recreational players simply try to end the point rather than extending it. Often this is because that player can’t move very well, so they say to themselves, “Heck, I’ll just go for it…” and hit a shot aiming at the outside line instead of the middle of the court, which would have kept the ball in play. Most inconsistent players simply hit the ball too hard. Inconsistent hard hitters fall in a class of players that few want to play with or against. It’s simply no fun to play with them.

When selecting a shot you should think about where the ball is in relation to your body. Are you stretched and reaching for your opponent’s shot? Is the ball really low and difficult to attack? Is your opponent lined up to hit an attacking shot? You can see why the location of the ball you’re about to hit should inform your shot selection.

The D-N-O Theory is an acronym for “Defense, Neutral, Offense”. Some people refer to this as “Red Zone, Yellow, Zone, Green Zone Theory”. When the ball is well placed and very low, it is in your Red Zone. You should choose a defensive shot.

When the ball is in your Yellow or Neutral Zone or, you have a choice between hitting your shot defensively or offensively depending on the location of your opponents, their skill level, and of course your ability to place shots. When you have a ball in a very comfortable location - your Green Zone, you have the option of hitting an Offensive shot.

The DNO Theory is an easy, yet powerful guideline that you can follow to recognize which situation you're in and select the most appropriate shot for it.

Shot selection involves where and specifically who you are going to hit the ball to. All over I observe players being isolated - one team will try to hit the ball to the weaker player and exclude the better players. While that is the correct thing to do in competition, I think it is rude in recreational play. Everybody came to play. So it’s better for recreational play to hit the ball to everyone, and if you’re the stronger player, try working on placement instead of putting the ball away every chance you get. Why would players hit the ball to you if you try to put the ball away every time?

Conversely, what is the incentive for better players to get on the court with you if you rarely hit the ball to them? What tends to happen in the world of Pickleball is that groups form based on players’ shot selection.

Why is shot selection so important?

• Reduces unforced errors avoiding shots that are low value (percentage).

• It allows you to defend your opponents well-placed shots

• Your game will improve when you are selective about which balls to hit offensivelyIt makes you a better player by being selective on balls to hit offensively.

• Promotes longer rallies.

• It is certainly beneficial for recreational games with players of mixed levels.

• It promotes an “all around game which translates into slowing the game down with drop shots and the dinking game.

• It allows for play with all ages like children, parents, and grandparents.

• Your shot selection dictates the style of play. If no one hits a slower ball into the kitchen, there will be no dinking. So if you want to dink, then hit the return of serve to the player who can hit a drop shot.

As an ambassador for pickleball, good shot selection is a key for continued growth of our sport. There are always going to be new players coming into our sport and it is nice to play games just for the recreation of it. At your local venues, be inclusive and considerate and play a couple of games with lower level players so they can improve. My advice to the lower level players is hit the ball to everyone and don’t fall into the trap of avoiding the better players as they will have no incentive of getting on the court with you again.