Tipbit #26 - Left Foot 

In Tipbit #25 I wrote about your Anchor Foot. In this tipbit I’m going to simply talk about a right-hander’s Left Foot, which is one of your biggest vulnerabilities on the court. A dinked ball down there is almost impossible to attack-speed up and very easy to make a mistake with.

I watch a lot of pro pickleball on YouTube, Fox Sport 1 and the Tennis Channel and I see dink after dink hit to the left foot of the right-handed player. It is one of the safer and more effective spots to target your dink.

A well-placed dink at this location will not only be tough for your opponent to attack, but it will force that opponent to back off the kitchen line. This is a win (albeit small) for the player hitting the shot. You can also mix up your dinks to that target - - - for instance; different spins, different depths of the kitchen, different speeds or different trajectories.

Plus, by going left foot of the right-sided player you’re also targeting the middle, which can be a confusing place—particularly if your opponents have not played together very much. More specifically, the targeted left foot can be confusing because it can be an awkward shot for the right-sided player, who may be hoping that the left-sided player (with their forehand in the middle) steps in to cut off the angle of the pickleball.  You’ve created confusion and hesitation. Lastly, by targeting the right-sided player through the middle likely means the ball will be returned through the middle; hopefully high so you can step forward and put it away for a winner.

Even further, a backhand dink is seldom hit out in front of the body (see below pic). Therefore your opponent is unlikely to speed it up, unlikely to throw up a lob, unlikely to hit an aggressive dink, etc. Rather, your opponent is likely to simply push the pickleball back over the net with a basic dink.















Now that knowledgeable RFPBA members will begin to target your left foot, it’s time to talk defense. The best way to protect your left foot is to lean in and be aggressive.  Intercept that dink as a volley and make them think twice about aiming there. The volley doesn’t need to be a speedup, just push the ball toward a sideline, try to get them moving, and flip the point in your favor. 

Another option is to bring your partner into the mix. If both you and your partner are right handed and they’re targeting your partner’s left foot in the deuce court (right side), you as a right-handed player should be able to help protect the left foot of your partner.  Just make a plan with your partner; if you see them getting forced off the line, move towards the middle and take the next ball.

Remember, targeting your Left Foot is a basic tactic being used by your opponent to force you into a mistake. Just stay composed, patient, communicate, plan with your partner and keep the point alive.

          C’ ya on the Glen Park Courts. President Lueck