Positioning on the Pickleball Court: Footwork, Anticipation, Execution

Positioning in pickleball is about knowing where you should be, and when to move there. It's not just about getting to the right spot on the court. It's about being ready for the next shot and staying a step ahead of your opponent. You’ll start to anticipate the next shot and read your opponent's paddle. As you improve, strategic positioning and solid footwork will help you prepare for your opponent’s shots with much better understanding. Eventually, it’ll be like clockwork. 

1. The Service Line: When Serving

Starting strong—Neil sets up behind the baseline, locked in for the serve.

Your positioning when serving is the starting point. You can be central, or adjust to one side of the service court based on the type of serve you want to use or where you want your serve to land. At the moment of serving, your body and mind must be completely engaged, relaxed, and focused. How to do this? Easy! Develop a consistent and focused routine. It’ll calm your nerves. 

After serving and following through, your body should be facing your target. That’s just good fundamentals. Think of a pitcher in baseball: they wind up, step toward home plate, and follow through, ending up facing the target. After the follow-through, you’re now in your ready position, just behind the service line.

Key Tips:

• Leave some space between you and the line. Stepping into a serve adds power and rotation, IF you’re looking for a more aggressive serve.

• After serving, stay centered and return to your ready position so you can play the next shot in front of your body (backhand or forehand).

• Be just behind the service line after follow-through.

2. Returning the Serve and Moving to the Kitchen Line

One of the most common mistakes in pickleball? Failing to move forward after returning a serve. Standing just behind the service line, more centered on your side, gives you the ability to move quickly depending on where the server places the ball.

Once you return serve, your immediate goal is to get to the kitchen line (aka non-volley zone line) as fast as possible. That’s the place to be when the third shot is played, and getting there early gives you more control of the point (and maybe even a quick put-away). 

Key Tips:

• Stay centered just behind the service line when returning a ball

• Return serve and move to the kitchen line, centered, as quickly as possible.

3. After YOU Have Served, Stay Back and Wait for the Third Shot

Holding position and reading the return—Neil stays back, waiting to hit a controlled third shot.

After you've served and your opponent returns the ball, stay back. Even advanced players have to remind themselves not to charge the net too soon. Hanging back after your serve keeps you in position to either attack (if your opponent sends back a short/high ball) or drop the ball with a 3rd shot.

If you get a high return or a lob, be ready for a third shot drop. By staying in the backcourt momentarily, you give yourself time to assess and move forward with intention.

Key Tips:

• Don’t creep too far into the court after serving, unless it’s a short return.

• Stay in the ready position behind the service line so your next shot is in front of you and you can move side to side easily.

4. The Fifth Shot: Patience in the Transition Zone

The transition zone, the area between the baseline and kitchen line, is where many points are won or lost. In my opinion? The fifth shot is one of the most important shots in pickleball.

Relax, that’s just my take, but hear me out. Mastering this shot takes pressure off needing a perfect third shot. As you move toward the kitchen line, be ready to adjust your positioning based on your opponent’s shot. Forehand, backhand, short dink, deep drive – you don’t know what’s coming. So, stay ready. 

Don’t rush through the transition zone. Stay balanced. Let the next shot come to you. After your third shot, move into this area and split-step (a little bunny hop that ends in a wide, balanced stance) before the fifth shot. 

Key Tips:

• Don't rush.

• As you move into the transition zone and see your opponent prepping their shot, split-step into your ready stance. 

• Stay balanced and let the ball come to you.

• Your opponent’s shot will determine your next move, aggressive or controlled into the kitchen. 

5. The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen Line)

Feet wide, paddle out—Neil holds the kitchen line with a balanced dink.

The non-volley zone, or kitchen line, is a critical part of the pickleball court. You probably already know, you can’t step into this zone while volleying. But yes, you can go in anytime (not always the best idea, but it happens), especially when you’re dinking.

When you’re learning, everyone emphasizes not stepping over the line on a volley. So give yourself a cushion. I recommend staying about a half a foot behind the line. That buffer helps you adjust your footwork for volleys or dinks and gives you space if your opponent tries a lob.

Key Tips:

• Give yourself a little cushion behind the kitchen line.

• Allow room for adjustments, don’t crowd the line.

• Stay centered.

6. Slowing Down the Game to See the Angles

One of the most underrated ways to improve your pickleball positioning is to slow the game down in your mind. Sounds backwards, right? But being more cerebral, studying the angle of your opponent’s paddle, how they’re holding it, and where they’re like to hit, helps you anticipate the next shot. 

Their paddle is like an open book. Learn to read it. With time, you’ll start picking up tendencies, body language, and other little clues that help you get into a better position. 

Positioning and footwork are crucial as you level up your game. The better your positioning, the more in control you’ll have over each point. And the sharper your footwork, the faster you can respond. 

And remember: be patient and controlled. That creates more opportunities and fewer errors. 

Patience = Controlled = Opportunistic = Less Errors = More Success 

Have fun out there.