When you are playing against players that like to drive the pickleball, be on the lookout out balls. Duck and dodge out balls. Do not help your opponents stay in the point. To improve your detection of out balls, consider the following:

1. Communicate with Your Partner – Two heads are better than one, so work with your partner to detect out balls. If you see an out ball, scream and yell at your partner—“NO!” or “LET IT GO!”

2. Let the Shoulder Height Drives Go – If your opponents drive a pickleball at you that sits about chest or shoulder height, let it go. Your opponents’ drive is probably out. This is especially true if your opponents drove the pickleball from the Transition Area or Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line.

3. Pay Attention to the Height at Contact – If your opponents drive a pickleball that sits below the net, consider letting it go. This is because your opponents will have to hit up on a low-sitting pickleball to hit it over the net. By hitting up on the pickleball, your opponents will send the pickleball on a trajectory that is probably going out of bounds.

4. Patterns of Play – As you play a few points with your opponents, try to analyze their patterns of play. Do your opponents consistently drive the pickleball on every shot? Once your opponents get to a certain place on the court, are these drives too high and going out of bounds? Try to pick up on any patterns to help you anticipate and detect out balls.

5. Body Language – In addition to patterns of play, pay attention to your opponents’ body language and paddle face. For instance, a big backswing and flat or closed paddle face will indicate a drive is coming your way. Use these clues to help you anticipate shots, including out balls.

Remember to the let the out balls fly out of play. Out balls are easy points for you and your partner. Hitting an out ball keeps your opponents in the point, which is obviously something that you want to avoid.

Key Takeaways:

1. Out balls are easy points for your and your partner, so let the out balls fly out of bounds.
2. To improve your detection of out balls:
a. Communicate with your partner if you see an out ball;
b. If the pickleball is chest or shoulder high, let it go;
c. If your opponents drive a pickleball that sits below the net, consider letting it go;
d. Pick up on your opponents’ patterns of play; and
e. Pay attention to your opponents’ body language and paddle face.