You don’t have to hit every ball to influence the point

I recently hopped on the Pickleball Effect podcast with Braydon Unsicker and had an absolute blast breaking down gameplay, strategy, and what it really means to be a great right side player.

🎥 You can check out the full episode here: Watch the video

We went deep — not just into what shots to hit, but how to think on the court. Especially on the right side, where it’s easy to fall into a “support player” role and hang back.

But that role is evolving — fast.

Here are a few takeaways I think every serious player should consider:

✅ Off-ball pressure is a superpower
You don’t need to touch the ball to make an impact. Start applying pressure by moving in smartly, closing gaps, and making opponents uncomfortable — especially after short returns.

✅ Court positioning creates opportunity
Even small shifts matter. If your partner dinks crosscourt, don’t drift off to the sideline. Slide toward the middle. Become a threat. Influence their shot before they hit it.

✅ The forehand on the right is underrated
Most players only attack from the left. But a strong forehand off the bounce — especially when it’s disguised — is one of the most effective (and underused) weapons on the right.

✅ Pre-game strategy is wildly underrated
Take 5 minutes before a match to ask: Where will I drop if I’m in trouble? What are my best attack targets? What tendencies do my opponents have?

✅ Test your limits
You’ll never grow if you always play it safe. Step in earlier. Speed up more. See what you can handle — and improve the areas that hold you back.

If nothing else, give the podcast a watch. Braydon’s better than I expected (don’t tell him I said that 😉).

Your focus this week

When you’re playing the right side, try out some of these techniques above. If your partner gives you grief for being too progressive and advanced, send him this email and the video.

They’ll thank you–eventually. :-)

– Kyle

P.S. 👉 Want to go deeper?
This is exactly the kind of thinking we build inside That Pickleball School. If you’re serious about playing smarter and leveling up, come check it out.

P.P.S. This week I’m releasing the much-anticipated Anna Leigh Waters videos–I can’t wait for all of you to see these. I hope you love them, learn a lot from them, and share them with the pickleball world!