How to Defend Overheads in Pickleball with Ben Johns

Summary

Pickleball 360 features Ben Johns on defending overheads from the baseline. Good defense covers the shots your opponent is most likely to hit, not every shot equally, and the movement is the opposite of kitchen-line positioning: you shift away from the ball rather than with it.

If the overhead comes from the opponent on your left, you shift left to cover the angle, the easiest place to hit a winner, and your partner covers the middle. The line is left more open; a down-the-line ball isn’t angling away from you, so it’s easier to run down. When the overhead comes from the other side, mirror it.

Key takeaways

• Defend the likely shots, not every shot
• Against overheads, shift away from the ball, not with it
• One partner covers the angle, the other covers the middle
• Leave the line more open since it doesn’t angle away

Action items

• Practice baseline overhead defense with a partner feeding lobs and overheads
• Agree with your partner who covers the angle and who covers the middle
• Shift together as the overhead moves sides