Defending Against Power Players at the Kitchen Line
If you play any competitive pickleball like I do, you’ve likely faced opponents who try to hit the crap out of the ball and go right through you at the kitchen line. I’ve been on the receiving end of that. I find that I do better when I’m playing my game, which is mostly power, but I needed to learn the soft game in order to be able to defend against those coming at me hard. Power isn’t unbeatable. With the right mindset and tools, you can turn their speed into your advantage.
Anticipation is Everything in Pickleball Defense
Watch their paddle face and body cues. Big backswings almost always mean they’re loading up. If you read the shot early, you’ll already be set before the ball leaves their paddle. I try to watch the trajectory of the paddle more than the ball—watching the ball can sometimes be too late. By then, you've already been body-bagged.
Paddle Positioning at the Kitchen Line
Keep your paddle up and in front at about chest height, ready like a shield. I prefer having my paddle slightly tilted at 11 o’clock so my backhand is set to defend. Dropped paddles mean you’re late. A strong ready position alone can neutralize half the pace.
Soft Hands: Controlling Pace
Don’t meet fire with fire. Absorb the ball by relaxing your grip and cushioning the contact. This deadens the speed and keeps your shot controlled instead of popping it up. That’s exactly what a power player wants—a good pop-up.
Master the Reset Shot
When the barrage comes, send the ball back low into the kitchen. A calm, controlled reset not only stops the power game, it flips the rally back in your favor. Many people forget this. A lot of players will implode because you're not giving them what they want.
Power players thrive on pace. If you can be more relaxed (easier said than done), keep your paddle ready, and trust your soft game, you’ll make them work twice as hard—and that’s when they break.
The biggest takeaway: you have to practice these resets. You can't just go out there and think you're going to implement that discipline if you haven’t practiced. A good drill I use is having one person be the aggressor while I can only block everything they hit at me. It really helps.
About the Author: Gina Cilento is a top 10 Senior Pro and multi-APP medalist who splits her time between competing and coaching. She’s the co-founder of The Pickleball Lab, a pod player for the Denver Iconics in the National Pickleball League, and co-host of Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil. Off the court, Gina shares her passion through her apparel line, The Pick, and her work with Empower Pickleball.
