Special to The Desert Sun

The short-hop is a valuable tool for a pickleball player to have in their toolkit.

Sometimes, a dink comes deep enough to take out of the air, but it drops. It is an ankle biter. If you try to take it out of the air, you might be off balance and almost falling forward. This is when you take no backswing, and you quickly take the ball after the bounce, with a lifting motion. Babum! (Quick, Quick)

Allyce Jones from Pickle Roll demonstrates the short hop dink at the NVZ line. This is a shot where you should voice the word “BaBum!” Your paddle is out in front, the ball does not travel far enough to take out of the air, so you drop your paddle down, and take the ball quickly after it bounces. Babum! Bounce and contact.

Allyce emphasizes keeping your chest

See Full Page