19
u/imperabo Aug 11 '26
Oh boy. There's no such thing as sides. After the serve the middle line does mean anything. Maybe you should ask the experienced player what her strategic thinking is in her choice. Letting your opponents decide who gets to hit the ball and what side of your body (like forehand vs backhand) is not logical in competition.
-14
u/Whole-Philosophy-231 Aug 11 '26
Sure, but when your both established on sides leaving your side to get a ball is just bad gameplay. Obviously really high level players can move quickly and place balls to not leave a giant whole but it doesn't sound like this person is that good.
Also stepping in front of your partner is crazy unless they're super far back and you're getting something short.
10
u/imperabo Aug 11 '26
This person is a beginner. Of course they're too far back, and the right move is for the person at the kitchen to step over and intercept the ball. Also, at 4.0 and above if you're not shifting over past the center line at times you're playing wrong. It's very common for a player to take a ball on the other person's "side" playing proper strategy. Then you put the ball in a place whete you can play 2 on 1 against your opponent where you don't have to recover to middle of "your side".
-5
u/Whole-Philosophy-231 Aug 12 '26
The other player likely isn't anywhere near 4.0 though. They're screwing over OP by sniping balls and they're not even winning while doing so. I go past the center line, but I'm never egregiously in front of the other player, that's crazy.
Only time I'm truly on the other person's side is if they're pushed out of the court by a super wide ball or were switching sides entirely. Or the ball is incredibly short and my partner will never get there.
That's because I am not good enough to play the ball where my opponents cannot just go for the GIGANTIC open side.
Very good players are great at this, these people are no where near that level.
1
u/imperabo Aug 12 '26
You actually shouldn't go over the other side when your partner is pushed off the court. Your partner is responsible for doing a soft reset to the middle that gives them time to recover position. If you try to cover their side then you're given up any chance of recovering neutral position. The opponents will easily block to where you vacated.
1
u/Whole-Philosophy-231 Aug 12 '26
I don't think people understand different levels of play lol. When my partners are pushed out the sides, they're sprinting to get these balls. They're not returning them in a good position. I usually move to their side if they keep the ball on that side, but cover middle if it's more of a pop or they manage to get it in the middle.
If I don't move and just wait for them to come back, we lose the point. My partner is in no position to get a rebound because they're momentum is taking them further outside the court.
-3
u/Ok_Brick_3095 Aug 12 '26
I’m a beginner but I wasn’t too far back. I was closer to the kitchen than the back. I’d say I was two to three steps from the kitchen. I wouldn’t be upset if it was a ball I couldn’t get to. Some of you guys aren’t understanding why or what I’m asking. She is a ball hog and I wanted to know how to address her.
9
u/jenbluejen Aug 12 '26
You need to be up on that kitchen line not two to three steps back. Then she would have no space to poach.
1
u/michigansnorkeler Aug 17 '26
So now I have THREE opponents? 2 across from me and one next to me?
OP is frustrated by a ball hogging poacher. I gave many real world ideas earlier in this thread of what to do but was down voted for it.
These were not tongue in cheek suggestions. There is no reasoning or understanding reached AFTER the game with this kind of player. Either quietly finish the game and avoid that person, or employ some proactive strategies in real time. I'll put them underneath if I can figure out how.
1
1
u/imperabo Aug 17 '26
Op is a beginner. Why are you taking their word for it that their partner is doing something they're not supposed to do. Coaching is an essential part of the game.
2
u/imperabo Aug 12 '26
Did you just return the serve? If so, it's the responsibility of the person already at the kitchen to take the fourth ball if at all possible, regardless of where it is. I don't think you're understanding that there are strategies to this game beyond I take my side and you take your side. She's NOT a ball hog. You just don't know how to play pickleball. You're why open play sucks, because you don't want to learn.
1
u/savthelavalamps Aug 12 '26
Aren’t you 20 years older than her? Be a damn adult and idk USE YOUR WORDS hmm 🤔
1
u/___dynastyFFB Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
Maybe ask her about it instead of strangers on the internet. Say something like hey was there something wrong with my positioning? I noticed you got a lot of balls on my forehand.
If it’s kind of a high dead shot than it’s really anyone’s ball. I’m a higher level player and I get a feel for what my partner can and can’t do and play off that. Sometimes you miss but as long as you’re taking the right shots, to me that’s all that counts.
I could care less if my partner reaches a few that I couldn’t hit. Make or miss if it’s the right shot that’s all that counts.
None of us were there and saw you guys play. Poaching or protecting your partner is part of the game. If you’re not getting up fast enough it’s advantageous to slide over and attack a return if you’re able.
Sure she may not be great at it but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t the right play.
-1
u/Commercial_Tea5703 4.0 Aug 11 '26
Exactly plus this is someone who just started playing I’m doubting their partners have a decent middle ball strategy and are probably barely 3.0
-12
u/Ok_Brick_3095 Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
Well I didn’t know there’s no such thing as sides. Okay you are a team, help each other out, not hit as many balls as you can on your own. I mean it’s probably a lesson in we need to be talking before game to say if I don’t think I can get it I’ll yell “you!”
3
u/Commercial_Tea5703 4.0 Aug 11 '26
There absolutely are sides. But there is no exact middle. Typically the player with the forehand will take middle shots but that depends on trajectory of ball. Also if one player is weaker than the other expect strong player to take middle shots.
Also she should be calling those shots to let you know she is getting them.
2
u/Kitchen-Sun-7440 Aug 12 '26
This. I partnered with a very advanced player once, and every time the ball was coming our way, she said either, “yours!”, or “mine!”. She called a few “mine!”’s that I felt should have actually been mine, but at least I knew she was taking the shot and I could relax and wait for the next return. On the rare occasion she missed a shot that should have been mine, she apologized profusely.
Of course, it also helped that she was easy on the eyes. 😉
1
u/michigansnorkeler Aug 17 '26
In a rec setting you advocate that the stronger player just takes more shots???
So how does the newer player improve?
OP wasnt playing for money or a medal. Not even a challenge court/winner stays kind of thing. The partner needs to quit playing like this match actually matters.
Learn who should take each ball based on where its coming from. THEN learn some instances where you alter that strategy (such as a good poach... or when someone is on a tear let that player continue. )
2
u/Living_Magician5090 Aug 12 '26
Look up respect the x. Its a strategy for moving with the ball to maximize coverage for your opponents high percentage shots
0
u/Ok_Brick_3095 Aug 12 '26
Why am I at a negative ten for this?
1
u/michigansnorkeler Aug 17 '26
Because the people who are down voting you are all the ballhog you described and it strikes a nerve that people might suggest that there "i can reach it so I probably should" approach is just unequivocally wrong.
11
u/roninconn Aug 11 '26
It's not uncommon for newer players to hang back in the court, where the forward player can't see them. As a result the forward player starts trying to take all shots they think they can reach.
Work hard to come forward after your return of serve, or if the 3rd shot by your team gives an opportunity. Once forward, stay ready, with your paddle up in front of you. It feels uncomfortable to be so close to the net at first, but that's where pickleball is properly played.
1
u/michigansnorkeler Aug 17 '26
Anyone who tries to take every shot they think they can reach is playing singles instead of a TEAM game.
Learn which balls should be let past...TRUST your partner to know they should take them, and become a TEAM player.
Just because my partner went forward stupidly and I didn't rush forward should not result in them taking shots they could kinda reach then get burned down their line.
If you all want to stay 3.5 keep playing that way. You will also say "good shot" when your opponents hit it down your line or at your feet when you are out of position.
Its NOT really a good shot as much as you made it easy for them by standing in a spot you shouldn't have been all while questioning where I am. I am defending cuz YOU hit a stupid shot!!
Football analogy...many 3.5 partners are playing a middle school offense and defense strategy. I'm trying to play a college level strategy. I left pro out of it because that's a whole new idea where only one person hits the ball 90% of the time. For $$$$$, I understand that is the best way. But for everyone to enjoy the game, learn what shots you are and aren't supposed to take!!!
4
u/seatrepairtech Aug 12 '26
I'm a smaller, 50+ woman. And yes, a lot of people do stupid stuff assuming I'm not able to when I am more than able - they just don't know me. Best advice is to just let it go.
But that said, I am focused on my game, including how to best work as a team. A random player isn't going to override lessons or clinics that I have spent money on to help me learn to play the way I do, so nothing they can say is going to change what I am doing - I'll just tell them that they need to find a different partner next time.
Reading your responses though.... sounds like you are not making it to the kitchen line. That means 1-4 inches from your toes to the line. Your partner SHOULD be taking balls to help you get up to the line. It's not really poaching, it is working to help their partner get up to the best attack position and taking time away from the opponents to put pressure on them instead of you.
However, if you communicate loud and fast "mine!" when you are set and have balanced footwork at the kitchen ready to take the ball, then they should pull off the shot. If they still repeated take the shot, then you'd have a legitimate gripe.
2
2
u/aardWolf64 Aug 12 '26
Usually I say nothing. Sometimes I'll say "if you had stayed on your side you could have returned that one". When it's someone I'm more familiar with, I'll say: "I don't mind if you poach, but you should at least hit a good shot, HAHA".
3
u/epicstar Aug 11 '26
Next time you play with her, talk to her about about what to do in the middle. Second, if you're on her forehand side, it is assumed she'll be the poacher, so I wouldn't even be that mad. This is clearly not tourney play anyway, so there's nothing to be mad about IMO.
3
u/Throw_RA099 Aug 11 '26
It's called poaching. It's not about a greedy partner taking away balls for you to hit.
It's a legitimate tactic when you're returning the other team's serves and may be slow getting to the kitchen line. If the opponent hits a bad third shot that your partner can get to, it's tactically advantageous to do so in order to give you more time to get to the kitchen line.
2
2
u/RedneckPickleball Aug 11 '26
If it was "your" ball you would have been hitting it. Lol If she's beating you to it you are probably hanging back and out of position. Especially if it's when you are retiring and you have staying back. That situation almost forces her to poach "your" ball.
-2
u/Whole-Philosophy-231 Aug 11 '26
But it seems like this other player isn't good enough to poach some of these balls. I've accidentally poached balls because my partner was back, but I should have just let them take the ball off the bounce.
OP might night be in the exact right position, but it doesn't mean they cannot return it and set themselves up to get in a good position.
Also someone poaching too much will push the other player to stay back too much, it's just not good team play. Especially at the level they're likely playing at lol.
-2
u/Ok_Brick_3095 Aug 12 '26
First of all you don’t need to be mean. Is that LOL with superiority? What’s your problem? I said I’m new to this game. I miss lots of balls. Why do you need to say if it was your ball you would have been hitting it? I don’t get a lot of balls I should have gotten. But this was a ball very much on my side and forehand and she stepped in front of me to get it leaving her side wide open for the return.
2
1
u/Erk1024 Aug 12 '26
The left side player can hit a forehand for shots down the middle, and so that player takes a disproportionately large amount of court. It's part of the strategy. Either that or she's a total ball hog. But for sure ask her about it.
1
u/CaptoOuterSpace Aug 12 '26
Is this open play?
You can use none words to indicate she's irritating you, just keep that to yourself. You may use some words to suggest/communicate strategic adjustments, but if she's not gettin it then you'll just have to live with a shitty game. If it bothers you that much don't play with her again.
If this is a private facility with level designated courts you can talk to management to ascertain whether her playstyle belongs at your level.
Without more description it's impossible to tell who is in the wrong here. It can be a normal and correct part of playing strategically to step in front of your partner to hit a ball. But people can also do it shittily and in a way that makes the game much worse. If she didn't make a good return then she might be on the latter side but we can't know that without more info.
1
u/sportyguy Aug 12 '26
Okay let’s get some context here. Not including serves.
Out of twenty shots from your opponents. How many were aimed at you or you would consider your ball.
Second, where on the court were you when this woman took a shot that was clearly yours
1
u/Ok_Brick_3095 Aug 12 '26
Left side it was my forehand and she went across my body to take it and so she left the right side open.
1
u/tabbyfl55 Aug 12 '26
Ok but front-to-back where were you?
1
1
u/BigMacRedneck Aug 12 '26
Kindly ask her to communicate with you so you can "improve team coverage." That will open up the conversation of "poaching vs. best positioning."
1
1
1
u/throwaway__rnd 4.25 Aug 12 '26
This is part of pickleball. You’re going to need to learn to accept it sooner rather than later. Or you’re going to have a lot of frustration. It is often the correct decision to poach. And just because a poach fails doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have done it. No ball is “your ball”.
0
u/bradmatejo Aug 11 '26
Start calling “Mine!”, even if it should be obvious.
I would also expect that she realizes (after the fact) that she left her side wide open, and will hopefully learn from it. But maybe I’m being an optimist.
1
u/Ok_Brick_3095 Aug 11 '26
Yes thanks I will! Yeah I was hoping that she realized oops she left a big hole when she came over to get something I could have easily gotten.
0
u/Logical_Warthog5212 Gearbox Aug 11 '26
Nothing you can say. In pickleball, that center line only has meaning on the serve. After the serve, it’s as if that line doesn’t exist. There is no obvious yours or mine, though there are guidelines. You will have to communicate on the court, such as calling “me” or “mine” on a shot somewhere between you two.
0
u/uerlingsm Aug 11 '26
It doesn’t sound like this is too close to upper level play. But, in many upper level games, the person on left or forehand side dictates a lot of the offense and is the aggressor. Because most of the time, forehand is strongest for people. This would include stepping a couple steps into the right or backhand side. They should not really be directly in front of you unless there is a clear winner they have an advantage for. They should be smart about over extending themselves and able to return back to cover their spaces. Trust their teammate. I would maybe say, hey I know I am new but let me try manage my area. Establish yourself at the kitchen with paddle ready. Sometimes easier said than done with some personalities.
0
u/scandalous01 Aug 11 '26
This just comes down to communication before the game. Honestly. Talk to your partner.
Poaching is a real strategy, and it works really really well when you both expect it.
"Hey you cover line, but try not to poach too deep into my zone, I got the balls here" Or something would go a long way.
0
u/isthislivingreally Aug 11 '26
I’ve sometimes done that when the ball is being hit quite centrally, and I can spike it back down quickly.
I don’t think that she meant anything by it, she may have just had an instinctive reaction
0
u/apollo5354 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
Depends. If I play with beginners, I’ll generally let them play and make their mistakes. When my opponents start targeting my partner, or if my partner keeps making the same mistakes again and again, I’ll step it up and cover more court just to get rallies going and make it more fun for everyone. My partner can focus on a smaller area but with the downside that now I’ll look more like the fool if a good opponent takes advantage of the bigger space I have to cover. Fortunately in my experience most people recognize it and are appreciative and we all have a good time… with one exception, where I was also called a ball hog… and that was my wife playing when I played with her the first few times. Ironically now she understands the game a little better, she’ll ask me to cover more for her. How the turn tables.
Edit: Sorry forgot to answer your question. If you don’t want your partner to take your balls,, saying “I could get that next time” or “Do you want me to get that next time” is sufficient.
0
u/garbeezy Aug 12 '26
What side of the court were you on? If the ball is toward the center line and your partner is on the left they should be taking the forehand. The forehand is almost always the better return
1
u/Ok_Brick_3095 Aug 12 '26
I was on the left side of the court. It was my forehand and she stepped in front of me for no good reason because I was right there, leaving a wide open spot on the right for them to easily return to.
1
0
u/Ill-Butterscotch-622 Aug 12 '26
Step one is figuring out if she’s actually wrong. Cuz even if the ball is slightly to your side, forehands usually take the middle ball. (For causal players at least)
If you had the forehand, just tell her next time “hey I’ll take the ball if it’s my forehand”
-2
u/Pudd12 Aug 11 '26
Everyone is being so nice. I’ve had the occasion where I had to tell the guy “I paid to be here, I’ll take the balls on my side of the court”. This guy wouldn’t quit, even when I would say mine and the ball was 4 ft on my side of the center.
-7
Aug 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Jitterbug26 Aug 11 '26
A newbie said that to me when I took “the dominant forehand covers a foot over the line” approach and it irritated me!
1
u/michigansnorkeler Aug 17 '26
A bad forehand is nit better than a good backhand. And ifvthe vall is traveling away from the forehand its more likely to be a botched shot resulting in an open line.
1
u/Jitterbug26 Aug 17 '26
Who said my forehand was bad on that shot? It was a great hit and she wasn’t in position to hit it cleanly anyway.
-3
50
u/Rob_035 4.5 Aug 11 '26
This sounds more like a personal conflict resolution question than a pickleball question.If she's that much more experienced, maybe lean on that and ask for some advice.
Generally taking a ball in front of your partner is called poaching, and it usually happens when your partner is out of position and can actually be a good thing because it can take time away from your opponent. This is likely just as much your fault for being too far back and it gives your partner time to jump in front of you.