How to Anticipate Every Shot Like a Pickleball Pro

You don't need lightning-fast reflexes if you're already in the right spot

Pickleball is a game of split-second decisions, and one of the most underrated skills separating casual players from competitive ones is anticipation.

Ryan Fu, a pro pickleball player and content creator, breaks down exactly how to read your opponent's positioning and predict where the ball is headed before it even gets there.

According to Fu, anticipation accounts for roughly 60% of what people call "hand speed" at the kitchen. That's a huge insight: you don't need lightning-fast reflexes if you're already in the right spot.

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Reading the Sideline Dink

When your opponent dinks the ball to the sideline, they're setting up a predictable pattern.

Fu's approach is to immediately get both hands on the paddle and anticipate a speed-up down the line. If they go crosscourt instead, he keeps that two-handed backhand ready and adjusts his counter shot accordingly.

The key here is to commit to a defensive position based on the court geometry. If the ball is on the sideline, the angles are limited, so you can narrow your focus and react with confidence rather than panic.

The Center-Court Dink and Chest-Level Threats

Things get trickier when the dink lands directly in front of you, between your shoulders.

Fu holds a neutral grip with one hand and anticipates a backhand counter at chest level or slightly below. He's not worried about wide forehands because if your opponent speeds up from that position, the ball will likely sail out.

By protecting the high-percentage zone (your chest and inside hip), you're playing smart percentages rather than trying to cover every possible shot.

The Center-Line Position

When the ball lands closer to the center line and toward your right shoulder (if you're on the left side), Fu keeps his paddle facing the center without cheating either direction. He anticipates the ball might come to his inside hip since the center positioning gives opponents multiple options.

A lot of players will attack straight through the middle, which is an easy turn to the backhand. Anything further out is likely going out anyway, so again, you're defending the most dangerous zone.

The Takeaway

The real takeaway from Fu's breakdown is that anticipation isn't magic. It's pattern recognition.

By understanding court geometry, your opponent's positioning, and the limited options available from each spot, you can position yourself to react faster. You're not reacting to the ball; you're reacting to what you already predicted.

That's the difference between a 3.5 and a 4.5 player at the kitchen line.

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