The Do's and Don'ts of Attacking in Pickleball

Timing, positioning, and reading your opponent matter way more than gripping and ripping

Every ball in pickleball is attackable. That's the philosophy coach and pro Mari Humberg leads with in her latest breakdown.

But here's the catch: just because you can attack doesn't mean you should.

Knowing when to pull the trigger on an aggressive shot versus when to hold back is what separates solid players from ones who consistently lose points they should win.

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The Four Situations Where You Should NOT Attack

Mari breaks down four core rules that should make you pump the brakes on an aggressive shot. These aren't hard-and-fast laws, but they're reliable guidelines that work across skill levels.

• You're out of position: If you're off the court or too far back, attacking opens up the middle and gives your opponents an easy put-away opportunity.
• You're off balance: When you're not in full athletic position or in control of your body, the counter will likely come back too fast for you to handle the follow-up.
• The ball is super short in the kitchen: A ball bouncing in the front half of the kitchen is nearly impossible to attack without hitting the net. It's just geometry.
• Your opponents are well balanced: If they're established and ready, they'll have a solid counter waiting. You'll end up losing the point.

The key insight here is that these rules aren't about the ball itself. They're about your position, your balance, and your opponent's readiness. A ball that's attackable for a pro might not be attackable for you in that moment.

When You Should Actually Go for It

Now for the fun part. Mari flips the script and shows when attacking makes sense. The rules mirror the "don't attack" list, but with a positive spin.

• You're in position: Good positioning toward the middle of your side means you can speed up and immediately be ready for a counter.
• You're well balanced: You feel stable and in control, even if you're reaching. Your comfort level matters here, and that's personal to your skill set.
• The ball is short and they're not ready: If your opponents are out of position after a heavy dink, a short ball becomes an opportunity to poke it at them or find open court.
• Your opponents are out of position: This is the golden scenario. They've been pulled wide or are scrambling, and you have the court to work with.

Mari emphasizes that your standards for "in position" and "well balanced" might differ from hers or another player's. The goal is to set clear rules in your head before you're about to hit the ball, not to decide in the moment.

The Demos Tell the Story

Mari demonstrates both bad and good attacks to drive the point home. The bad attacks show what happens when you ignore the rules: weak shots that come back fast, or balls that sail into the net.

The good attacks? Clean winners. When she's in position, balanced, and her opponents are scrambling, the speed-up is crisp and often ends the point right there.

The takeaway is simple but powerful: attacking isn't about hitting harder. It's about hitting smarter. Timing, positioning, and reading your opponent matter way more than raw power.

Implement It Immediately

Mari's advice is straightforward: take these four rules and build them into your game right now. Don't wait for a lesson or a tournament. Next time you're on the court, run through the checklist before you speed up.

Are you in position? Are you balanced? Are they ready? If the answer to all three is yes, go for it. If not, keep dinking and wait for a better opportunity.

That patience and discipline is what turns attackable balls into actual winners.

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