Three Strategies to Own the Kitchen Line
By Connor Garnett
August 19, 2026 • 7 min read
Getting to the kitchen line is important. Staying in control once you get there is what separates good positioning from actually owning the point.
When my partner and I establish ourselves at the kitchen while our opponents are still working through the transition zone, we have the advantage. We are closer to the net, we can create sharper downward angles, and our opponents are forced to hit from farther back while trying to move forward.
But that advantage can disappear quickly. Give your opponents one comfortable ball and suddenly they are standing across from you at the kitchen. Now the point is neutral again.
When I’m trying to keep a team back, I focus on three things: taking the ball at the highest point I can, being intentional about where I put the fourth shot, and expecting the ball to come back.
Take the Ball at Its Highest Point
The first decision is whether to take the ball out of the air or let it bounce.
If I can take it out of the air and attack down on the ball, I usually want to do that. Taking the ball early gives my opponents less time and allows me to maintain pressure from the kitchen line.
But taking everything out of the air isn’t automatically the right choice. One mistake I see players make is reaching for a ball that is already dropping. They overextend, lose control of the paddle face and pop the ball up. Instead of applying pressure, they give their opponents exactly what they need to move forward.
Sometimes the better option is to let the ball bounce, get behind it and attack from a stronger position.
If you let it bounce, though, don’t let the ball get behind you. Move your feet, create enough space to take the ball out in front and allow yourself to move forward through the shot.
The goal isn’t simply to volley everything. The goal is to recognize which option allows you to attack the ball from the strongest position.
Make the Fourth Shot Count
Once you have control of the kitchen, your fourth shot needs a purpose.
Too many players are satisfied just getting that ball back over the net. If your opponents have hit a third-shot drop and are moving forward, a neutral fourth gives them permission to continue all the way to the kitchen.
I want my fourth shot to accomplish one of two things: force my opponent to hit up on the next ball or keep them as far away from the kitchen as possible.
A good general target is the feet. When someone is moving through the transition zone, a ball at the feet forces them to hit from a difficult position. They may have to stop, bend, reset or play the ball upward. All of those responses allow you to maintain the advantage.
If they are farther back, think depth. Keep the ball deep and make them earn every step toward the kitchen.
You also need to watch how your opponent is moving. If someone is charging forward too aggressively and is still moving when you make contact, hitting firmly into the body can be effective. A player who isn’t balanced may have trouble doing anything aggressive with that ball, even if your shot sits a little higher than you intended.
The important part is having a reason for where you hit it. Don’t just play the fourth ball. Use it.
Move Your Feet to Maintain Pressure
Keeping opponents back isn’t only about your paddle. Your feet have to put you in position to execute the shot you want.
If the ball pulls you wide or forces you to adjust, move with it. Getting your body into the correct position allows you to take the ball in front, control your direction and continue applying pressure.
This becomes especially important when targeting an opponent’s feet. The target is moving, which means your positioning may need to change too.
As the rally develops, look for the progression. Early in the transition, I may be focused almost entirely on the feet. If my opponent gives me a higher ball, I can become more aggressive, keep them pinned back and eventually look for an angle or winner.
You don’t have to end the point with the first opportunity. Sometimes the best offense is simply refusing to let your opponent get comfortable.
Expect the Sixth Ball
This is probably the part players forget most often.
You hit an aggressive fourth ball and think you have done your job. Then your opponent, who is stuck in transition, bails out with a swinging volley or speedup. You aren’t ready, the ball gets through and suddenly the advantage is gone.
After you hit the fourth, expect the sixth. Assume the ball is coming back and have your paddle ready to counter.
This is where your position at the kitchen gives you a major advantage. Because you are closer to the net, you can create a much sharper downward trajectory. Your opponent in the midcourt has a more difficult job. They have to clear the net from farther away while trying to keep the ball low.
If they speed the ball up from transition, be prepared to get the next one back down at their feet.
The fourth shot creates the pressure. Our sixth shot often maintains it.
“The goal isn’t simply to volley everything. The goal is to recognize which option allows you to attack the ball from the strongest position.” — Connor Garnett, Pro Pickleball Player and Coach
The Twoey Takeaway
Getting to the kitchen line gives you an advantage, but what you do once you’re there determines whether you keep it.
The goal isn’t to hit every ball harder or try to end the point immediately. It’s to make your opponents uncomfortable while you stay balanced and in control. Take the ball at its highest point when you can, make the fourth shot intentional, and always be prepared for the next ball to come back.
The more pressure you create, the harder your opponents have to work for every step forward. Keep finding their feet, keep them moving, and don’t give them an easy path to the kitchen.
Once you start thinking one shot ahead instead of simply reacting to the ball in front of you, you’re no longer just standing at the kitchen line. You’re owning it. ●
Train with Connor Garnett
Take your game beyond the pages of The Pickleball Weekly and onto the court with PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball Pro Connor Garnett. Through two-day camps, private instruction, virtual coaching, and the Twoey Pickleball Lab, Connor helps players of all skill levels improve faster with small-group instruction focused on strategy, movement, decision-making, and his signature two-handed backhand. His clinics have been held throughout the United States, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Japan, and Picklr locations across North America. Learn more at ConnorGarnett.com.
About Connor Garnett
Ranked fifth in the world in men’s singles, Connor Garnett is a professional pickleball player competing on both the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. Known for his athleticism, analytical approach, and his signature two-handed backhand known as the “Twoey”, Garnett has established himself as one of the sport’s most respected competitors and educators. Through his instructional series, Twoey’s Tips, he shares the technical insights, strategies, and training methods that have helped shape his professional game, giving players of all skill levels practical advice to elevate their performance on the court.
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