Stop Losing Your Kitchen Advantage

Three ways to maintain control, apply pressure and protect your advantage

By Connor Garnett • Professional Pickleball Player
November 11, 2026 • 5 min read

In professional pickleball, nearly 70% of points are won by the returning team. Yet, I see 90% of players give up that massive advantage within the first two shots.

As the returning team, we want to hold that advantage, dominate the kitchen line and get our serve back. Three things can help us accomplish this: a preemptive split step, better footwork on the fourth shot and partner sliding. Each plays an important role in keeping pressure on our opponents rather than allowing them an easy path to the kitchen.

The Preemptive Split Step

The first thing we want to focus on is the preemptive split step. A split step is that little hop we make as the ball comes over the net, helping us establish balance before making contact.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is players trying to rush all the way to the kitchen line. Getting there isn’t necessarily the priority. What matters is being balanced enough to hit through that first ball and keep our opponents back.

If I’m still moving when I make contact, that’s when errors happen. The shot becomes more hectic, and I lose the ability to control the ball. Instead, I want to split step as my opponent is hitting, allowing myself to stop and prepare for the next shot.

It’s better to stop too soon than to run through the shot. Being balanced gives us the opportunity to stay in the point and prepare for the next ball. The goal is to get our timing dialed in so we’re ready to make controlled contact rather than rushing through it.

Better Footwork on the Fourth Shot

The second thing we need to improve is our footwork on the fourth shot. When I talk about hitting aggressive fourth shots, a lot of players assume that means swinging faster. That’s not what I’m talking about. I want us to be aggressive with our body positioning.

Whether we’re taking the ball out of the air or off the bounce, the key is getting behind it and transitioning our weight forward through the shot.

Too often, I see players get caught with the ball down around their shoelaces or find themselves leaning backward as they make contact. When that happens, the ball tends to pop up, giving our opponents an opportunity to attack and move toward the kitchen line.

Instead, we want to keep the ball in front of us and get our bodies behind it. This allows us to move forward through contact, keep the ball lower on the other side of the net and make it more difficult to attack.

During one of the demonstrations, the player did a good job getting behind the ball but leaned back and lifted through the shot. The result was a ball that popped up. The adjustment was to stay down through contact and allow the weight shift to carry the body naturally forward toward the next ball.

It’s often easier to get that forward weight shift when taking the ball out of the air, but the same principle applies when hitting off the bounce. When we transition through the shot properly, the ball stays down, and we maintain control of the point.

Of course, not every fourth shot should be attacked aggressively. Sometimes our opponents hit a really good drop, and we have to respect it.

In those situations, taking a little pace off the ball is perfectly fine. Recognizing when to make that adjustment is also part of making a smart play.

Partner Sliding

The third thing I want to focus on is the returner’s partner. The partner’s job isn’t to simply stand at the kitchen line and wait. They need to be active and engaged in helping the returning player move forward. As the returner hits the ball and begins moving toward the kitchen, the partner should look to slide toward the middle of the court.

This positioning allows the partner to help cover the middle and take the next ball, making it more difficult for opponents to target the returning player while they’re still moving forward.

For example, if the player on the left side is returning, the player on the right can slide toward the middle to provide additional coverage. The better the return, and the farther it goes in that direction, the more the partner can slide over to help.

Why is this so important? The returning player may not have reached the kitchen line yet. Even if they get there, they could still be moving when they make contact.

A player who’s already established at the kitchen line is in a much better position to keep the ball down than someone who’s still moving forward. By sliding over, the partner can help protect the returner and take balls that might otherwise be difficult for the moving player to handle.

One of the biggest questions I get about this technique is whether the partner should take the ball with a backhand or a forehand. My answer is to defer to whichever shot is higher above the net.

A backhand taken higher above the net is better than a forehand taken lower. If both shots are available at the same height, however, I would give it to the forehand because it can generate more power.

The important thing is that the partner is helping protect the returning player, whether that means taking the ball with a forehand or a backhand.

Partner sliding works on both sides of the court. Players are sometimes more hesitant to slide over with their backhand, but the technique is equally important on that side.

On the forehand side, we can also see the benefit of having a little extra reach when covering the middle.

There’s one more important consideration: balance. Even when we’re sliding, we need to remain balanced in case our opponents direct the ball toward us. We still have to be prepared to defend that shot.

When the partner slides effectively and maintains balance, it becomes easier for the returning player to reach the kitchen line.

3 Ways to Keep Your Kitchen Advantage

1. Preemptive Split Step: Split step as your opponent hits the ball. Stop before contact, establish balance and avoid running through the shot.
2. Better Fourth-Shot Footwork: Get behind the ball, keep it in front of you and shift your weight forward through contact. Focus on body positioning rather than swinging faster.
3. Partner Sliding: As the returner moves forward, the partner slides toward the middle to help cover the court. Stay balanced and ready for the next ball.

The Twoey Takeaway

As the returning team, we already have an advantage. The key is making sure we don’t give it away during the first few shots.

A preemptive split step helps us establish balance before contact. Better footwork on the fourth shot allows us to move forward, keep the ball down and maintain pressure. Partner sliding gives the returning player additional protection while moving toward the kitchen.

When we put these three things together, we’re in a much better position to control the point, maintain our advantage and prevent our opponents from getting off the hook too easily. ●

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