Photo credit: Alice Ghent
When the Ball Stops Coming to You
What better players should do when they’re being avoided
By Stephen Pyka
May 13, 2026 • 3 min read
MANY OF US HAVE been here. You are excited to play, perhaps a bit anxious, since you haven’t played in a couple days. You are on the court, paired with a partner less experienced, and what happens? The other team is targeting your partner to gain as many points to win the game and you are getting little to no ball action. Frustrating?
This is a different kind of frustration in pickleball that doesn’t get talked about often. It’s not about missing shots or losing points. It’s about not being part of the rally at all, standing ready while the ball keeps going somewhere else.
You know exactly why it’s happening. You’re the stronger player, and opponents are making a decision to play away from you. At first, it feels like a compliment, but over time it becomes a test of discipline and control.
The Temptation to Take Over
This is where the middle ball starts to look different. Instead of reading it as neutral space, it begins to feel like an opportunity to step in and take control of the point.
You start poaching more, looking to end rallies quickly before they extend on your partner’s side. Sometimes it works and you win the point cleanly, which reinforces the instinct to keep doing it. Over time, though, the pattern shifts and the poach becomes forced instead of earned.
When that happens, movement becomes predictable and the court begins to open up. Your partner hesitates, unsure whether to take the ball, and opponents start to see the space you are leaving behind.
What Opponents Are Actually Doing
When players avoid you, they are not just targeting weakness. They are also testing whether you will stay disciplined or try to do too much.
The moment you overcommit to the middle, the geometry of the court changes. Angles open, passing lanes widen, and lobs become more effective because you are no longer in position to recover. What looks like control in one moment can quickly turn into exposure in the next. At that point, you are no longer being avoided. You are being drawn out of position.
Staying in The Point Without Forcing It
The adjustment is not to step out of the rally, but to stay connected to it without overreaching. Positioning matters more than action, and holding your ground becomes more valuable than chasing every ball.
When the opportunity is real, it will show itself. A ball will drift too far into the middle, a shot will sit up, or your partner will clearly need help. Those moments are different because they are earned, not forced.
The ability to recognize that difference is what separates controlled play from reactive play.
Supporting Your Partner, Not Replacing Them
If your partner is being targeted, they are already under pressure. When you begin taking balls aggressively without communication, that pressure increases and creates hesitation on both sides.
A better approach is to stabilize the rally. Keep the ball in play, encourage resets, and allow the point to develop instead of trying to end it early. The longer a rally lasts, the more likely your opponents are to make a mistake or give you a ball you can attack cleanly.
In that situation, your role shifts. You are still impacting the point, but you are doing it by supporting the structure instead of breaking it.
Choosing the Right Moments
The best players do not poach more often. They choose better moments to do it.
They recognize when a ball is truly attackable, when their partner is out of position, and when stepping across actually improves the outcome of the point. They also recognize when to stay disciplined, even after several shots without contact.
That level of patience is not passive. It is a decision made over and over again throughout the match.
Redefining Involvement
Being involved in a rally does not always mean hitting the ball. It means controlling space, influencing decisions, and staying prepared for the moment that matters most.
When you shift your mindset from needing the ball to waiting for the right ball, the frustration starts to fade. You remain part of the point without forcing yourself into it.
The Real Advantage
Being the player opponents avoid is a position most players want to reach, but it comes with responsibility. It requires discipline, awareness, and trust in both your positioning and your partner.
Taking over too early can create more problems than it solves. Staying patient and choosing the right moments allows you to control the game without giving anything away. ●
About Stephen Pyka
Stephen Pyka is a PPR-certified coach, three-time brand ambassador, and Director of Pickleball at Glastonbury Tennis Club. He brings decades of experience in racquet sports, club leadership, player development, and instruction, including previous roles as a PGA golf instructor and competitive racquetball athlete. Passionate about growing the sport, he leads clinics, workshops, and DUPR events that help players of all ages and skill levels improve their game, build confidence, and reach their full potential.
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