Stop Blocking, Start Countering! How to Drill Counters Like a Pro (from a Pro Drilling Session)

Summary

In "Stop Blocking, Start Countering! How to Drill Counters Like a Pro," Coach Dominic Catalano from The Flying Pickle Academy focuses on improving your pickleball skills by teaching how to counter fourth and sixth shots effectively. This video provides detailed insights into transitioning from defense to offense, which is crucial in the increasingly fast-paced game of pickleball. The session involves practicing with varying numbers of players, emphasizing footwork, anticipation, and controlled power to counter opponents’ shots effectively.

Highlights

• Coach Dominic Catalano introduces techniques to counter fourth and sixth shots 🎾
• Live pro drilling session showcases real-time practice with focus on footwork 🦶
• Learn how positioning and anticipation improve your defensive game 🛡️
• Get insights on controlling power for efficient shot placement 🎯

Key Takeaways

• Learn to counter fourth and sixth shots to turn defense into offense 🏓
• Enhance your game by drilling with pros on effective countering techniques 💪
• Improve footwork and anticipation to handle fast-paced pickleball matches 🚀
• Control power and focus on precision for effective counters 🎯
• Transition from blocking to countering to handle aggressive opponents ⚡️

Overview

The Flying Pickle Academy has taken pickleball drilling to the next level with a unique focus on countering fourth and sixth shots. Coach Dominic Catalano guides players through transitioning from defense to offense, emphasizing the importance of being ready for the ever-speeding game. Instead of merely blocking aggressive shots, players are encouraged to return them with just as much force, catching opponents off guard.

Capturing live footage from a pro drilling session, the academy demonstrates various techniques and drills to practice counters. Whether with two, three, or four players, the focus remains on quick footwork and anticipation. Players are taught to position themselves strategically depending on their opponents' impulses, gearing them up for a planned offensive response.

Through meticulous practice, Coach Dominic’s session highlights the importance of footwork; positioning makes all the difference in countering attacks effectively. Players are urged to concentrate not on sheer power but precise shot placements and control. This practice offers a refined approach to overcoming aggressors during high-stakes matches, making pickleball not just a game of defense but a strategic offense.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 03:00: Introduction and Drill Overview The chapter introduces Coach Dominic Catalano from the Flying Pickle Academy, focusing on improving skills to counter fast-paced shots in the game. It highlights the growing trend of faster gameplay with more third shot drives, and aims to address common challenges faced by players in adapting to this style.
• 03:00 - 10:00: Drilling Session with Susanna: Counters from Different Positions This chapter covers a training session on countering shots from different positions in a game. The focus is on training the fourth and sixth shot counter moves. The lesson includes footage from a live professional drilling session, where players practice these specific counter moves against third shot drives. The aim of the drill is to improve skills in countering during real-game scenarios.
• 10:00 - 15:00: Grayson's Defensive and Countering Techniques This chapter focuses on Grayson's techniques for defense and countering in a sports context. It explains a counter drill that can be adjusted to different numbers of players, ideally performed with four people for realistic game scenarios. The chapter highlights flexibility in practice by showing how the drill can be adapted for two players, as demonstrated by Suzanne and Grayson, or three players with a coach managing the ball. The aim is to provide various approaches and perspectives on executing the drill effectively.
• 15:00 - 20:00: Nick's Control and Counter Skills This chapter discusses Nick's strategy for controlling the game and effectively countering the opponent. Nick emphasizes stepping inside the baseline to reduce the opponent's reaction time. Susanna, his opponent, anticipates Nick's position, preparing to counter based on where the ball approaches Nick—either by covering down the line or adjusting to Nick's movements at the baseline.
• 20:00 - 22:00: Summary and Key Takeaways In this chapter, the focus is on a sports coaching session where the instructor provides different feeds and looks to Susanna. The coaching is aimed at helping Susanna cover her inside hip and forehand, specifically her right hip. The session highlights the importance of agility and practicing counter moves. Music is mentioned as part of the ambiance, and Susanna's progress and dedication in executing the techniques are emphasized as key points.

Stop Blocking, Start Countering! How to Drill Counters Like a Pro (from a Pro Drilling Session) Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] welcome to the Flying Pickle Academy i'm Coach Dominic Catalano today we're going to level up your game by being able to counter that fourth and sixth shot off of pace from a third and fifth shot because the game is sped up right and the game is becoming more fast-paced you're seeing many more third shot drives the issue I see is the players on
• 00:30 - 01:00 the opposite side just blocking that fourth shot off the third shot drive and blocking that sixth shot off of another drive on the fifth shot so what we're going to work on today is actually countering on the fourth shot and the sixth shot during this video we're also going to give you some footage of a live pro drilling session where we are drilling this live where we're going at players on the third shot drive and then countering that fourth and sixth shot so this counter drill that we're going to
• 01:00 - 01:30 do you can work this counter drill with just two people three people or four people ideally you'd want four people to put it in an actual game situation but you can make it work any which way what Suzanne and I are going to do we're going to work it as a two-player drill to start when you watch our footage from our pro drilling session there we did it with three players but a coach feeding the ball in so we're going to give you multiple options and multiple views of how this drill can work so to start off Suzanne is going to be the one
• 01:30 - 02:00 countering i'm going to be the one driving and what I'm going to do is I'm not going to sit back at the baseline i'm going to step in and I'm going to be about five six feet inside of the baseline right i want her to have the least amount of reaction time but what she's reading is she's reading my position or where the ball is coming to me if the ball comes to my forehand here Susanna is going to sit heavy down the line that's her coverage if the ball comes here inside and I run around this Susanna is going to slide with me and
• 02:00 - 02:30 she's going to cover her inside hip which is her right hip and her forehand so right now I'm just going to give her different feeds and different looks good there's that counter good there it is there it is good [Music] leave and as you watch Susanna do this
• 02:30 - 03:00 drill you can get from this angle too when I go to step outside and hit this down the line you're going to watch Susanna cheat a little bit so she'll slide so mimic that slide she's going to slide and open up to her backhand right there and then if I come in here she's gonna slide opposite way and open up to her forehand that's great footwork by Susanna and it's good anticipation good little too
• 03:00 - 03:30 big there it is that's it good next thing to watch is watch on Susanna here when she goes to hit this there's no back swing she's nice short compact it's nice and sweet she gets that paddle out in front and she creates her power off of one my drive which is coming at her fast and two off of her acceleration through the ball not a big back swing back if she takes a big back
• 03:30 - 04:00 swing as she goes to hit this now she's going to be late but watch how she stays nice and short nice good one of the main reasons that we do this drill is because we've become so accustomed to playing good defense on pickle ball right good blocks good resets that's all fine and dandy until
• 04:00 - 04:30 you have a team that's coming at you and they're going to continue to put pressure on you with the third shot the fifth shot the seventh shot they're getting aggressive and if you're just playing defense they're going to continue to be aggressive so instead of just blocking this third shot or fifth shot fourth shot excuse me and blocking the sixth shot and they just keep coming at you now we have to flip the script on them we have to say "Okay you're going to drive that third i'm ready for it and I'm bringing it back at you with the fourth you're gonna drive that fifth
• 04:30 - 05:00 perfect i'm bringing it back at you with the sixth we need to turn that defense into offense welcome to the Flying Pickle Academy today we're going to show you a pro drilling session so let's just get right into it what I want to do Nick you're on your side grayson you're on your side i'm going to feed it you don't get to watch me feed it i'm feeding it to Nick up close and he's going to attack right at you so then you can start a hands battle okay stay on it you got your
• 05:00 - 05:30 goggles no start uh start midcourt to start yeah nice way to just read his paddle and then settle yourself down too when you come in good [Applause]
• 05:30 - 06:00 [Applause] okay so Grace so the whole point of this is you know Nick's driving right what do I have to do what do I have to do i have to counter this ball right yeah we can't block this ball if we block this ball he's just going to keep coming right so it's now it's depends on position if a ball goes to his forehand what are you going to do ball goes to his forehand I'm going to
• 06:00 - 06:30 open up here right ball goes to his backhand I'm going to almost shade this way and open up this way so I'm going to start shading a little bit to the side where it is so I can anticipate that if he drops it perfect now I adjust but if he drives it now I'm sitting and sitting if you sit here and almost open up to the forehand when he's going two-handed backhand and he goes here that's a good shot by him but also my partner better be helping me out a little bit right you want to feed it now and I'll be I'll
• 06:30 - 07:00 be Yeah yeah collateral damage so now you can go now he's the only one who's going to attack cuz it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for me to attack you crosscourt um but you can counter back to me okay if you want all righty that's a good spot [Applause]
• 07:00 - 07:30 nice way to speed it up again so that's good right you're sitting on that but what's my issue is that you're sitting on it but then he goes to hit you go here all right and now what's happening you're late right so as soon as he's going to go and you're going to sit here sit here and now go right from there don't pull that paddle back that first one so much better [Applause]
• 07:30 - 08:00 love that attack way to step into that [Applause] great reset Nick so right and okay it's not his backhand he's running around it that's perfect right as soon as he runs around Oh yeah come right here i'm going to sit here heavy because that should be his backhand but if he's going to run around it I'm going to sit heavy here if he goes there perfect that's fine that's
• 08:00 - 08:30 what we want we want him to go [Applause] crosscourt yeah way to get it down that's a good ball Gray oh my bad i got to reset if you have it I mean I just need to
• 08:30 - 09:00 reset it you're already engaged yeah right so if you got it go that's it right there right you're on it here's the other thing to think about this ball's coming so low so get a little lower in your ready [Applause] position oh nice Grayson better getting a little lower
• 09:00 - 09:30 yeah nice see that one you were up again [Applause] you're going to be able to get on top of more balls like Susanna is saying right there if you get down well that's nice spot so I want if I go that side Nick I want you to hit the two-hander all right so hit it but what do you have to do i got to cover right you got to recognize where this ball's going you got to slide i mean I'm just trying to stay engaged in the chaos here
• 09:30 - 10:00 hey just slide this is perfect practice for me yeah do what you're supposed to do perfect practice no did I miss the easy one good dig that's a great dig
• 10:00 - 10:30 [Applause] nice Nick that boy where you going oh no oh good job [Applause]
• 10:30 - 11:00 oh yeah so two-part in that drill one she had Nick on the opposite side hitting drive so he's working on his attacks through the transition area right so we want to attack balls that are attackable in the transition area and second part is Grayson on the defensive side we typically will get defensive on that drive what Grayson's working on right there is countering that being ready for it not just blocking that ball because if we just block it they're going to come attack the next ball we need to counter it do something with that next
• 11:00 - 11:30 ball all right so Nick's going to be right in front of Susanna so Susanna's going to drive it this is a little scary wait that's your Oh that's our backhands in the middle yeah two backhands in the middle fine all right ready here we go i don't know how to like approach up very quickly off my attack but I guess I can work on it [Music] you got to make that noise too i'm going to go inside and outside too i want you
• 11:30 - 12:00 to drive your two spot see cuz for me that's your better drive yeah you get more top and control on your two-hander nice Grayson nice combo Nick yeah boy
• 12:00 - 12:30 out nice good counter oh that's too bad that's a good spot
• 12:30 - 13:00 yes I knew it was coming [Applause] oh see that's a better pattern for me
• 13:00 - 13:30 huh attack resets it's better pattern than attack attack attack [Applause] yeah good shot that's such a good spot Nick [Applause] let's go
• 13:30 - 14:00 you took a full swing at it and it missed it by a foot that spin was It had so much spin on it out got it [Applause] oh [Applause]
• 14:00 - 14:30 oh there it is there it is when they go in the net huh you're letting it get deep on you yeah I know get it out front recognize my feet a little earlier so if it's higher take a step back right oh
• 14:30 - 15:00 there right feels weird to step back when you're attacking go good spot ah the transition is tough you're in one
• 15:00 - 15:30 [Applause] mindset oh yeah oh yeah this like a workout [Applause]
• 15:30 - 16:00 way to step in Gray there you go one more good one here out out good all right let's pick him good job my gosh good job and that's that's a huge key on that is that you got to make contact out front yeah I know right when you're making contact out front it's nasty but when you get when you let it get deeper and it's all recognition on the the ball that's being fed to you right and I mean I just don't I don't attack that much
• 16:00 - 16:30 from there no I don't so I got to see the ball better but how long we've been talking about I want you to attack from there right and when do I want you to attack from there when it's on your backhand like that too right because your backhand you control so much better and I want that i just got to feel more comfortable seeing that positioning in ball better so this is good this is good practice all right ready here we go Gray yeah you better be ready here i am not ready
• 16:30 - 17:00 no stop getting my lob [Applause] nice anticipation
• 17:00 - 17:30 wait move your feet it was just soft enough it was like ah get here nice shot way to keep it low good spot yeah way to cover he's
• 17:30 - 18:00 [Music] out no get her footwork are you getting her footwork on this right because she anticipates better than a lot cuz she slides like when I go to his backhand she slides i go his forehand she slid that's something we can kind of point out
• 18:00 - 18:30 yes lob her lob her on that one [Applause] oh kept it in too oh where did he get me in here [Applause] nice reach
• 18:30 - 19:00 [Laughter] oh oh
• 19:00 - 19:30 oh okay come on [Applause] [Applause]
• 19:30 - 20:00 i'm so tired last one there we go good so this drill we work on two things we work on midcourt speed ups right which we need to attack if the ball's attackable and then we're also working on countering at the kitchen line instead of just playing defense susanna when she's up at the kitchen line she does a great job with her footwork that's one of her keys to her game is her footwork it puts her at a different level what she does well is she anticipates so if the ball to the
• 20:00 - 20:30 player in front of her is to their forehand or on the sideline she slides a little bit to her right so she opens up to her backhand down the line and then vice versa if the ball's in the middle she'll slide to her left and open up a little bit to her forehand that's down the middle so again her footwork is the key for her in that drill on the flip side with Grayson when Grayson's up at the kitchen line it's something that he is working on constantly is his footwork getting his footwork in the right place and then also bending his knees right so
• 20:30 - 21:00 if he can get nice and low it is something that Susanna does she gets nice and low and gets on top of that ball when Grayson's not going as well he's standing upright so working with Grayson on getting on top of that ball and bending nice and low with Nick it's control right we just want him controlling that counter instead of getting too big we want him being in control countering that ball well getting the next one that he can put away so for Nick all about that control on that first counter to give him the
• 21:00 - 21:30 next ball with the speed ups again it's more about where I can place my ball can I get to that opposite crosscourt hip of my opponent so if I'm a forehand on the sideline can I get to the inside hip of the player in front of me that crossbody speed up that's a key for me because again when we're anticipating on the flip side when we're blocking or countering if that ball's on the sideline I'm going to open up to that sideline and if I'm opening up here to my backhand and that player comes crosscourt to my opposite hip or
• 21:30 - 22:00 crossbody that's a key so right there on the drives for all three of those players there with Nick with Grayson with Susanna working on hitting your spots it's not about how hard