The dark side of male pickleball players' abuse of "court-hopping"

(Dan Tri) - In pickleball, mixed doubles competition requires delicate tactical coordination, but a common mistake that often leads to defeat comes from the men's over-enthusiasm.

In mixed doubles, the male player trying to cover the entire court and constantly moving towards his teammate may seem like a brave move at first glance, to take advantage of his strength and speed. However, tactical experts have pointed out that this is a double-edged sword that costs the team dearly.

In mixed doubles pickleball, success comes from good coordination and positional discipline (Photo: Getty).

According to experts, the success of mixed-sex pickleball pairs depends on two key factors. The first is the consistency of the woman's play, and the second is the man's ability to find balance in his "space-taking" play.

However, if men overuse the "all-court" tactic, it will unintentionally turn the match into a 2 vs 1 situation. No matter how excellent the player is, they will be at an almost insurmountable disadvantage and lead to unimaginable defeats.

The male players constantly stepping forward to “do the work” of the female players not only creates a big imbalance for the home team but also leaves many gaps on the field.

The immediate consequence is that male players will face greater defensive pressure, often forced to hit difficult backhands. This style of play significantly reduces offensive effectiveness and increases unnecessary defensive risk.

An optimal mixed doubles match occurs when both players are playing in rhythm. In any professional match, where the male player is usually taking the initiative on every shot on the court, it is easy to see a female player completely out of rhythm, because she has no idea whether the next shot coming her way is hers or not.

Male players overusing the "covering the field" style of play can easily cause female teammates to lose the rhythm of the match (Photo: Getty).

The best time for a male player to play “cover the court” is when he can actively finish the attack and win the point. If the opponent defends well and returns the ball to the “kitchen” area, he should immediately return to his position and continue playing normally.

Many times, the female teammate is forced into a difficult defensive position and loses the advantage in the race for points. In these cases, the male player may have to play very aggressively to save the situation.

However, this is no excuse for overusing “covering the field” when female players are perfectly capable of handling things on their own. For top professional athletes, excessive male interference actually reduces the chances of winning. Teams are only stronger when female players are empowered and given the opportunity to develop their abilities.

Male players can proactively "cover the field" when they see their teammates are in a difficult position (Photo: Getty).

While “covering the court” can be a strategy when the court is very uneven in skill, the benefits of it need to be carefully weighed against the huge disadvantages of having to face two players at once. Positional discipline and trust in your teammates are always the keys to winning pickleball in any doubles match.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/mat-trai-cua-viec-van-dong-vien-pickleball-nam-lam-dung-choi-bao-san-20251103105132465.htm