At any given moment, you should only be concerned about the two most likely shots your opponent can hit. That's it. It sounds complicated at first, but it's actually liberating.
Michael Loyd, a PPA pro and MLP Challenger title champion, just dropped some serious knowledge on what separates elite-level countering from the rest. Listen up, this could change how you think about defense in pickleball.
In a recent instructional video published by Building Pickleball , Loyd breaks down the counter game with his signature wit and tactical prowess.
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He's not talking about paddle speed or grip pressure or any of those surface-level mechanics. Instead, he's focusing on something way more fundamental: percentages, positioning, and understanding what your opponent can actually do based on where the ball is on the court.
Why Countering Matters More Than Ever Faster balls, faster paddles, and an overall shift toward offensive play means that resetting and neutralizing rallies just doesn't cut it anymore.
Loyd explains that countering has become the real deterrent. "If I choose the wrong ball and I speed up to the wrong spot and they punish me, I know that's a no-go zone," he says.
"That's going to pay dividends throughout the rest of the entire match." Think about it: one solid counter early in a match can psychologically shift the enti... FULL ARTICLE FOUND ON: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/pro-michael-loyds-two-thing-rule-for-hitting-consistent-pickleball-counters/
