Cross-court speedups are typically considered a low-percentage play because the margin for error is small. When attacking cross-court, the distance is longer, and there’s less room to execute a precise shot that stays in-bounds.
Additionally, your opponent has more time to react with a counter and is often ready to let the ball go out if it’s too wide. However, over the weekend, Jill Braverman showed that a cross-court attack can be highly effective if executed with the right technique and strategy.
Before we dive into how she did it, let’s break down exactly what Jill’s attack looked like:
#1 - The Scan
As soon as Jill recognizes a high, slow bouncer coming toward her forehand side, she prepares for an opportunity to speed things up. She quickly raises her paddle and analyzes her opponent's positioning on the court.
Todd Fought, who was positioned on the right side, is squeezing the middle—a common tactic at high levels of play, especially in mixed doubles. This positioning gives Jill a clear indication that there’s open space on his left side, ripe for an attack.
#2 - Deceptiveness
As Fought inches closer to the net, he makes a slight adjustment toward the middle. However, Jill notices that there is still a sizable gap on his left side. At this moment, Jill drops her paddle head while keeping it squarely faced toward her opponents.
This accomplishes two important things:
- First, it allows her to maintain power behind her speedup.
- Second, it keeps her shot direction hidden, giving no visual cues as to where she intends to send the ball.
Jill already knew her target—Fought’s left side—but by pausing at the bottom of her swing, she forced both her opponents to guess where the attack was going.
PicklePod: Jill Braverman Dishes on Juiced Paddles, the Future of USA Pickleball and Why She’s Back in MLP
Jill Braverman joined the latest episode of the PicklePod and discussed why she’s back in Major League Pickleball, the asterisk era of the sport and the future of USA Pickleball, among other things.
#3 - The Target
Now, take a look at where both Cederquist and Fought are positioned. Cederquist is preparing for a counter with her backhand, covering the space between her and Fought, while Fought has his paddle low, ready to defend an attack aimed toward his body or the middle of the court.
What neither player expected, however, was Jill’s wide-angle attack. Jill placed her shot farther to the left of him, catching Fought off guard and causing him to overextend for the ball, ultimately resulting in a mishit into the net.
(Watch the gif again to see this play unfold with a new set of eyes)
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How to use this shot
If you often face opponents who crowd the middle or try to "play big" by covering more court than they can realistically defend, this is an attack you should definitely add to your game.
By targeting the open space wide of their coverage, particularly when their positioning leaves them vulnerable, you can turn a typically risky shot into a smart, high-reward play.
Also, subscribe to Jill’s new podcast, Pickleball Breakdown - it’s awesome.
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