VPA Instructors
The Art of Resetting in Pickleball
If you are looking to advance in pickleball one of the most important techniques to learn is to reset the pickleball. A reset shot is an essential defensive technique which allows you to get back into neutral position. Resetting requires you to softly return a hard driven shot, a shot at your feet or an aggressive shot from your opponents back into the kitchen or non volley zone rather than hitting back hard with power back at your opponents.
Why do we Reset?
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Neutralize you opponents attack
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Slows down the rally in order to get back into position
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Buys you time to move forward back towards the Kitchen (NVZ)
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Great in situations when you hit a high ball and have to pull back
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Is an important part for you to advance beyond the 4.0 level?
How to effectively hit a reset in the air or off the bounce.
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Get into a ready position. Lower your body, bend your knees and stay balanced in a good athletic stance. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart. This helps you absorb some of the speed from the ball.
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You must have a stable grip. Strong enough that the paddle is not going to fall out of your hands but soft enough that you can absorb the incoming energy that is coming towards you. This will allow the paddle to absorb the power coming from the ball. It is especially important due to the new technology in the paddles where power and pop is a huge part of the game.
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Open paddle face. You want your paddle face slightly angled upwards. Too much and you will pop it up in the air where you give your opponent an easy attackable ball; too little of an open paddle face you will hit the ball in the net.
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Try to hit the ball in front of you with a compact lifting motion, stay low to the shot and don’t stand up. If you stand up you will most likely pop the ball up into the air where your opponent can easily attack it.
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The paddle should be down below your waist or knee area. This will allow you to be prepared for the hard-low balls coming to your feet as you split step.
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Target the NVZ or the Kitchen when you reset the return. You want to drop the reset in the NVZ. A nice gentle arc similar to your 3rd shot back into the kitchen. Think rainbow.
DRILLS
Finding the reset "Feel"
What this achieves is that you get the feel and touch on how much power and paddle angle you need the further back you are from your opponent's kitchen.
Setup and Process
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Start at the Kitchen Line: Begin by dinking with your partner.
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Take One Step Back: After a few rallies, take one step backward into the transition zone.
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Hit 5 Clean Drops: Successfully hit 5 shots that land inside your opponent's Non-Volley Zone (NVZ).
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Repeat the Pattern: Take another step back and hit 5 more clean kitchen drops.
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Reach Mid-Court: Continue this sequence until you successfully complete 5 drops from the mid-court line.
Key Benefits
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Develop Distance Control: Learn exactly how much power to add as you move further from the net.
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Master Paddle Angles: Find the perfect open paddle face needed to lift the ball safely over the net from deeper positions.
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Build Transition Confidence: Gain comfort hitting unattackable reset shots while moving backward.
Mid-court Resets
With this drill you start at Mid court or the Transition zone. This drill will focus on neutralizing your opponent's shot by resetting the ball into the kitchen.
Setup and Process
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Position: Stand at mid-court in the transition zone.
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Partner's Role: Your drilling partner feeds or drives balls directly at you from their kitchen line this may be in the air or at your feet.
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Your Goal: Safely drop every ball over the net and into your opponent's Non-Volley Zone
Key Focus Areas
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Balanced Stance: Keep a low, wide base to absorb power and stay stable before contact.
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Paddle Angle: Keep your paddle face open to lift the ball naturally over the net.
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Loose Grip Pressure: Hold the paddle with a light grip (about 3/10) to absorb the ball's pace.
Key Benefits
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Neutralize Attacks: Turns an opponent's drive into a soft, unattackable drop.
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Reset the Point: Allows you and your partner time to move forward and reclaim the kitchen line
3rd Shot Drop to the Kitchen Line
Next you will start at the Baseline. As you move forward you will split step and get into a good athletic stance. You will move forward only after successfully resetting 3 balls in the non-volley zone or kitchen. Repeat until you get to your non-volley zone.
Setup and Process
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Start at the Baseline: Begin the drill at the back of the court.
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Hit 3 Successes: Your partner feeds balls while you attempt to drop them into the opponent's Non-Volley Zone (NVZ).
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Move and Split-Step: Once you hit 3 successful drops, move forward and split-step into a balanced, athletic stance.
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Repeat the Sequence: Stop, hit 3 more successful resets from your new position, and move forward again.
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Reach the Kitchen: Continue this cycle until you successfully work your way up to your own NVZ line.
Key Focus Areas
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The Split-Step: Time your split-step right before your partner strikes the ball so you are perfectly balanced.
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Distance Control: Adjust your swing, power and angle from your paddle continuously as the target gets closer.
Key Benefits
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Court Coverage: Stops you from running and hitting the ball which causes you to be out of balance.
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Gain confidence. Replicates the natural progression of a successful third-shot drop as you advance to the kitchen (NVZ)
Mastering the art of resetting is so important in the game of pickleball. By becoming proficient and confident in your resets it will help you win more points by pushing your opposition back into neutral rallies. If you are having some difficulties with certain aspects of resetting let me know and I can design a solution for your specific needs.
The VPA has a Titan ball machine, contact me and I can assist you in developing certain drills that will fit your needs.
If you would like to learn more about resetting or other pickleball skills, please reach out to Winston at WIN Pickleball Ph: 604-351-2784 Email: winston.seto@gmail.com
VPA Instructors & Lessons
The VPA Player Development Committee (PDC) provides access to certified instructors for private lessons (player initiated) and group lessons/events (open enrolment.) VPA does not have any instructors on staff.
Private Lessons
A player can approach anyone to give them a lesson. These can be paid or free sessions and can be given by a certified instructor, a mentor, a friend. You book the court and make all of the arrangements with the person giving you the lesson or drilling with you. You book the court and add anyone you want to the court. If there is a fee, you pay that directly to the person providing the instruction. Paid instructors are independent contractors, and the relationship is between the player and the instructor.
Verified Certified Instructors
Our membership does include a number of certified instructors. If these instructors want to be listed on the VPA website, the PDC will verify their certification as well as their insurance. Upon meeting the requirements, these instructors become VCIs (Verified Certified Instructors). You will be able to find these instructors on our website along with a bio, their areas of expertise and their contact details.
VPA and the PDC make no warranties about the quality of instruction. We verify that instructors are certified and have insurance. All instructors have different styles and approaches so feel free to contact them directly and discuss your particular needs and learning style for private lessons.
Group Lessons and Events
The PDC will focus on Group lessons and events that are open to everyone (open enrolment). In consultation with our pool of VCIs, the PDC will be offering sessions that are targeted to various skill levels, different types of skills, and other kinds of player events. These will be taught by our VCIs. We will also continue to work with "Guest Instructors" who offer specialized clinics.
Verified Certified Instruction (VCI)
The following instructors have presented evidence that they have completed a coaching instruction course and have received certification of same from a recognized sport coaching organization. They have also presented evidence of holding current liability insurance when engaged in instructing or coaching the sport of pickleball. VPA presents this information solely for its members' convenience and makes no representation regarding the skill, style, or effectiveness of any instructor.
Note: The VPA does not retain any instructors as employees to teach for VPA. All instructors are independent contractors. Please contact the instructor directly to arrange private lessons.
VPA's Team of Certified Instructors
(Listed in no particular order)
Click on the More Information button for additional details on all instructors
TITAN Ball Machine - Now Available!
It is long overdue, but our club has a ball machine again! It's a brand new Titan ACE Pickleball Machine. Click on the ball machine to read up on some of the features.
The Titan ACE Ball Machine is now available to book from 8:30AM-4:30PM Monday through Friday. Once our part-time staff are trained and we work out the kinks of the first few users, we will add evening and weekend time slots as well.
How to Book the Ball Machine:
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Login to the VPA Player Portal
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Click on "Pickleball Court Booking" (even numbered courts)
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Select the court "Ball M. & P2".
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Put "Ball Machine" as Player 2, then fill the rest of the slots with people who will be on the court.
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Submit the booking.
Cost: There is a flat $25 fee for the ball machine rental. Player 1 will be charged; there is no increase in fees for additional players. The $25 rental fee is the same for members, non-members, or pass holders.
First Time Introduction: At the start of your session, VPA Operations will bring the ball machine and set of 100 balls out to the court. They will show you how to operate the ball machine and the app on the phone used to control it. There is a bit of a learning curve, so expect to take some time to figure out the operations during your first session.
Ball Machine Rules:
1. You must have an Operations staff member walk you through it on your first use.
2. Only VPA provided balls may be used with the Titan Ball Machine.
3. The machine must stay on the practice court.
4. If you use the machine irresponsibly, your membership will be suspended.
If there are any questions, please contact VPA Operations personnel.
Click for more information on the TITAN ACE
VPA Ambassadors
Ambassadors are volunteer representatives and unofficial spokespersons for the VPA. They are there to help new members and entry level players understand the rules, strategy of the game and court operations. Ambassadors are always promoting the sport of pickleball and introducing more players to the game. If you would like some assistance from our Ambassadors please click on the link below to submit your message.
Members of the 2025 VPA Ambassadors Program