In honor of it being National Pickleball Day, I wanted to highlight a key defensive pickleball shot that you need to add into your arsenal. The Dig is a defensive shot played after the ball has bounced, often in response to a hard-hit ball or a difficult shot. It’s a recovery shot aimed at lifting the ball back over the net, usually when the player is out of position or when the ball is low to the ground. To put it in plain English, if our opponent hits a shot that bounces near your feet, the best return shot for you to hit is the Dig.
Key aspects of a pickleball dig:
Recovery shot: Digs are primarily used to get the ball back into play when a player is in a difficult or defensive position.
Low ball: Digs are commonly used when the ball is low to the ground, requiring a player to bend or move to play it.
Lifting the ball: The goal of a dig is to lift the ball over the net, often with a gentle, upward motion of the paddle, rather than hitting it hard.
Footwork and positioning: Effective digging often involves good footwork to get into position and a low base to lift the ball effectively.
Variations: There are different ways to execute a dig, including using a “shovel” dig (similar to a volleyball dig) or a more traditional lifting motion with the paddle.
Example of a dig: If a player hits a hard shot towards your feet, you might have to drop your knees and use a digging motion to lift the ball over the net and get it back into play.
Distinction from a dink: While both digs and dinks are soft shots, digs are usually defensive recovery shots, while dinks are strategic shots aimed to keep the ball low and force an error.
Why Hit the Dig:
When the ball is hit low at your feet, you do not have many options in returning the ball. Your first goal is to keep the point in motion which means that you need to return the ball over the net and inbounds. If you take a huge backswing to drive the ball, more likely than not, the ball will either hit the net or sail out of bounds. The angles with such a low shot at your feet do not work in your advantage.
If you try to just hit a normal return, you run the real risk of popping the ball. If that happens, your opponent will have an easy shot to put away. With the dig, you may be able to avoid this. One of the key aspects of the dig is you are absorbing a significant portion of the speed of the ball by just lifting up the ball with your paddle. By doing so, you reduce the likelihood that the ball will travel too far and will pop up. Your major risk is not clearing the net. If you successfully clear the net, the ball should land in the kitchen.
With the ball landing in the kitchen, you will have just reset the point and in most cases, you will be in an equal position with your opponent. From there, you can react to your opponents return by dinking, driving or lobbing the ball.
So don’t forget that when you are on the defensive there are shot that you can hit that can reset the point and position you to win the point. The Dig is a classic one.