Tip from Pro Player, Ben Johns

If you’ve played enough pickleball, you’ve seen it and probably done it yourself. You send over a low dink, and your opponent takes a quick step back to create space before ripping a drive.

That move is called the step-back attack, and it happens at every level. Knowing how to read it can completely change the point in your favor.

Let’s break down how to spot the signals, when to let the ball go, and when to counter with confidence.

As a DUPR user, you can get free access to training videos from Pickleball 360, where Ben Johns, Collin Johns, and Dekel Bar break down shots just like this. Over 200 lessons, all levels, all taught by the best in the game.

Click here to access the complementary training videos.

What Is a Step-Back Attack?

A step-back attack happens when a player receives a dink or drop that lands near their feet and decides to step off the kitchen line to attack instead of resetting.

It gives them more room to swing, but it also opens up space and introduces risk. Your job is to recognize when it’s coming and respond accordingly.

Step 1: Recognize the Signals

Before you can counter or duck, you have to know what’s about to happen. Watch for these clear cues:

• Foot and paddle move back together. When the opponent’s paddle drops behind their body as their foot retreats, they’re loading up to swing, not to dink.

👉 The moment you see that backward motion, be ready. The step-back attack is coming.

Step 2: Decide: Counter or Let It Go

Once you’ve recognized the setup, your next job is to decide:
Are we countering this or letting it fly?

Let It Go (It’s Going Out)

If they take a big swing from a low contact point, odds are high that the ball is going long.

• Look for contact below net height and exaggerated swings.
• Stay on the balls of your feet, ready to move left or right or duck to avoid getting hit.
• Communicate early with your partner. A quick “Out!” call after you see the signal helps both players react.

Counter (It’s Staying In)

If the contact point is higher (around waist or chest) and they move back on the court to make room to hit the ball, the ball will likely stay in play. That’s your cue to hold your ground and counter with intent.

Step 3: Aim for the Feet

When you counter, your goal is not to blast the ball straight back at their body. That usually sets up another attack for them.

Instead, aim down at their feet, the exact area they just exposed by stepping back.

• The open space in front of them becomes your new target zone.
• A low, dipping counter forces a defensive reset or error.
  
  

🎯 Pro tip: Think “down, not through.” Your paddle face should stay slightly closed to send the ball dipping into that open space.

Step 4: Manage Reaction Time

Here’s a mindset shift: Yes, they’re swinging harder, but they’re also further from the net.

That means you actually have more time to see the shot develop. Use that time to:

• Track the ball off their paddle.
• Judge whether it’s staying in or sailing long.
• Adjust your stance and paddle angle early.
  

The best defenders don’t react faster, they read sooner.

Key Takeaways

✅ Spot the setup: Foot + paddle moving back = step-back attack coming.
✅ Big swing + low contact = let it go.
✅ Higher contact = prepare to counter.
✅ Target the feet, not the body.
✅ Remember: They’re further back, you have more time than you think.

Master that read, and you’ll turn one of your opponent’s favorite weapons into your biggest advantage.

‍

Free Training for DUPR Players

DUPR members can grab complimentary instructional training content from Pickleball 360, just like this one, customized to your level. Just fill out a quick form, and you’ll get pro tips sent right to your inbox.

👉 Get Your Free Training Instruction

‍

About Pickleball 360: 

Pickleball 360 is a premier instructional video subscription platform co-founded by top professional players Ben Johns, Collin Johns, Dekel Bar, and Bic Houser.

Pickleball 360 provides in-depth, high-quality pickleball instruction curated by some of the most accomplished athletes and coaches in the sport. The platform features a comprehensive library of over 200+ instructional videos, catering to players of all levels, from beginners learning the basics to advanced and semi-professional players seeking to refine their skills, strategies, and mental approach. 

Subscribers have access to multiple flexible options, including monthly and annual memberships, as well as the ability to choose from customized packages and video bundles tailored to specific skill levels, topics, or areas of focus such as footwork, dinking, or advanced tactics. With this personalized approach and elite-level instruction, Pickleball 360 stands out as one of the most trusted and effective resources for player development in the rapidly growing sport of pickleball.

‍