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Learning the ATP Shot— From Kyle Koszuta

Hey, it’s Kyle from ThatPickleballGuy. Imagine this: instead of being late and off balance when you take your shot, the next time you hit based on the four tips I’m about to give you, you’ll successfully convert one of the most satisfying shots in pickleball – the ATP (Around the Post) shot. This shot is not just dramatic; it’s thrilling when executed correctly.

So, you’re going to learn how to hit the ATP. Here’s the problem: most players don’t convert on the ATP, not because they aren’t capable. I’d say most players, from beginners to pros, have the capability. The issue is they don’t anticipate the ATP, meaning they’re not in the right position and have the wrong technique.

Before I give you the four technique principles for a successful ATP, let’s discuss when you would hit an ATP.

When you’re dinking close to the net, and a player hits the ball wide (Figure 1), and you believe you can hit it around the post, making it a very difficult shot for them to defend, that’s when you go for an ATP.

The question is, how do you hit an ATP with a high success rate?

Let’s break it down with four key steps. The moment I see a ball going wide, I anticipate and execute these four things to get in the right position for the shot. First, when I see the ball is dinked wide, that’s my trigger to:

1. Move quickly. Many players wait too long, end up off balance, and lose control of the ball. When the ball is dinked wide, move quickly.

2. Get balanced. Balance is crucial to control the shot.

3. Wait for the ball to get as low to the ground as possible.

4. Hit the shot as low as you can.

These are the four things to consider when hitting an ATP: move quickly, get balanced, wait, and hit.

To get more specific about the technique: move quickly but not hurrying, as John Wooden once said. Move to a spot, get balanced, and lunge low. Allow the ball to get lower before hitting because waiting longer allows the ball to travel further outside the net, giving you a better angle to hit around the post.

For instance, imagine four balls lined up to show different angles. As you move to the left, the angle improves, making it easier to hit an ATP.

There will be times when you can’t hit the ATP due to a bad angle or wide ball. It’s okay; just stick to the four principles: move quickly, get balanced, wait, and hit.

For the backhand side, instead of lunging side to side, use a cross-step. This helps in maintaining balance and effectively moving the ball back into the court. The cross-step allows for a better angle.

In summary, to successfully hit an ATP, move quickly, get balanced, wait for the right moment, and then hit. For the forehand side, use a lunge step; for the backhand side, use a cross-step.

If you’ve already hit an ATP, share your experience in the comments. If you haven’t, try these tips, and when you hit your first successful ATP, come back and share your success story.

Think you know pickleball inside and out? Challenge yourself with ThatPickleball IQ Test and see if you can score a perfect 10 out of 10!

New A11N Zenith C7— From Kip Lacey

Hey guys, it’s Kip. I’ve got a brand new paddle to review: the new A11N Zenith C7. This is a startup company, and this is one of their first paddles. I always get excited about new startup companies and what they’re going to do.

A lot of this paddle’s structure is the same as we’ve seen before. It has a 16mm polypropylene core and a Cory T700 carbon fiber face, but with a 3K woven surface that has some texture to it. It’s a Gen 2 thermor unibody edge foam. The paddle is 16 1/2 inches long, 7 1/4 inches wide, with a 5 1/2 inch long grip and a 4 1/4 inch circumference. It comes in at 8.4 ounces. What makes this paddle really cool is its new technology and the unique 3K woven face, all for $99.99 USD.

It’s great that they’re combining state-of-the-art components and offering it at that price point.

So, new startups sometimes get a bad rap, but this one looks promising. Trying out this paddle, I can tell it’s not bad. It’s a little floppy out of the gate, but good ball control.

It’s got good straight-line accuracy.

Adding some spin, it’s not the greatest amount, but it’s still nice and controllable.

Back to the structural qualities: this paddle is just a touch head-heavy at 8.4 ounces. You could easily change that by adding a little more weight. This paddle is very accurate, consistent, and has nice power—not exceptional, but good. It has nice controllable spin, which is great for singles or tennis players looking to drive the ball. It has nice feedback, a very large sweet spot, and is good for both offense and defense.

For me, it’s a bit head-heavy, and I prefer a lighter weight for flick shots. It feels a little bulky at the net and the non-volley zone, but it’s something you can get used to. Compared to some of the carbon paddles, this one feels similar in terms of head-heaviness.

At $99.99, this is a very good paddle. You can’t go wrong at that price. I’m impressed with this company and hope they get more recognition. This is not a crap paddle; it’s a very good one. I’ll be anxious to see if any of you have heard or played with it.

A11N also makes a decent portable net system, Dan has some thoughts on it here.

Check here for other paddles I have reviewed. See you next time!

Six Zero Quartz— From Nitesh Vijay

I've been trying out the Six Zero Quartz paddle, which I got as an early release. I've also shared it with some friends for their feedback. Here’s what we think so far:

If you’re looking for better control in drops and dinks and a larger sweet spot without spending too much, the Quartz paddle is a great choice. It's perfect for beginners and those who have been playing for a few months. Avoid those combo sets from Amazon or Target…. It's lightweight and feels good in hand. However, if you use a two-handed backhand, the 5″ handle might not be ideal.

Advanced players also gave it thumbs up for its spin and sweet spot, comparing it to the Double Black Diamond. The best part? It's affordable, well under $100.

Specs

• Weight: 8.0 oz

• Face Material: Raw Carbon Fiber

• Core Material: Premium Honeycomb Polymer

• Core Thickness: 0.59″ / 15mm

• Length: 16” / 405mm

• Width: 7.9” / 200mm

• Handle Length: 5″ / 127mm

• Swing Weight: 104

• Twist Weight: 6.46

Performance

• Power: 7/10 - Not a power paddle, but decent for baseline drives due to the large sweet spot.

• Spin: 8/10 - Comparable to pricier carbon fiber paddles.

• Control: 8/10 - Excellent for soft shots, mid-court resets, and dinks with a forgiving sweet spot.

Warranty

The warranty isn't as good as brands like Selkirk and Engage. You can return the paddle within 30 days (excluding shipping costs), but after 7 days, there's a 10% restocking fee. It comes with a six-month limited warranty for manufacturer defects and a 120-day warranty for core issues.

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