How Anna Bright Might Have Broken Pickleball

Anna Bright may have just revolutionized pickleball strategy with her innovative use of the lob. In a PPA Semifinal Match against the world #1 team, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, Bright lobbed 24 times. Let's dive into the details and see how this approach unfolded during such a crucial game.

Setting the Scene

#3 seeded Anna Bright and Federico Staksrud faced off against #1 seeds Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters in the Las Vegas Strip PPA Open semifinals. Their previous encounter in North Carolina was a decisive defeat for Bright's team. But Anna knew they needed to mix it up against the GOATs of the game, and she had a plan.

The Lob Strategy

Was Anna's frequent lob tactic premeditated? "Honestly, yes," she declared. Understanding their opponents' strengths, Anna and Federico decided lobs were a key strategy to test the duo. The match began with standard pickleball play until the first lob shifted the dynamics. Though Ben initially countered with a winning overhead, Anna's persistence was unwavering, and she lobbed 22 more times throughout the match.

Coaching Points

As the underdog, take risks to disrupt your opponent's comfort zone. Even when early lobs seemed unsuccessful, they set the stage for bigger moments. It's crucial to remember: the right play won't always work, and the wrong play won't always fail.

Lobbing by Numbers

In Game 1 alone, Anna lobbed 11 times, with a mix of forehands and backhands, mostly out of the air. "My lob out of the air is much better disguised," said Anna. The stats speak for themselves, with eight lobs providing an advantage, two resulting in winners for the other team, and one neutral.

Improving Your Lob Game

Anna's tips for disguising a lob in your game? practice with a partner, focusing on crosscourt dinking and emphasizing motion from the shoulder.

Game 1 Wrap-Up

Game 1 ended with an 11-7 win for Anna and Fed, propelled by their lob tactics. Ben expressed frustration, performing an aggressive, albeit unsuccessful, offensive move. "Lobsoli Lobster" was a nickname suggested by fans, but Anna remains unnamed.

Game 2 and Beyond

Spectacular Game 1 didn’t carry over, as Ben and Anna Leigh adjusted to a strong 11-1 win in Game 2. Nevertheless, the lobbing trend sparked curiosity about its future role in pickleball.

Could this be a shift in the game? "I think we're going to see more of it, but it's probably underutilized," Anna observed.

Final Insights

The lobbing tactic is here to stay with growing utilization. Anna offered post-match insights via her newsletter, providing content and strategy tips. Stay tuned for more updates and follow the journey by subscribing to the newsletters and channels involved for more exclusive content and lessons.