What’s the Score?
If you are still relying on a floaty slice return and a patient soft game, you are playing a version of pickleball that is rapidly going extinct. That is the stark message from top-ranked pro Roscoe Bellamy, who has released a breakdown of the six essential shots required to survive in the modern game. Bellamy, who has been capitalising on significant momentum on the PPA Tour, argues that the sport has evolved into a faster, more aggressive landscape where technical precision and power management are paramount.
Hit it deeper!
Bellamy’s “toolbox” for the modern player highlights a shift away from passive defence toward calculated aggression.
The Two-Handed Backhand: Bellamy declares the “old days of hitting floating slices” over. The two-handed backhand is now non-negotiable because it allows players to create topspin off the bounce, stabilising defence and threatening opponents at the kitchen line.
The Drip: Perhaps the most innovative addition is “The Drip.” Bellamy describes this as a hybrid between a drop and a drive—essentially a “50% drive” aimed low at the opponent’s feet. It allows a player to seize control of the point immediately without taking the reckless risk of a full power drive.
The Counter-Volley: As paddle technology increases power, the ability to counter-punch is vital. It’s not just about blocking; it’s about turning a defensive moment into an offensive winner.
The Defensive Dead Dink: In a counter-intuitive twist, Bellamy advocates for the “dead dink”—a soft, shallow shot to the middle. When pulled wide, amateurs often try to do too much; the dead dink neutralizes the angle and resets the point instantly.
The Push Volley: This underutilised shot involves taking a dink out of the air and pushing it back deep into the opponent’s kitchen. It effectively “shrinks the kitchen,” cutting down the opponent’s reaction time and maintaining offensive pressure.
The Off-the-Bounce Combo: Finally, Bellamy predicts the “year of combos.” The era of the one-shot winner is ending. Players must now use speedups off the bounce to set up a put-away on the next shot, rather than trying to end the rally immediately.
The World Pickleball Verdict
Roscoe Bellamy’s analysis serves as a eulogy for “old school” pickleball. The game he describes is closer to tennis in its biomechanics and closer to chess in its strategy. The identification of shots like “The Drip” and the “Push Volley” highlights how the professional game is shrinking the court and reducing the margin for error.
For the amateur player, the verdict is challenging: the skill floor is rising. Merely getting the ball over the net is no longer sufficient. The modern game requires “off-the-bounce” decision-making and the ability to handle pace. Bellamy’s focus on combinations rather than winners is particularly insightful—it suggests that at the highest level, defence has caught up to offence, and points must now be constructed rather than stolen.
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.