Retreat and Reset Steps
The advanced partner drill for the lob over your head — diagonal retreat, middle switch, and a reset split-step, with or without a ball.
- LevelAdvanced
- Players2 Players
- Duration15 min
- EquipmentOptional
Every pickleball player is taught to move forward — get to the kitchen line, stay there, own the net. What nobody teaches beginners is the other half of court movement: the retreat. When a lob sails over your head at the kitchen line, you must backpedal, turn, and reset — without crossing your feet into a stumble, without abandoning your partner to cover the entire court, and without, in the worst version of the moment, falling over backwards. Retreat and Reset Steps is the advanced two-player drill for that neglected skill, and it can run with or without balls depending on your space and your courage. The shadow version needs nothing. Two players stand at the kitchen line, side by side as in a match. One is the caller. On 'lob right' or 'lob left', both players execute the retreat pattern for that side: the player on the called side turns their shoulders and backpedals on the diagonal, while the partner slides to the middle and covers the vacated half — the switch that keeps two players covering one court instead of two players covering two halves. The retreat ends in a reset: both players split-step, re-established side by side deeper in the court, ready for the overhead or the next ball. The ball version upgrades the call to a real feed: the caller lobs to the called side, and the pair must complete the retreat, reset, and then one of them plays the lob out of the air or off the bounce. The failure modes are instructive. Players who backpedal straight backwards (instead of on the diagonal) run out of court; players who turn and run (instead of backpedaling the first steps) surrender their view of the ball; players who forget the switch leave the middle open for the simplest winner in the sport. Fifteen minutes of retreat work, once a week, transforms one of the game's genuine panic moments into a rehearsed exchange — and the partners who have drilled the switch stop colliding over whose lob it was.
Equipment: You will need optional equipment.
How to run this drill
Stand side by side at the kitchen line with your partner; one player is the caller.
On 'lob right' or 'lob left', the player on the called side turns their shoulders and backpedals on the diagonal, while the partner slides to cover the middle and the vacated half.
The retreat ends in a reset — both players split-step, re-established side by side deeper in the court.
With a ball, the caller lobs to the called side and the pair must complete the retreat, reset, and play the lob; without one, run the pattern as shadow work at speed.
Sets, reps & pass standard
Sets & reps: 3 x 10 called retreats
You're ready to move on when: You're ready to move on when your pair completes 10 consecutive called retreats with a clean switch, a diagonal path, and a balanced reset — and plays at least half the real lobs out of the air.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Backpedaling straight backwards — the diagonal buys you depth and court coverage at the same time.
- Turning and running — the first steps stay backwards so your eyes keep the ball; the turn comes only when the ball is tracked.
- Both players retreating — someone owns the middle, or the simplest drop-volley in the world ends the point.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do you need for the Retreat and Reset Steps?
You need optional equipment.
How long does the Retreat and Reset Steps take?
About 15 minutes, typically organized as 3 x 10 called retreats. It is rated Advanced and works for 2 players.
What does success look like on this drill?
You're ready to move on when your pair completes 10 consecutive called retreats with a clean switch, a diagonal path, and a balanced reset — and plays at least half the real lobs out of the air.