As pickleball surges in popularity, the game's competitive edge continues to evolve. Few understand this shift better than pickleball pro Zane Navratil, whose insights into predictive play and attack patterns are redefining the collective pickleball playbook at all levels.
Thanks to Lobster for making this video possible! Level up your practice sessions and game with a Lobster ball machine. Use code ZANE5 for 5% off any pickleball machine and accessories.
https://lobstersports.com/collections/pickleball-machines
The AIM7 app turns data from wearables to personalized and actionable solutions focused on pickleball performance, recovery, and injury prevention. Use this link and add code ZANE25 for a 30-day free trial and annual subscription for 25% off! Annual subscribers also receive 30% off Thorne supplements!
https://www.aim7.com/?via=zane
UPTIME Energy gives me smooth and sustained energy to power through my day! Check them out here!
https://www.uptimeenergy.com/
My Kineon MOVE+ Pro helps with my nagging injuries and joint pain using red light therapy that I can use at home. Use this link to order risk-free, enter code: ZANEPB at checkout for 10% off and check out my review video!
https://www.k7gh8dt.com/ZANEPB
https://youtu.be/HwMAkTmtVBA
Grab your next ProXR Signature or Sweet Spot Max Paddle on my website!
https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/shop/
Subscribe to my newsletter to stay up to date with me on and off the court!
https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/newsletters
Tune into Game+ Network, the official home of Major League Pickleball in Canada!
https://gameplusnetwork.com
Har-Tru has all your pickleball court equipment needs. Use discount code ZANE10 to receive 10% off your purchase.
https://hartru.com/
Zane’s on Cameo!!
https://cameo.com/zanenavratilpickleball
Thorlo Socks are the best! Engineered with varying levels of padding, their pickleball socks provide maximum comfort and support. Get yours here.
https://thorlo.com/pages/pickleball
Recover with Yobow, the most compact massage pistol! Each purchase includes a free Yobow warm-up band ($25 value) and free US shipping!
https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/shop/
Zane, known for his aggressive style and precise anticipation, assists pickleball players in understanding one good attack isn't enough anymore. Navratil emphasizes that "the ball is always coming back." Zane's approach revolves around thinking ahead—planning not just for the initial shot, but for the counter that is inevitably coming.
One key element of Zane’s strategy involves identifying attack patterns based on court positioning and shot type. Players need to know exactly where to direct their attacks and how to follow up, ensuring they’re always prepared for the next move.
In pickleball, attacking the opponent's body—specifically aiming at what’s known as the "chicken wing," the area between their backhand and forehand—is an increasingly popular technique. This zone leaves opponents scrambling, unsure whether to respond with their forehand or backhand. As Navratil explains, the key to mastering this shot is maintaining a neutral stance after the attack.
Not all attacks are easy to predict, so Zane teaches amateurs how to cover both forehand and backhand responses by keeping their posture and positioning adaptable. The unpredictability of the "chicken wing" makes it a reliable target, but only if players can follow up the next move.
One of the more surprising elements of Navratil’s strategy is his endorsement of the crosscourt attack, a technique once considered taboo in pickleball. A well-placed crosscourt shot, can enhance pickleball performance by catching opponents off guard. However, if done poorly, it leaves the crosscourt player exposed.
Successful pickleball isn’t just about power. It’s also about finesse, deception, and timing. By throwing off an opponent’s rhythm with slower shots or rolling spins, players create opportunities to dominate the next exchange. Zane cites the effectiveness of mixing fast, aggressive attacks with slower, targeted shots, a method commonly used by pros like Anna Bright.
One of the more nuanced techniques Navratil advocates is the "dead dink" from the middle of the court, where a well-placed, seemingly innocuous shot can lead to explosive follow-ups. Opponents tend to crash towards the middle after a slow ball, leaving them vulnerable to an inside-out dink or a sharp roll to their weaker side.
Zane’s advanced techniques revolve around anticipating and reading the opponent’s response. His philosophy is simple: no one is hitting outright winners anymore, not even at the pro level.
As Zane Navratil’s methods show, the modern pickleball player must combine power, precision, and predictive strategy to stay ahead. The future of the game is not about landing one knockout punch, but about outthinking, outmaneuvering, and outlasting your opponents.