On the pickleball court, placement is often more important than power. Hitting the pickleball hard without control can lead to an easy return for your opponents or hitting the pickleball out of bounds. It’s important to attack the pickleball, but attack with precision! A key area to target when attacking on the pickleball court is the chicken wing. By aiming for your opponent’s paddle-side shoulder, you can force them into an awkward “chicken wing” position to return the ball. The paddle-side shoulder is a challenging spot to defend, as it falls between a backhand and a forehand shot, making it difficult to react to or defend effectively.
![](https://thepickler.com/app/uploads/2024/06/pickleball-defend-chicken-wing.jpg)