Defense Is the New Offense: How Allyce Jones Turns Scrappiness Into Wins (And You Can Too)

When people think about winning in pickleball, they usually picture offensive weapons: power drives, laser-focused thirds, and speedups that end points in a flash.

But what if your greatest weapon is your will to never let the ball die?

That’s exactly how top pro (and CRBN athlete) Allyce Jones built her reputation as “the Mighty Mouse.” In her guest episode on Pickleball Cheat Code, Allyce breaks down the defensive mindset, drills that translate directly into wins, and the subtle strategic edge most players miss.

Read Their Body. Own the Court.

Great defenders aren’t reacting—they’re reading.

Allyce’s background as a volleyball libero gave her more than quick feet. It taught her to anticipate.

Here’s how she does it:

  • Hips don’t lie. She watches opponents’ hips to predict where the shot is headed.

  • Paddle position is key. High paddle? Expect a speedup. Paddle dropping? Get ready for a dink.

  • Split-step timing matters. She splits right before contact—not too early—so she can explode in any direction.

Pro Insight: Most players split too early and freeze. Timing your movement with the opponent’s shot unlocks your agility.

The Underrated Shot That Buys You Time

You don’t need to hit a perfect third every time. In fact, Allyce regularly uses a high defensive lob from the baseline to reset the point and give herself time.

“Mid-height balls are the worst. I’d rather hit a sky ball with topspin than hand over an easy angle.” – Allyce Jones

Here’s how she uses it:

  • When the ball’s behind you: If you're off balance or can’t reset cleanly, lift it high with topspin.

  • Give yourself time: Deep, high lobs reduce your opponent’s angles and let you reset at the kitchen.

  • Next shot = drive. Often, that overhead return gives you an attackable follow-up.

Practice Tip: Aim middle—not corner—so you have more margin for error and reduce the chance of angles.

Right Side Domination in Mixed Doubles

Allyce is known for being a beast on the right side—especially in mixed.

Why? Because she’s not just dinking safely cross-court. She’s using shape, spin, and deception to make the guy in front of her uncomfortable.

Key tactics:

  • Topspin for options. Slice dinks are low, but topspin dinks let you go cross or line—and threaten speedups.

  • Drop cross-court on the fifth. She consistently hits her fifth to the girl to force the guy to lean and give up middle space.

  • Play off the line to give your partner room. Being a little off the NVZ lets her roll and lets her partner reach in.

Pro Insight: Be the teammate who creates space for the big forehand. Then capitalize when the opponents shift.

Match Your Return Strategy to the Opponent

One-size-fits-all advice says return deep and down the line. Allyce challenges that.

Instead, she adjusts based on:

  • Who’s serving. Big serves = higher error rate if you go line. Instead, she aims middle or cross for more margin.

  • Who’s on the other side. Some guys have lethal backhand drives. If that's the case, she returns away from them—even if that means more balls go to the guy during a stack.

“Why would you give Connor Garnett a backhand drive?” – Allyce

Tactical Tip: If your partner can’t close the middle or you're facing a top-tier driver, adjust your return—even if it breaks ‘conventional wisdom.’

Want to Get Better at Defense? Drill With Purpose.

Allyce isn’t just reacting. She’s training.

Her go-to drills:

  • 2v2 defense progression: Start at the baseline, throw in high or driven balls, then read your partner’s shot and work your way in together.

  • Sky ball resets: Practice lifting lobs from off-balance positions and reading the bounce.

  • Singles-style approach drills: Work your approach shot, split step, and next volley in a repeatable pattern.

Pro Insight: Whether it's 1v1 or 2v2, Allyce drills based on real game situations—not just static reps.

Final Word: Don’t Just Reset—Take Control

You don’t have to be 6'2" with a massive drive to dominate. You need:

  • A defensive mindset

  • The ability to read and reset

  • Court awareness to create space for your partner

  • And the guts to lob when others panic

Allyce Jones didn’t earn her nickname “Mighty Mouse” because she plays small—she earned it because she plays smart, scrappy, and relentless.

So next time you’re on the run? Don’t panic. Pop it high, read your opponent’s hips, and get ready to steal back the point.

🎧 For the full conversation with Allyce and Brodie, listen to Pickleball Cheat Code on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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