The Right-Side Player Bible: How to Be Unshakable on Your Side of the Court

The Overlooked Art of the Right Side

If you want to dominate on the right, you need more than fast hands—you need to be a wall.

In this Pickleball Cheat Code episode, Brodie Smith and Tanner Tomassi dive deep into what separates solid right-side players from liabilities. From mastering backhand counters to sliding with control, they outline the blueprint for becoming the most reliable player on the court.

Because as Brodie puts it: “If you’re not a steady rock on the right, everything falls apart.”

1. Why the Right Side Might Be Harder Than the Left

Brodie starts with a hot take: playing right might actually be tougher than playing left.

Here’s why:

  • Less rhythm: You see fewer balls, so it’s harder to find flow.

  • Higher pressure: One mistake can unravel a rally.

  • Mental test: You must stay locked in even when you’re not hitting much.

Tanner counters that left-siders have more control over outcomes—but agrees that both roles demand consistency and chemistry.

2. The Right-Side Skill Set

According to Tanner, the essentials are simple—but unforgiving:

  • Elite consistency. You can’t miss dinks, ever.

  • Countering reflexes. Expect to be attacked and stay calm through it.

  • Reliable resets. Your job isn’t to end points—it’s to extend them.

Brodie points to the old Ben Johns–Collin Johns dynamic as the gold standard: “Collin didn’t miss a dink. That’s why the partnership worked—he let Ben create chaos.”

3. Sliding and Countering Like a Pro

Sliding is the unsung skill of the right side. When opponents attack your line, sliding keeps your body square, your backhand ready, and your court coverage tight.

Tanner’s Keys:

  • Don’t flip open to your forehand. Stay closed and backhand-dominant.

  • Slide laterally to involve your partner—it turns every attack into a 2-on-1.

  • Be ready to hit down, not through, on your counters.

Brodie calls this the “downward slap”—aiming every counter toward the opponent’s feet. Tanner learned it early: “I used softer paddles coming up, so I had to aim down instead of trying to hit through people. It became my best weapon.”

4. The Cross-Court Roll and Dink Control

One of the best weapons for right-siders—especially in mixed play—is the forehand cross-court roll.

Tanner notes that women’s doubles players, like Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright, do it better than anyone because they play a bit off the line, opening up more shape and spin.

Keys for the Roll:

  • Plant your right foot outside the ball.

  • Keep your paddle face down and roll with topspin for shape.

  • Hit high margin—let it drop deep and low on your opponent’s side.

Avoid the “flat dink” that sits up—your cross-court roll should arc, dip, and die.

5. The Bake and the Crash

Right-side players don’t just hold—they can attack, too.

When your partner drops or drives, your job is to bake—crash the kitchen, close space, and make yourself a wall.

Pro Tip: Even if your backhand crash is tougher to execute, a strong flash toward the middle forces hesitation and earns free pop-ups.

6. Owning the Mid-Court Reset

The best right-siders—like Allyce Jones—dominate the mid-court. They plant, reset, and move in with calm precision.

Tanner’s Reset Rules:

  • Reset cross-court—more margin, safer target.

  • Protect your line first; your partner covers middle.

  • Aim a foot over the center line, not wide—the net’s lower and safer there.

“Even if it pops up, at least you’re still in the rally,” Tanner says. “Miss wide and you’re done.”

7. The Ideal Right-Side Athlete

Brodie points out that many right-side specialists have strong, grounded builds—like volleyball players or hockey goalies—because stability and leg strength matter more than reach.

Traits of great right-side athletes:

  • Low, anchored stance

  • Fast reaction time

  • Calm under pressure

  • Defensive mindset with subtle offense

8. The Modern Shift: From Wall to Weapon

Traditionally, the right side was a defensive role. But new players—like Gabe Tardio—are evolving it. They’re cutting off angles, using backhand flicks, and shrinking the court from the middle.

Brodie predicts a hybrid future: “We’ll see players who can play both ways—steady and explosive—depending on the match.”

9. How to Train for the Right Side

If you’re transitioning to the right, here’s your playbook:

Drill This:

  • Consistency sets: 100-dink challenges with a partner—no errors.

  • Backhand counters: Work on reaction blocks and downward contact.

  • Cross-court resets: Practice aim and depth, not pace.

Watch This:

  • Study pros like Collin Johns, Allyce Jones, and Gabe Tardio.

  • Focus on how little they move, not how fast they swing.

And remember Brodie’s final takeaway: “You have to love the grind. The right side is about mental toughness—being steady when the chaos hits.”

Final Word: Be the Rock

Power players may grab the highlights, but right-side players win the wars. If you can stay patient, keep your dinks low, and counter like a wall, you’ll anchor your team and frustrate every opponent on court.

🎧 Listen to the full Pickleball Cheat Code episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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