Keeping the ball low is at the top of the list of most obvious pieces of advice you'll hear in the pickleball world and it's certainly easier said than done.

At first glance, you might be able to think of a reason to keep the ball close to the net, but there are several reasons you may not have considered that you should know about.

Here are 5 reasons why you should keep the ball low:

1. It is more difficult to return with power and precision.
2. Your opponent will have less reaction time.
3. Increase your control with each hit.
4. Reduces the risk of a winning shot by your opponent.
5. Force your opponent to lift the ball.

Obviously, a low ball is going to make things more difficult for your opponents. But have you ever wondered why?

Let's look at each of the top 5 reasons:

MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO RETURN THE BALL

When you hit a low ball, it is much more difficult for your opponent to predict the trajectory. The difficulty of predicting where a ball will land increases as the ball is lower in height. Following the trajectory of the ball and anticipating where it will bounce becomes more difficult as a result of a low-height hit.

Another thing to consider is that low shots tend to slide and move faster than shots with a wider parabola.

SHORTER REACTION TIME

When you hit the ball high, your opponent has more time to calculate the trajectory and speed of the ball, or even plan his next move. But if you hit it low and with some speed, the best your opponent can do is try to position himself to return it, relying solely on his reflexes.

GREATER CONTROL AND PLACEMENT

There are several reasons why hitting the ball low improves your control, and much of it is based on the same logic as the second point on this list. That is, a low shot will have a shorter flight path than a lob. The greater distance traveled can result in a shot being affected by less accuracy and poorer placement.

COMPLICATES THE OPPONENT'S VOLLEYS AND WINNERS

Most balls that reach the opponent above the waist are an invitation to attack. Balls that land at shin height or at the feet will result in a defense from your opponent. Therefore, by keeping the ball low, you will not only eliminate the risk of an attack from your opponent, but you will also increase the likelihood of preventing them from entering into an attacking strategy and giving you an opportunity to attack.

FORCE YOUR OPPONENT TO LIFT THE BALL

This point complements the previous point, where we discussed that hitting the ball low prevents the possibility of your opponent attacking. Let's imagine that you have achieved a good hit while maintaining a low height;

First, your opponent will have to crouch down to get to that ball, and second, they will have to open their paddle face upwards to get that ball over the net. If the paddle face were to remain facing forward, the ball would simply crash into the net. If the ball does get through, it will come raining down on you, soft and high enough for you to attack and close out the point. You will have created a scoring opportunity!