The sport of pickleball is full of some incredibly unique techniques that are rarely found in other games with some even raising controversy within the pickleball community such as the extremely infamous Nasty Nelson.
While some players call it a fun and exciting way to make a match that bit more exciting, others have called it barbaric, nonsensical, and a move that goes against the fair nature of the sport that many players have demanded to be banned and removed from the game entirely.
But how can a simple shot cause such controversy? Keep reading as we take a deep dive into why the Nasty Nelson is so infamous within the pickleball community.
What Is A Nasty Nelson Serve?
A player performs a Nasty Nelson when they intentionally attempt to hit an opposing player directly with the ball.
While this player can be struck by the served ball while being anywhere on the court, they will usually be the player positioned close to the net and just outside of the non-volley zone.
This was a common technique used by Timothy Nelson, a player many consider to be the very best pickleball player who has ever lived.
Nelson would intentionally flick the ball directly at his opponents since he knew this would be classed as interfering with play, giving Nelson the nickname “The Puppet Master”.
The Legality Of The Nasty Nelson
Despite being frowned upon and seen as unethical by many players, the Nasty Nelson is nonetheless completely legal within the official rules of pickleball.
The reason it remains legal is because this shot essentially exploits one of the rules within Section 7 which states “A live ball that is stopped by a player before it becomes dead” will be seen as a fault.
As a result of this, if a player is hit by a Nasty Nelson, they will actually be seen as the one in the wrong and will incur a fault for their team, granting a point to the serving team.
Why The Nasty Nelson Is So Controversial?
Depending on the player you ask, the Nasty Nelson is either a clever technique that takes a good amount of experience and strategy to pull off, or a clear lack of sportsmanship that should have never been introduced into the game.
Tim Nelson was a player who was known to play tricks on his opponents and always had some sort of strategy to throw them off.
Sometimes this went too far, such as using profanity which has since been banned in pickleball, however, Nelson has left behind a controversial legacy that has become symbolized through the Nasty Nelson.
While many of the puppetmaster’s defenders will therefore claim the shot prevents a game from becoming stale, others claim it should be removed from the game entirely, just like a few of Nelson’s other intimidating tactics have been.
On the whole, while they are still legal and can be seen being used every so often, the Nasty Nelson today is generally seen as disrespectful, specifically in tournaments where each game is supposed to be fun and fair for all players, with the loophole generally being frowned upon.
It is therefore a technique that is more suited to casual games between friends where it can be treated as a bit of goodhearted fun rather than a show of disrespect.
How To Serve A Nasty Nelson?
Since pickleball players will usually aim to give the ball enough distance to bounce when they go to serve, this does mean that actually hitting a Nasty Nelson the correct way takes some skill and precision.
The player must execute the serve with an underarm stroke, as they would normally, while putting a lot less power on the ball than they would normally. This is incredibly important so that you don’t end up injuring your opponent.
While you can aim for the player further away, it is much easier for the ball to make contact with the player closest to the net.
Since the aim is for the ball to make contact with the player with there being no expectation of them returning, the lighter you dink the ball, the better, since this will still allow the ball to fly high enough while staying fairly close to the net since you aren’t intending to bounce it.
Why Do People Use The Nasty Nelson?
While there are a small number of players who will try to use the Nasty Nelson as a way to score points during a tournament match (You might want to check out What Is Sandbagging In Pickleball?), it is also very commonly used when a player is getting annoyed and fed up with a player keeping their eyes off the game or who keeps getting distracted.
While it is definitely not promoted or advocated in the sport, if a player feels that their opponent is mocking them by looking away from the court or if they are showboating, a quick Nasty Nelson can often be used as a way to demand respect from the arrogant player, letting them know that they should be directing all of their attention towards their opponents for the duration of the game.
How To Avoid A Nasty Nelson?
The most important piece of advice that every pickleball should incorporate into each of their games is to never take your eyes off the ball, especially if the opponent is going to make a serve, since while you could be feeling confident about your chances of winning, this can quickly lead to you getting hit by a Nasty Nelson and picking up a fault for your team.
Another tip to avoid getting hit by a Nasty Nelson is to not position yourself too close to the centerline since this is a prime position for someone to get hit by the serve.
The closer you are physically to the player serving, the easier it’s going to be for them to hit the ball straight at you. Standing too close to the centerline can also obstruct the view of your partner attempting to return the ball, so standing a few steps back is always advised.
Finally, if you do ever get hit by this controversial technique, try not to let it get to your head or throw you off your game.
In classic Tim Nelson style, the Nasty Nelson first and foremost was used to attempt to throw players off their game mentally so that they make more mistakes as the game goes on, so if you do have a ball served directly at you, try to brush it off, accept the fault, and always keep your eyes glued to the ball so that it doesn’t happen again.
Summary
Since the Nasty Nelson makes use of a loophole within the rules of the sport, it is technically a legal move, however, the controversy surrounding this serving technique has been anything but tame.
While it can still be seen being used in tournaments on the rare occasion when a player is annoyed or trying to intimidate their opponent, it is a practice that most players will only utilize in much friendlier and more casual games where the end result is not as consequential.
Pickleball has been played for decades, and it is a great way to let off some steam, engage in friendly competition, and improve your fitness levels.
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