By Ahsan Khan
I have been playing this crazy game for the last two years and I can’t tell you how much I love it. Maybe you heard about it maybe you play it but please read on.
Here’s what PICKLEBALL stands for:
Patience
Improvement
Competition
Knowledge
Learning
Emotion
Belief
Awesomeness
Lively
Longevity
Theory of Pickleball Revealed
In every game or sport, there are insights that are only gained by playing, learning and shared wisdom. Pickleball is no different. It is deceptively easy to learn but harder to master.
The sooner you understand the key insights the sooner you’ll improve and leapfrog yourself into the next level of play!
Pickleball is a racquet sport, yes but it is a thinking person’s game too. You are never going to play better Pickleball if you are unaware or ignore the following concepts:
Points come from making good shots offensively and from your opponents making mistakes.
Serving the ball is rarely going to score points but needs to be deep and consistent.
Controlled power is more important than banging the ball.
Court position and especially controlling the kitchen as a team creates the set up to win points.
Communication with your partner and encouraging them after they make a mistake is better than saying anything corrective, even if it’s coming from a place of love.
Tethering or being a shadow with your partner should happen as soon as possible.
The middle of the court is the best place to hit the ball whether you are dinking or returning the ball especially if you plan to take a point assertively. Down the middle starts the riddle. Hitting the ball to the middle is a high-level tactic and can often confuse your opponents as they think the other person will hit it.
You are best to outsmart your opponent with patience by playing consistent shots so they goof up just a bit and you can seize the advantage with smart shot selection.
Bonus Benefit Of Playing This Wild And Crazy Game: It is rumoured that people who play racket sports for about 30 minutes twice a week live longer than everyone else. This is thought to be due to the mental stimulation and coordination required by the brain and its connection to the body. There is a neuromuscular system which is involved that you otherwise would not be using as you get older and sedentary. You are not only playing the game and balancing your swing, but you are also calculating how to counter spin or to position your shot and where to be immediately thereafter, hence using your cerebellum and lighting up your entire brain. You are also preserving something called your motor units, which is the neuromuscular connections that once lost are gone forever. Not a bad deal to be addicted to this sport, eh?
Every game you play should achieve three things:
Firstly, a feeling of exhilaration because you got to play your favourite game rather than being at work on a tight deadline or sitting in a traffic jam with no end in sight.
Secondly, a chance to make friends because the social aspect of the game is why we play this sport and not some other sport like Sumo Wrestling.
Thirdly, we need a sense of accomplishment because we try to improve ourselves as players and end up improving ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually!
Respect The Basics
Before you read the fantastic tips coming up, remember that wherever you are on your skill level as a Pickleballer or Pickler, you have to come back to the basics!
The basics of playing good Pickleball include mastering the forehand and the backhand, their variations, dinking, serves, proper footwork, and a dash of daily practice.
Forehand Stroke: Try the Continental grip. Use a compact swing, bring your weight forward and through the swing, and finish your swing path with a paddle at your ear. Contain your swing power to 75% so you don’t hit out of bounds.
Backhand Stroke: Learn to use both the Continental grip and the Eastern grip. Only use your wrist if near the kitchen otherwise the swing comes from your shoulder as this promotes straightness and aim. Also, move your weight forward as you swing through. Your backhand should not be your weak spot. It should be a weapon. Learn the backhand slice and flick versions promptly and always.
Determined Dinking: Here is where patience and determination pay dividends. Remember to keep your wrist out of the stroke and use your shoulder to hit the ball “just over the net. “ If you get the pop-up go for the put away without reservation and with complete abandon!
Sneaky Serves: Opt for deep serves versus hard serves. Make your opponent guess what is coming by having a few different types of serves in your back pocket. For example, throw them off with deep serves that bounce to their shoulder level.
Fancy Footwork:
Avoid fancy footwork. Learn to develop an athletic stance so you can move to where you need to be. That is usually a balanced feeling with minimal shuffling and breakdancing to hit commanding shots that surprise your opponent. Be in that ready position and crouch like a pouncing tiger.
Practice wall shots—aim for 100 a day! This is the best drill to accelerate your skills and ingrain automatic motions for paddle position, touch, power and feel.
Warm Up Your Body And Then Play:
A good time to warm up is before you leave the house. Spend five minutes or 10 minutes while you make your morning coffee. Always warm up your shoulders and hips and knees before your game. Consider plyometric jumping too.
Here is a quote from the legendary Pickleball Champion Ben Johns.
“Turns out that in Pickleball, bending your knees is just straight magic.”
Just in that tip alone is one of the hidden keys to plain great Pickleball.
Wherever you are on your journey of playing this game, I hope you will find immense pleasure and well-being because for some reason all sports, especially Pickleball, help a person live an awesome life.
Please share this article with anyone you know who plays this awesome game.
Have An Awesome Day!
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