The serve in pickleball represents a dichotomy of fundamental philosophies. On the one hand, pickleball "traditionalists" will argue that, because you can't win a point if you don't get your serve in, it's best not to take any chances and, instead, … [Read more...]
Strategies & Tips
The following blog posts will help maximize your personal development and improvement with "lessons" on fundamental shot-making techniques and how to be more mentally tough than your opponent.
Top 10 Tournament Preparations for the Pickleball Tournament Newbie
Pickleball Tournaments. For many, it may be your first time in a very long time of competing, perhaps since your "glory years" of high school when you were on the basketball, football, softball or debate teams. Perhaps you didn't play sports prior to … [Read more...]
Top 10 Technique & Strategy Flaws Impeding Your Pickleball Progress
We've all been there. We exhibit meteoric pickleball improvement and progress during the first several weeks or months of playing -- or perhaps, even years -- and then, we hit a performance plateau. We just can't seem to bust through any … [Read more...]
Pickleball Split Step – Balance, Baby!!!
I see it happen regularly in rec play. A team pinned to the baseline understands that, strategically, they need to get to the kitchen line in order to give themselves the best chance at winning the rally. That’s definitely a true statement and a … [Read more...]
Capturing the NVZ — Strategic Advance or Kamikaze Mission?
Throughout our pickleball journeys we have undoubtedly heard that points are more easily won when both partners are positioned at the NVZ line. Either instinctively -- or from experience -- we know that being positioned 7 feet from the net allows us … [Read more...]
Pickleball Half-Volley (Short Hop) — Critical Shot when Returning Deep Serves and when Stuck in “No-Man’s Land”
Most competitive players will agree that the single-most critical and effective pickleball strategy is to get to the Non-Volley Line as quickly as possible. It's at the non-volley line where a team can take control of the rally -- or at the very … [Read more...]
Pickleball Singles Strategy — Hit Behind your Opponent & Wrong Foot ‘Em!
Playing singles in pickleball is, unquestionably, a different animal than the traditional doubles game. Singles requires physical stamina, anticipation and a different strategy than that in doubles. Be prepared to sprint, split step, stop, change … [Read more...]
Much to Learn from Facebook Live Videos — Pickleball Tournament of Champions
The first weekend in September -- Ahhh, perfect. Televised on ESPN, the world's best tennis players were playing early round US Open matches at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. On the other side of the country -- in Brigham City, … [Read more...]
Pickleball Dink Shot — Add this Shot to your Repertoire of Strategic Shots
As a former high school and collegiate tennis player, the term "dink" has always had a negative connotation with those with whom I competed. It was a term predominantly used to describe a player who wasn't really too good, didn't "hit out" with their … [Read more...]
Pickleball Doubles Scoring – 3-Number Scores, Side-Outs and Red Wristbands!
One of the more intimidating concepts for the new pickleball player is the pressure of keeping score. While games are generally played to 11 points (win by 2 points) there are nevertheless scoring nuances in pickleball. Although pickleball scoring … [Read more...]