Getting paired with a weaker player can be a helpless feeling. No matter what you do, that point always seems to end on their paddle. The other team notices and begins sending every ball their way. It is a challenging situation, but Zane Navratil has some tips to help you overcome a weaker partner and get the win.
Where should you attack an opponent who is standing at the kitchen line? You're not wrong if you said the hip, shoulder, or right at their chest. But you’re also only half right.
The correct answer lies in your opponent’s paddle position. Here’s a quick breakdown of common paddle positions and where to aim your attack to be most effective.
s your level of play rises, the pace of the game slows down. Those 4.0 games that used to seem fast and intense will become a walk in the park with predictable shots you know how to counter as you level up.
You will notice the difference if you move from a high-level game back down to a lower level. If high-level games aren’t at your disposal, you can use the two-ball drill to simulate high-speed play.
The roll volley is a shot somewhat unique to pickleball in the world of racquet sports. Most players coming from tennis are accustomed to slicing a volley as they close in on the net. In pickleball, the roll volley is a great option to thwart your opponent's attempts to advance forward in the court. It is also a valuable weapon to attack with while at the kitchen line.
The game of pickleball gets younger every day. After you encounter some teenagers on the court you’ll notice one thing … they get to everything.
Youthful energy can be a superpower.
Here’s what to focus on if you want a two-handed backhand dink
One of the first things James emphasizes is the importance of using a cupping motion.
Most pickleball advice tells you how to attack or defend better. However, learning how to make yourself “unattackable” is just as important.
Here are a few ways.
If a ball comes to you above net height it calls for an attack. However, not all attacks are built the same.
As Coach Mark Price says: “Often beginners and intermediate players go for TOO MUCH - TOO SOON. Misreading the ball trajectory or attacking a ball while still out of reach are common errors at lower levels.”
As more pickleball players come from tennis, serves are getting faster and more powerful. Naturally, this means if you want to compete, players need to develop a more effective return of serve.
According to Collin Shick, a top 20 Men's Singles player on the PPA Tour, there are three things to focus on if you want a great return of serve.
A semi-Western grip is also known as a pancake or frying pan grip. You can accomplish this by laying your paddle flat on the ground and picking it straight up, leaving the paddle face downward. Your index knuckle should be over the fourth bevel.
Grab a pickleball and head to the kitchen line. Your mission is simple: throw the ball so that it bounces at the opposing kitchen line. This drill might sound straightforward, but it's a great way to mimic the motion needed for a powerful overhead smash.
When teams are close in skill level, who wins and who loses can come down to which team plays more high-percentage shots or puts itself in better situations more often. When you’re playing a team that’s equal or better than you, you can win more often by forcing your opponents to repeatedly hit the more difficult shot throughout the match.
What’s the ideal paddle-ready position? Take a moment. Do you know? Maybe you said, “Slightly backhand” or “Paddle straight up and down.” While these are great answers when standing neutral, the ideal ready position depends on where the ball is on the court.
In a recent podcast episode, James Ignatowich discusses his experience playing on the right side with Ben Johns at PPA Sacramento.
He says he learned a lot about playing that side – typically, he plays on the left in doubles – including how challenging it is for a right-side player to be aggressive on a ball that bounces in front of their inside (left) foot.
Many pickleball players start their matches slowly, whether it’s due to nerves, jitters, or a lack of a proper warmup. This slow start leads to them being out of position, making poor drops and allowing their opponents to start with a seemingly insurmountable lead.
A massive differentiator between 4.0s and 5.0+ players is how they play through the transition zone. Lower-level players tend to be aggressive when they shouldn’t, while higher-level players understand to look for specific tells to know they have the green light to attack.
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