If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s time to perfect the twoey dink, let Zane Navratil put that to bed for you: “If you can’t hit a two-handed backhand dink, you’re not playing modern pickleball.” Dead dinks are the kiss of death these days, and simply playing defense at the kitchen line isn’t going to win you many games. It’s time to level up.
If you don’t come to pickleball from a different racket sport — say, tennis or badminton — the concept of spacing can be taken for granted. That is, the optimal distance from your body the ball should be to make contact for any given shot.
To get in the right headspace heading into the weekend, let’s focus on upping our mental game today, shall we? We’ve all experienced the paradox of pressure on the court. In rec games or even just warmups, it’s easy to play light and free and with a mental clarity that makes every point, win or loss, a delight.
The next time you play, track how many times you hit a ball off the bounce with a one-handed backhand. Spoiler alert: It’s a lot. If you’re looking to dictate more points, you need to be speeding these up on the regular. To master the proper motion for executing the one-handed backhand flick, just imagine you’re throwing a frisbee.
If you’re looking to break through that 5.0 plateau, the little things begin to matter more. Every shot needs to be sharper and hit with intention. To hack it at this level, simply “getting the ball back over” doesn’t cut it anymore.
Once a novelty, the around the post (ATP) has become a routine shot in advanced pickleball games. And just like your drop and twoey roll dink, it’s a shot that should be drilled. When the time comes, you want to nail it.
How do you quench the firepower of an opposing team with two bangers? That was one of the many questions Zane Navratil answered in this week’s PicklePod. And his answer might surprise you: You don’t.
Just because you’re right-handed and find yourself on the right side doesn’t mean you’re in a beta position. Being aggressive from here comes down to patterns and strategy. You’ve got more weapons than you might think.
Play enough pickleball and you’ll start to develop habits. Some, like varying your serves or knowing which way to pivot to defend a lob, are good. Others, not so much. Pro Connor Garnett is here to call out four common pitfalls seen in intermediate to advanced players and, better yet, how to correct them. Sit back and take notes, the king of Twoey Nation is talking.
The poach shot in pickleball is effective because it breaks patterns and disrupts the regular flow of a point. Timed properly, it can shake your opponent’s confidence, keep them guessing and more defensive, and shrink the game at the kitchen line. (No wonder Zane Navratil is a big fan.)
Just like your thirds or dinks at the kitchen line, the foundation of winning pickleball strategy is variation. Hit the same shot over and over and any good opponent will catch on and capitalize. Mix things up, though, and you’re in the driver’s seat.
Pickleball strategy is like the weather in New England: Not a fan? Just wait five minutes.
Strategy fundamentals that were gospel when you first started probably aren’t as relevant anymore. Some, believe it or not, are totally outdated. Allow us to catch you up to speed with the help of pro Tanner Tomassi.
Like most winning shots in pickleball, effectively (and safely) chasing down a lob is all about patterns. First, you need to recognize and communicate whose ball it is, then it’s a game of footwork. Resist the urge to rush and focus on a quality return. Susannah Barr shows the way:
It’s no surprise that pros rip through paddles like crazy — some, like Quang Duong, are lucky to get a full week out of one paddle before needing a fresh replacement.
For us mere mortals, the active lifespan of a pickleball paddle is considerably longer. But at some point, old faithful will feel tired and it’ll be time for an upgrade.
Play pickleball long enough and you’ll find yourself teamed up with a considerably weaker partner. We’ve all been there, gritting our teeth as Larry dumps yet another sitter into the middle of the net.
As you become a more advanced pickleball player, details start to matter. Minor tweaks in your game can translate to noticeable performance upgrades. It’s time to sweat the small stuff.
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