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.
If you’re one of these people and you’re tired of getting beat while you’re body and mind are asleep on the court, consider a new strategy.
Let’s call it the Drive, Crash, and Break Sh*t strategy.
Here’s how it works:
Drives > drops early in the match
Drops require precision and touch or they can go very poorly. On the other hand, drives (even not-so-great ones) can still be effective. It’s easier to win a rally after a poor drive than after a really bad drop.
Instead of trying to drop the ball during the first couple of points of a match, make a point to drive the ball instead.
Crash to get your legs moving
A high third-shot drop leads to an aggressive fourth by your opponents, which means your team is forced to stay back and it makes you unable to get your legs loose. Who’s that good for?
No one.
If you really want to start strong and get your body moving, drive the ball, then crash the net. Sure, it might backfire and maybe your opponents hit a putaway or two at your feet – but, that’s not the point. The goal of doing this early on is to force yourself to be aggressive and show your opponents you’re coming out swinging.
That aggression, especially right at the start of a match, puts pressure on your opponents and forces them to make good shots.
If they also happen to be slow starters or can’t handle pressure early on, you’ll likely take away a few points you otherwise might have lost.
Don’t be afraid to break stuff
The meek might inherit the earth, but pickleballers who go hard to start matches inherit free points. Move quickly, hit hard, but stay in control.
Put a little extra oomph on your drive. Add some zip to your serve. Start a hands battle within the first few points. Doing these things early can actually help you relax and play the game you actually want to play.
Also, hitting a ball really hard is sometimes necessary to just get it out of your system.