Pickleball Magazine 1-1 | Page 15

PICKLEBALL TIPS QUICK TIP Maximizing Your Pickleball Potential Seek Qualified Instruction The instructor should be knowledgeable (a 5.0 tournament player with instructional experience and possibly certified would be ideal). The instructor should assess a player’s skills, and then suggest specific techniques, drills, and strategies to improve the player’s weaknesses in the most critical areas considering the level of the player. As a player’s skills improve the instructor should be revisited for the next level of learning. Drill with a Practice Partner Drills should be meaningful, mindful, and regular. Don’t just hit the ball but have specific techniques, targets, and goals. The more frequent and focused the drills, the more rapid the improvement Play Competitive Games Games should be with players of similar ability in competitive situations. A USAPA ladder league is an excellent way to determine your skill level, play with players of similar ability, and document improvement. S K I L L L E V E L The Learning Curve Instruction+drills+games playing games TIME Paul Porch, a Columbia River Pickleball Club member, has medaled at the USAPA Nationals and Huntsman World Senior Games. He has instructed pickleball at clinics, festivals, and classes, been honored as a pickleball pro by Pickleball Central, and is a member of the USAPA committee to improve the player rating system. www.PickleballRocks.com JANUARY 2016 | MAGAZINE 13