W
e’ve all been there. Four players are at the nonvolley zone when a ball off your opponent’s paddle
comes low and hard in your direction hitting the top of
the net. At that very moment, we often think the ball
is going to stay on the other player’s side of the net. We
relax just a bit and perhaps even begin to back away. But
then...the ball miraculously spins itself over the top of the
net into the shallow part of the non-volley zone just out
of reach of our paddle. We then console ourselves with
the thought, “That was a lucky shot!”
Let’s change the above scenario a bit. This time as the
ball is coming low over the net we don’t relax because
we are aware of what might happen so we bounce on our
toes. As the ball trickles over the net on to our side, we
lunge toward it and just manage to get it back over the
net to gain the point. Our opponents, on the other hand,
had eased up because they anticipated a rally-ending
shot. When the ball made it over to their side of the net
and rolled away for a winner, they begrudgingly thought,
“That was a lucky shot!”
“Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.”
— Oprah Winfrey
According to each of the players above, luck was the
reason they either won or lost the point, but let’s take
a closer look. In the first instance, the player was not
prepared to return the shallow shot over the net and
did not stay physically alert. In the second instance,
the player gave himself the opportunity to return the
shot. Luck did not intervene; it was preparation and
opportunity.
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work
the more I have of it.”
— Thomas Jefferson
At a venue where there is a diverse range of skills, a
spectator might note that when a lob comes along, if it is
too far a run, some teams will simply stand at the nonvolley zone and watch the shot land deep on their side of
the court to score a point for the other team.
So let’s ask the following, “Have you ever been in a
game where one point would have made a big difference?”
Maybe the point would have led to a victory or help in
maintaining your team’s momentum. If you have played
for any length of time, your answer would most likely
be “yes.” If that lob was headed toward your team and
even if it is a long run and a difficult angle, one of the
players should try to get it. If you swing and miss the ball
completely, at least give it a try. You never know...you
might just get a “lucky shot.”
“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t
take.”
— Wayne Gretzky
At times we might see a return of serve going very deep
to the serving team’s court. The serving team’s players
(thinking the ball will go long) watch the ball as it just
barely hits the baseline and the ball bounds away without
as much as an attempt. Once again, the errant player
probably mutters, “I could have hit that. What a lucky
shot!”
One trait that separates the 4.0 and above players from
the rest of the crowd is that they try to make every shot.
They never give up on a ball. It may seem like a nearly
impossible angled shot or one that barely made it over
the net, but they run for it anyway. Many people would
think they were “crazy” for even trying to make the shot.
But try they do, and once in a while they are able to make
the play; and in some of those instances, their team wins
the point. That point could make a difference.
My advice to all serious players regardless of skill level
is to continue the play whenever possible -- you never
know. You just might be able to make that shot. Of course
there is a very strong caveat here: Know your limitations!
Understand your physical abilities and what you are and
are not able to do. Do not take unnecessary chances. If
you cannot run back to get a tough lob, let it go and say
“Great shot!” You stand to play the next point.
There really is no such thing as a lucky shot. Someone
had to put the paddle in the correct place to contact
the ball. It wasn’t luck. It may have been reflexive and
perhaps wasn’t great skill, but luck did not push the
paddle. Try to make the play on every ball if you can.
Once in a while you get that great, but not lucky, shot! •
“Chance is the first step you take; luck is what comes
afterward.”
— Amy Tan
Jeff Ross has been an educator and freelance
writer who now serves as a Pickleball
Ambassador in North Phoenix. His website,
JBRish.com, has pickleball tips and articles
about his other interests.
DECEMBER 2016 |
MAGAZINE
27