power volleys and incredible angle volleys.
As for preparation at the baseline and midcourt, just because you have time does not mean you should waste it.
Watch to see if the pros rush or delay their feet at the baseline. Do they turn, step and swing as in the old days of tennis, or do they chip and charge as on grass? Do they take the ball on the rise and get to the NVZ line as soon as possible, or do they attack full bore and come in?
Lots of different styles of play— not so much right or wrong but why? Why do some players hit certain shots? I want to be 6 ' 6 " and a banger, but I’ m 5 ' 3 "… successful players do what works for them, their size, and their skills. Find players that you admire and copy their skill sets. Watch the shot choices they make. Angles or down the middle?
SERVING
Lots of changes in serving these days. So many pros face the net now with a wide-open stance. Observe their feet. Both feet are toes up to the line, and they deliver a topspin serve. This works for the 20-year-olds, but it expends a lot of energy for the seniors.
The pros use a lot of upper body strength, and their serves are deep with a lot of hop. Watch where they contact the ball and where they place the serve. There is a wide variety of serves in pickleball, but topspin seems to be the choice of the pros.
TWO-HANDED BACKHAND
The limitation of a two-handed backhand is reach, but a pickleball court is so small that reach is not as big a factor as in tennis. So we see lots of two-handed backhands.
When you watch a player with a two-handed backhand groundstroke, observe the contact point relative to her feet. Good backhanders utilize body strength. They don’ t get jammed and hit too close to their bodies. Watch where the force is as the player transfers her weight from her back foot to her front foot.
If you want the benefit of disguise, you need to know exactly where to make contact. Watch the pros to observe where they meet the ball relative to their bodies. So often, pop-ups occur when you contact the ball late and behind you. Imitate the pros by keeping your head down and eyes on the contact point. Take some photographs of the players and look for the tripod of feet, eyes, and the ball.
COURT POSITION
When we watch, we tend to watch the person hitting the ball, but the position of the partner is critical too. When a player is pulled wide, his partner covers the middle. He doesn’ t just stand still. It is a dance, a pas de deux. The partner’ s movement forces the opponent to make choices for the next shot.
Watch the good players use teamwork to cover the court. See how they narrow the shot choices by responding to each shot. Just because you are not the person hitting the ball does not mean you are not influencing the play. The pros keep the middle covered at all times.
Watching pickleball’ s variety of styles and personalities of players is fun and easier than ever. Pickleball is everywhere, with new shots, new trends, new lingo, and new fashions. Improve your own game by close observation of details. Every match is a lesson. Gain new skills by having fun watching the athleticism of these new young players. •
Alice Tym was ranked 13th in the world for tennis in the‘ 60s. She’ s been named USPTA Coach of the Year and is a USPTA Master Professional. As a 4.5 pickleball player, she has won gold in Huntsman, NSGA Nationals, US Open, and USA Pickleball events around the country. Alice is an IPTPA member, SSIPA founding board member, Bainbridge Cup Originator and gold medalist in Spain, Italy, and Germany.
JULY / AUGUST 2025 | MAGAZINE 41