6. Use your whole body
Watching Anna Leigh Waters is a good way to visualize the commitment that good players make to a shot. Her whole body goes into the stroke. She prepares and then commits. Her follow-through is done not just with her paddle. Her eyes, shoulders, paddle, hips, legs and feet are all going into the shot. When you drill, make it count like ALW.
7. Develop a weapon
Players work so hard on their weaknesses, but good players develop a weapon. You need a shot that people want to dodge. You want to reduce the size of the court that your opponent can hit into comfortably. What feels natural to you? What do you like to hit? Build your game around that shot.
For example, if you choose a big forehand, be able to hit with pace and depth. But then add change of pace while the opponents are back behind the baseline waiting for your explosion. Add spin and angles. Make the opponent try to hit away from your weapon. And“ weapon” does not mean hard 10 percent of the time and the other 90 percent into the bleachers. A weapon is something you can count on, and that takes practice.
8. Develop a strong defense
Sometimes things just don’ t happen as planned. Sometimes the other guy has weapons too. You need a strong defense. Learn to lob. It buys you time and position. Learn to use a third-shot or fifth-shot drop. Learn to play the ball back deep and hope. Learn to be patient when dinking with all four at the net.
If you don’ t have a shot, you don’ t have to pull the trigger. Don’ t be the guy who is in a big hurry to lose. Draw the match out as long as possible if you are not cruising to victory. The worm may turn.
9. Learn to exploit
Good players look for opportunities everywhere. They look for your weaknesses and they look to use the sun, the wind, the lighting, the fans, the surface, the balls, paddles, etc. Be the player who thinks on the court.
If you have a crosswind, you can play to the high side. Use it to your advantage. Look for weaknesses in your opponents that you can exploit. Work your opponent
over by keeping the ball in play and making him run. You may lose a few points early on in singles, for example, but you may cash in later when your opponent is exhausted from chasing your short balls. Good players find a way to win.
10. Be able to move on after a bad-luck shot
There are going to be net cord shots, crazy wind shots, shots hit off the edges of paddles, flukes … Good players move on. You can complain, but all that does is derail your own focus. Learn to deal with those flukes in your head. Accept them as the price of playing the game. As Billie Jean King says,“ Pressure is a privilege.”
Don’ t harbor the resentment that can affect your focus. Just say“ Good shot” and move on. Accept that good players will make good shots against you. It was not an error on your part, but excellence on theirs. Get your head back in the game. Good players are winners inside as well as out. •
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.
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