PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTION
THE BALL IS
NOT A DOG!
Tips to improve your energy—
and your game!
By Joe Dinoffer
Call a dog by its name and it will
come running. A pickleball is quite
different. If anything, it runs away from
you! Seems obvious? Then why do
most pickleball players stand still and
wait for the ball to come to them like
an obedient dog?
Let’s explore this further by
evaluating three primary pickleball
situations, and rate yourself in terms of
energy/intensity on a 1-10 scale, with
10 being the highest, regardless of
your playing level.
1. When practicing (rallying, drilling,
or with a ball machine) ________
2. When playing casually with friends
_______
3. When competing in tournaments
_______
If your numbers are the same, you’re
on your way to rapid improvement.
While a “10” is probably too intense,
being a consistent 7 or 8 is optimal for
most players. But how do you reach
this target?
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Here are some tips to become
your best without pushing past your
personal comfort level.
READINESS CHECKLIST
There are three parts of your body
that will help you play your best,
whether practicing with a ball machine
or playing a friendly neighborhood
game or a high-level tournament.
YOUR EYES –
The average pickleball
point lasts about nine
hits. This may sound
short, but keeping
your eyes in a state of “high focus”
for those nine hits is key to playing
better. This ability to track the ball both
early and throughout each point will
help you anticipate and trigger both
movement and paddle preparation.
And when you’re ready for each shot,
you’ll react faster, move earlier to the
ball, have better balance and hit
better shots.
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