YOUR FEET – While it’s
not necessary to keep
bouncing on your toes
throughout each point,
it’s extremely helpful
to slightly bend your knees so your
weight is on the balls of your feet and
not on your heels. You want to bend
your knees just enough so when you
look down at your feet, your shoelaces
are hidden by your knees. The more
you move, the stronger and faster
you’ll become. And since pickleball
combines aerobic and anaerobic
benefits, you’ll improve your endurance
and have better play throughout the
entire match.
YOUR HANDS – One
of the most misleading
instructions in pickleball
is to have a “firm grip”
on the paddle. A little
extra firmness on block volleys to
add more rebound ball speed is fine,
but, generally speaking, try to hold a
relaxed grip whenever you’re not hitting
the ball--and a little more relaxed when
you are hitting the ball! Holding the
paddle with a loose grip allows you to
swing more quickly, producing more
power. And faster hands means you’ll
handle shots more easily and be less
intimidated by harder-hitting players.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Practice can be divided into three
scenarios, each an important building
block to playing better pickleball.
1. Blocked practice—repeating
the same single shot over and
over. A ball machine, backboard,
rebounder or partner feeding balls
sets you up for a blocked practice
session.
2. Serial practice—repeating the
same pattern of shots over and
over. A ball machine that oscillates
side to side or a partner balling
balls can create a serial practice
session.
3. Random or open play—using a
ball machine on "random" or drilling
points with a practice partner can
create a random practice situation
that is close to competitive play.
PLAYER BEWARE
1. Ball Machine—Using a ball
machine to practice can help
anyone improve more quickly, but
there’s a danger of laziness or
complacency.
2. Choosing a Practice Partner—
This may sound simple, but it’s not.
Most people lack the motivation
to focus properly in practices to
help raise their playing level in
competition. As the saying goes,
“Practice as you play, and you
will play as you practice.” Finding
the right partner who is similarly
motivated to improve can be
challenging. If you find someone,
bring the balls at least half the time
to keep him or her as a steady
practice partner.
Raising your focus, energy and
movement levels will definitely raise
your playing level. The challenge is to
practice the same way you’d like to
play. It’s similar to working out at the
gym. Once you get the adrenaline rush
from energetic, successful play, you’ll
no longer think the ball should act like
a dog and come to you. The ball is not
a dog—you must move to it! •
Joe Dinoffer is a USPTA and PTR master
professional, has written seven books and
22 DVDs, and has appeared on the Tennis
Channel. His company OnCourtOffCourt.com
manufactures training aids for pickleball and
tennis, and is the exclusive distributor for the
Pickleball Tutor in the United States.
MARCH/APRIL 2018 |
MAGAZINE
47