[ Jim Hackenberg on the Fundamentals ]
Remember the
FUNDAMENTALS
Most of us probably played a variety of
sports growing up, long before we
discovered the game of pickleball. If
you look back on those sports and the
people who taught you the games, the one common
denominator of any sport is to focus on the
fundamentals. The fundamentals encompass a myriad
of factors that contribute to the success or failure of
the activity. Whether it’s body positioning, footwork,
shot selection, or some physical techniques, learning
and mastering the fundamentals is one of the first steps
toward improved performance.
Once a fundamental is explained and demonstrated,
mastering it only happens when you repeat the action
over and over until it is ingrained into your game. Two
key fundamental shots in pickleball are the first two
shots of every point – the serve and the return of serve.
What’s so fundamental about these two shots is how
they impact the chances for the respective team to gain
an advantage. Let’s examine each shot.
THE SERVE
Everyone knows the first fundamental rule about
the serve—GET IT IN! You only score points when
you are serving, so any serve that does not go in is
a lost opportunity. So, yes, getting your serve in is
absolutely critical. But, what many players, especially
beginners, do not recognize is the importance of a deep
serve. When your team is serving, you are essentially
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