drifting out . On your returns , bend your knees and stay down so that you don ’ t lift the ball out . Be patient on your volleys . The wind will hold them up there . No need to lunge into the kitchen . When you ’ re hitting against the wind , you need to put some muscle into your serve . That means legs . Drive the ball with your whole body and keep the serves and returns deep . Your return is all about footwork . Set up quickly so that you can drive the ball down the middle . Play safe and smart . Keep your paddle up and in front . You can ’ t afford to waste precious time . Those volleys are coming fast so meet them early if possible . Lobbing with and against the wind is tricky , but if you can throw up a deep lob against the wind it may do crazy things and get you out of trouble .
A spiraling wind is the third type . It ’ s usually found in stadiums and center courts . It ’ s gusting and unpredictable . This is when you play percentage pickleball . Know the shots you can rely on . Focus on hitting clean balls , not fancy spins . Hit to the center of the court when possible . Watch the ball very carefully — that is true for any windy condition . Attempt to see the ball come off of your opponent ’ s paddle . Footwork is crucial . As my mixed partner said , “ Playing outside has made me a better player . I used to hate it , but I have learned to use the wind .” Attitude is everything . You may have to leave your variety of indoor shots at the gate , but you will acquire new skills and have an additional partner ( Mr . Wind ) on the court if you play it right .
The fourth type of wind is the gusting wind that changes direction . According to Diane Keller of upstate New York , this is the type of wind in her area . She said , “ You have to be constantly alert since a tailwind becomes a head- or crosswind very quickly , or the wind dies out entirely for a while .” She believes that partners need to alert each other to the changing conditions . Again , playing percentage pickleball is important under these changing conditions . You can serve and return a little higher over the net in case the ball dips . You can hit more shots down the center and let the wind work its magic . You can watch the ball closely and hit crisp volleys rather than touch shots .
What about bright sun , especially on courts that are not laid out properly ? Latitude matters . Here in Chattanooga , Tennessee , the sun is at a killer angle in April and October . If you want to take advantage of the sun , learn to lob . Lob the player who has to look into the sun . You , of course , should have on a visor and sunglasses . It helps some players to put their hand up to block the sun . Or , you can let the ball drop and play a groundstroke . Shadows can be unnerving , especially those around 4 and 5 p . m . The key here is to watch the ball very closely so that you ’ re not mishitting the shadow .
Since you can ’ t control the time you ’ re scheduled in a tournament , you need to develop the shots that take advantage of the light conditions . If you have to play under lights , it ’ s critical to watch the ball early and watch it all the way to your paddle . You can practice this so that you go into hawk or owl mode when you play under lights . It ’ s a matter of training , habit , and attitude . And , for some , maybe cataract surgery .
Sometimes there are misty conditions , making the court slick . Again , footwork is critical . Stay balanced . Move early to the ball . Set up your shot . Stay low as you move . It may be time to call the match , but if you must play , now is the time to glide rather than stand up straight .
The temperature plays an important role in the liveliness of the ball . The hard Dura 40s become even more like a rock in cold temperatures and they have a greater tendency to break . The softer Penn and Onix balls are less affected by the cold , but they too become less forgiving . When the temperature gets into the 80s and 90s the balls become much livelier , bounce higher , and float more . You definitely have to allow for temperature changes in the way you follow through on your shots . If you don ’ t exaggerate your follow-through when you ’ re using cold , hard balls , you will hit short or into the net . If you don ’ t keep the ball as long as you can on the paddle when the balls are warm and lively , they will drift up and out .
Back to basics when conditions are extreme . Of course , it ’ s good to practice under different conditions in advance so you ’ re familiar with the necessary adjustments . That means trips to Palm Springs and Fairbanks ! Fortunately , both places have good pickleball .
For what it is worth , I have played tennis on nearly every conceivable surface , grass , sand , cement , en tout cas , clay , cow dung , and leveled termite mounds . I have played in 75 mph winds , above 16,000 feet , under lights of all kinds , in freezing rain , in hot deserts , and during earthquakes . I have watched spectacular tennis under incredible conditions . It is not about the conditions , it is about the players . It is about you . It is about character and attitude . As Herodotus said , “ Character is destiny .” It is about the willingness to overcome less-than-ideal conditions and downright awful ones . It is about practice and knowledge . It is what pickleball is all about . •
Alice Tym was ranked 13th in the world for tennis in the ‘ 60s . She ’ s been named USPTA Coach of the Year and was 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 .
DECEMBER 2020 | MAGAZINE 93