INSTRUCTION By PPR ’ s Taylor H . Taylor
The Need for Speed !
OK , let ’ s be honest . For many of us , pickleball is like a drug . We are “ addicted !” Addicted to hitting that little plastic ball , addicted to the sound it makes coming off our paddles , addicted to learning and getting better , addicted to the “ social scene ” and more ! We just can ’ t help it ! However , the “ need for speed ” in the case of pickleball has quite a different meaning .
Now , of course , we see addiction to pickleball as a good and healthy thing ( note : if it becomes unhealthy , you might seek counseling ). When people first start playing , they are told about and ( mostly ) understand the value of dinking . That being said , typically , after one or two dinks , they feel … ( wait , wait , here it comes …) the need for speed ! Right ? Whether the player comes from tennis or badminton , racquetball or squash , the ability ( or patience ) to dink more than a few shots is not there . The dink is unlike any shot in the above-listed sports so our tolerance to it is low . In response , we trend toward what we do know — SPEED !
In most cases , speed is a good thing . However , in pickleball , the opposite is true . The slower the ball and the more unattackable the dink , the more successful the outcome . While we are seeing more and more speed in the current game , we are primarily seeing it after a player has leveraged his / her dink or third shot to earn a waist / chest-high ball . So how does a player effectively learn how to fight “ the urge ”?
As with any challenging situation , you must have patience and discipline to develop confidence . Therefore , the best medicine for this addiction is practice ! Many love the “ Popcorn ” drill . Wait , what ? I get to eat popcorn and play pickleball ? Not exactly , but this exercise will help satiate your appetite . Stand in the middle of the non-volley zone across the net from your practice partner , who is also in the middle of the non-volley zone ; start a dink rally trying to make the shot hit the top of the net and still land in your partner ’ s NVZ . When this happens , yell , “ Popcorn !” Play to 3 or 5 ( or whatever number suits you ) and switch directions . Once your dink tolerance is up to 20-30 shots , you will be able to intentionally construct a point and earn that opportunity for SPEED that you so desire !!
I look forward to seeing you on the courts — along with all the other addicts ! •
Taylor H . Taylor is a PPR Certified Teaching Professional and Clinician / Coach Developer , Founder and President of G . A . M . E . ( Group Activities Meaningful to Everyone ), and a USA Pickleball District Ambassador .