INSTRUCTION By Sonny Tannan
What Can I Do Against Hard- Hitting Competition ?
I typically play and observe a variety of events ( rec play and tournament play ) and no matter what the skill level , there seems to be more and more hard-hitting players ( also known as bangers ). No matter where pickleball is played , this is becoming more prevalent at every level around the world .
Why is this something that seems to have so much controversy surrounding it ? Well , according to # Fansof3 , here are three rules of thought :
1 . Why do they keep hitting the ball hard ? It ’ s not using pickleball strategy to slow the game down — let ’ s win with dinks !
2 . If they can ’ t handle the heat , let ’ s just keep hitting at them as hard as possible . Besides , it ’ s more fun to hit it fast !
Can you guess which lines of thought are from a certain style of player ? Perhaps this is the best takeaway : 3 . Pickleball is a dynamic game that is always changing — why not learn how to do both ?!
If hitting the ball hard wasn ’ t effective , players would not do it . Conversely , if slowing the game down and dinking with a purpose didn ’ t work , then why would some of the best players in the world focus on this skill ? There is a lot to consider when playing against hardhitting competition , and at the end of the day , getting frustrated or anxious about it will not improve the way you play or even give you the opportunity to enjoy your pickleball experience .
Here are just a few things to think about next time you are playing .
• Let balls go out – If you see your opponent getting ready to swing away and blast a ball , consider where the ball is in relation to you . Is it above chest level or maybe even at your face ?
• Keep your shots low – Take note of the shots that you might pop up or even hit a bit too short that invite a hard-hitting opponent closer to the net .
• Check your grip on the paddle – While it can be nerve-wracking to have a ball hit hard at you , do you tense up on your paddle and grip it tighter with more tension in your hand and arm ?
Remember , it ’ s a great time to be a part of our sport as well as introduce others to join in the competition and fun . We are all learning how to improve our skills and understanding of the game , and there is certainly room for a variety of styles of play . If you want to learn more about how to bring out the best in your own play , feel free to connect with me and let ’ s get to work on enhancing your game . See you on the courts ! •
Sonny Tannan is a Team JOOLA sponsored player , PPR Clinician & Certified Teaching Professional , and USA Pickleball Ambassador .
PHOTO BY BRUCE YEUNG ; IG : @ YEUNGPHOTOGRAPHY