INSTRUCTION by PPR ’ s SUZEE ANDERSON
GAIN THE COMPETITIVE EDGE BY SEEING THE COURT OFFENSIVELY Are you tired of constantly reacting to your opponent ’ s moves on the pickleball court ? Do you want to be the one in the driver ’ s seat , dictating the flow of the game and building points in your favor ? To achieve this , it ’ s crucial to develop a more offensive mindset and learn to see the court in a way that allows you to seize opportunities and take control . In this article , we ’ ll explore three key elements to focus on : Open Court , Off-Balance Opponents , and Opportunity Balls .
Pickleball is a dynamic and strategic sport that requires not only physical agility but also a sharp tactical mind . When you step onto the pickleball court , you ’ re not just swinging a paddle at a ball ; you ’ re orchestrating a well-thought-out plan to secure points for yourself or your team . To be in the driver ’ s seat , you need to train your brain to recognize critical information and process it quickly and automatically . To begin , let ’ s explore a part of your brain that filters important information and how it can help you see the court offensively , giving you a competitive edge .
Your Brain ’ s Information Filter
The Reticular Activating System ( RAS ) is your brain ’ s filter . The RAS works when you set an intention and inform your brain that this intention is important . It helps filter and prioritize information that aligns with that intention . This is a powerful concept that can be applied not only to pickleball but to many aspects of life . A great example is when you are looking to buy a specific car and suddenly you start seeing that exact model everywhere you drive . The world hasn ’ t produced more of those cars because you want one ; you ’ ve simply informed your brain that it ’ s important to you , and now you notice it everywhere you go .
In pickleball , there are three fundamental elements that you want to tell your brain are critically important to see : Open Court , Off-Balance Opponents , and Opportunity Balls .
1 . Open Court – The Holy Grail
Open court refers to any space on the court that is unguarded by your opponents . It can exist between players , behind them , or , interestingly , in front of them if one player is positioned closer to the net than the other or if both players are back . Your primary goal should be to create and capitalize on open court opportunities . To achieve this , you must be adept at moving your opponents around , manipulating them into unfavorable positions . Open court is the optimal destination for your shots , and you must train your brain to prioritize both seeing and creating it .
2 . Off-Balance Opponents – The Vulnerable Targets
The next crucial element you should actively search for on the court is off-balance opponents . These are your prime targets to hit the ball . Keep an eye on players who are leaning , stretching , scrambling , and generally in a state of vulnerability . Any player under duress is a great target because that person is more likely to make a mistake or pop up an easy ball for you to attack . Often , players make the mistake of switching targets just when they ’ ve got one opponent off-balance . Instead , continue applying pressure to the player who is struggling to maintain equilibrium . To create this situation , again , the answer is to move your opponents around the court strategically .
3 . Opportunity Balls – Seizing the Moment
Opportunity balls are those balls with the ideal height that allow you to apply pressure on your opponents . Speed-ups , offensive lobs , and put-aways are great
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