I hit too many pop-ups .
That ball was going wide !
MISTAKE # 4
“ I hit too many balls that are going out deep or wide .”
HOW TO FIX IT :
Paranto : “ Do a drill in which your partner purposely hits balls that are going out . Practice letting them go out .”
Rif : “ I think this is one of the most difficult things to learn in pickleball , not only for intermediate players but even advanced players . A common theme used to be ‘ above the chest let it fly ,’ but with today ’ s new carbon fiber paddles , players can get more topspin on balls that just a few years ago would go out and now stay in . Have a coach hit balls at you while you ’ re at the nonvolley zone and purposely hit balls that would be in or out . Practice looking at the player ’ s paddle angle when striking the ball . An open face will at least give you an initial indicator , but experience and deliberate practice is necessary to get better at recognizing out balls .”
Coach Mo : “ There are things you can watch for to see if a ball might go out . If your opponent ’ s contact point is below the net , it is usually going out . If your opponent is running to the ball and is halfway to the net , it is usually going out . Also know which way the wind is blowing .”
MISTAKE # 5
“ I hit too many easy put-aways out deep or wide , or into the net .”
HOW TO FIX IT :
Paranto : “ Quit hitting ‘ hero shots .’ By going for lines , you hit many easy winners out and bail out your opponents . Most of the time I see players going for lines when they have a high ball and then they miss it wide . This is a high-risk shot . The better shot would be to hit the high balls down at the feet or between the opponents . Don ’ t take high-risk , low-reward shots .”
Rif : “ The most common reason for this is overswinging and trying to hit the ball too hard for a winner . Placement over power is always key in pickleball . Try shortening the stroke and practice put-aways with cones 2 feet inside the baselines and sidelines .”
Coach Mo : “ You should not be running at the point of contact of your opponent ’ s shot . You will make more unforced errors if you do not split-step . Only hit the ball as fast as you can be accurate and consistent . Have someone feed balls to you and hit to their feet .”
Some instructors advise 3.5 players who have a seemingly easy put-away to imagine that the court is 2 feet shorter and 2 feet narrower , thus giving themselves room for error .
In recreational games between 3.5 players and below , Coach Mo says you should try to hit 80 percent of your shots down the middle and 20 percent angle shots . The best shot , of course , is at your opponent ’ s feet . Coach Mo goes a step further , saying it ’ s even better if you can hit it at the backhand heel — if your opponent is a right-handed player , try to hit your shot at the left heel . •
Matthew Schwartz spent 40 years in television news and won more than 200 awards , including four Emmys and four Edward R . Murrow awards for investigative reporting . His 2020 memoir , “ Confessions of an Investigative Reporter ,” was an Amazon # 1 bestseller . He writes a weekly blog for Hudef Sport and plays pickleball every day .
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024 | MAGAZINE 25