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INSTRUCTION by ALICE TYM
WORKING HARD BUT GOING NOWHERE?
Are you frustrated? Working hard but not getting better? Practicing but your game is stagnant? I have a plan for you.
Usually, your problem stems from not watching the ball closely. Sometimes it is that your game advances in bits and pieces and does not always mesh. You get stale. You hit harder but then, whoops, so does your opponent. Where do you turn to get out of the Scylla and Charybdis of the pickleball doldrums?
Here are some blasé breakers and doldrums crushers.
LEARN A NEW SHOT
Ditch the doldrums by choosing a new shot to incorporate into your game. If possible, ask a pro for advice:“ What shot could I work on to improve my arsenal?” You need to be committed to do the work. The good news is that learning a new shot will distract you from your current slump.
Let’ s say you want to add a sharp-angle crosscourt backhand to your collection of shots. You want to pull your opponents off the court and create an opening in doubles. Or you are a singles player looking to run your opponent off the court so wide that she must cover more court and may give you an opportunity to hit completely out of her reach.
Adding a new shot requires the ability to focus. Your timing requires precision. You must watch the ball closer, move your feet earlier, take your paddle back sooner, set your feet, contact the ball earlier to make the sharper angles.
Voila … Your game just got better, and you weren’ t even trying to improve your forehand. You were working on your backhand, but things started to fall into place. That stale game you had is now exciting. This sharp-angle backhand opens new opportunities to take the ball early. Pickleball suddenly became fun again.
Some shots you might consider adding:
• chip-and-charge backhand
• deep, high slice backhand lob
• deep topspin forehand lob( really deep)
• drop volley
NEW EQUIPMENT
When in the pickleball doldrums, we tend to beat ourselves up.“ It’ s not the paddle,” we say. But maybe it is …
Maybe a new paddle, or edge tape, or a regrip will help you get out of the dumps. A nice tacky grip just feels good. Now you realize that it was the grip’ s fault all along! Hey, if it works, it works.
Sometimes new equipment brings about awareness that you did not have before. Start shopping. There are lots of great paddles out there.
FOCUS ON ONE ASPECT
Another tactic is to select one aspect of your game, one item of muscle memory, and fine-tune it. I think drills on the wall work well with this.
Let’ s say your timing is off. Your shots just aren’ t crisp like they should be. So, select one component, such as watching the ball. Commit yourself to riveting your eyeballs on the ball when you hit against the wall. Do drills, play, hit the ball back precisely into the hand of your opponent in between points, hit the ball precisely to the next-court guy who mishit it onto your court.
Watch the ball when you throw it to your dog or kick a soccer ball to your kid.
Be aware and focus on the ball. It will pull you out of the pickleball funk. Trust me.
Some other aspects you might try include accentuating your follow-throughs, staying low throughout the shot, keeping your head down so that
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