This is a discipline. No shortcuts. You can’ t hit what you can’ t see.
Next comes your focus on preparation. You need to take your paddle back as soon as you determine where the ball is coming. That means that your paddle goes back as you take your very first step, not when you arrive at the bounce. Better players prepare earlier than lesser players. Plain and simple. You can’ t hit what you aren’ t prepared to hit.“ Be Prepared” isn’ t just for Boy Scouts.
Move your feet. Racket sports are all about footwork. Getting in good position to hit the ball is the key to placement. If you are tired, move your feet. Your teaching pro can show you what constitutes good footwork. Essentially, it is having your feet lined up in such a way that you can transfer your weight into the ball with a consistent, linear swing. If you are off-balance, you will shank the ball rather than hit smoothly and evenly.
Now comes the drilling. Hit crosscourt forehands and backhands, working on depth. Keep the ball within a couple of feet of the baseline. Don’ t poke it, stroke it. Long and smooth. Then work on your down-the-line shots. Smooth swing. Bend your knees to put more body in the stroke. Always, always come back to basics. Watch the ball closely. Get your feet in a twinkle-toe mood. Extend your follow-through. Drill until you feel the fundamentals come together.
Do volley drills. Be a punching prizefighter. Keep the volley simple. It is a punch guided by the followthrough. Keep the volleys deep. Move your feet rather than adjust your punch. Set up for the shot rather than just reach out and hope. Good footwork produces crisp volleys.
Buy some cones or paint some water bottles that you can use for targets. It is time to practice your serve. Check out YouTube videos on serving. Take a lesson. You need to have a consistent serve that is deep. Then you will need a variety of serves as you improve. Experiment. High and deep can be very effective. Low and hard will keep your opponent back deep. Wide to the backhand opens up the court. Move the serve around. Develop a routine so that you don’ t rush. Good servers pause and plan. This shot you control. Don’ t waste it. Serve 100 balls a day.
To practice returning you need a partner. Or, by now you may have bought a ball machine. Either way, you need those targets to practice returning deep down the middle. Bend those knees. Remember why you worked on watching the ball come off the opponent’ s paddle. Now you need those skills. Develop a comfortable waiting position. Paddle well in front and ready. Weight on the balls of your feet. Ready but not tense. Purposeful.
Learn to lob. A good practice partner will lob to you, and you practice overheads. Then you lob and have her practice overheads and you lob off of her shots. The lob is essentially a carry. You lift the ball like an elevator. The overhead requires preparation. You need to take the paddle back as you begin your move backward. You must be ready when the ball descends. You need to go back to basic skills to develop a solid overhead. Footwork. Discipline. Drills.
Understand the difference between offense and defense. All shots have both sides. You have a defensive high lob, letting you get back into the court and into play. Or you hit an offensive lob to catch your opponent crowding the NVZ line too closely. Both are necessary. You must learn to know which one is appropriate in each situation. And always remember that placement beats power.
Every day you should focus on one fundamental while you are drilling or playing. Purposeful practice is the key to progress. Do not waste a minute. Pickleball is way more fun when you can use all the shots and nuances in the game.
And, finally, learn to respect your opponents. You will be a better sport and a credit to the game if you respect the hard work and diligence of other players. Help those who are just coming into the game and acknowledge those who have paid their dues. •
Alice Tym was ranked 13th in the world for tennis in the‘ 60s. She’ s been named USPTA Coach of the Year and is a USPTA Master Professional. As a 4.5 pickleball player, she won gold in Huntsman, NSGA Nationals, US Open, and USA Pickleball events around the country. Alice is an IPTPA member, SSIPA founding board member, Bainbridge Cup Originator and gold medalist in Spain, Italy, and Germany.
SPRING 2025 | MAGAZINE 17