An interview with Claudia
Jack Olmstead Digital Reporter and Mary Solomon Editor in Chief for Pickleball CPR Drills - Coaching Pickleball Readiness.
Mary and Claudia discuss the aspects of the book in this introduction video on how having a purpose to practice make a difference.
Mary and Claudia discuss the aspects of the book in this introduction video on how having a purpose to practice make a difference.
|
The Foundation of a Sport - FOOTWORK
What is the first thing you should learn when you take a beginner clinic and what is one of the most important skills that coaches should be emphasizing to athletes in almost every sport? The answer to this is FOOTWORK. Footwork is the foundation to sports played across the athletic world. Proper footwork will give the performer balance and power for better execution as well as optimal positioning for the accuracy of shot selection. I am just saying here, this should get one to start to think about what their feet are doing or not doing when it comes to playing pickleball at the line or anywhere on the court. Are you lunging for most shots out of your reach at the “kitchen-line”, regularly hitting off balance and having to flick your wrist to attempt to get the ball back in play or worse missing that angled shot hit toward the sideline? Are your feet so wide that you cannot stand up after a shot or is your movement from the baseline to the “kitchen-line” cumbersome or faulty often hitting the ball in a jammed or awkward position? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then your footwork may need some intensive overhauling. It is easily noted that if your feet are in balance your weight will be stable for a stronger execution of stroke contact. When your center of gravity is balanced over well-placed footwork positioning the outcome of skill performance is enhanced. Observing a skilled player in any sport we often say, “they make that look so easy.” The reason is not that they just practice the stroke, throw, hit, or the catch of their sport it is highly likely they work on moving their feet is specific sport related drills to better position themselves to do the job. Recently while doing some additional research on footwork I reviewed several different sports to see the similarities they may have with each other. From Boxing, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, and to the masters of Martial Arts, it is clear that the repetition of ladder work, dot workouts, cone, and low hurdle agility training, as well as simple no equipment line jumps are the staple of most all athletic activity. It is no wonder that the highly skilled athlete makes the nearly impossible look so easy. Just take time for yourself to watch the myriad of online videos that cover footwork in any sport. From our foundation of Table Tennis, Badminton, and Tennis itself you can find a wealth of informative videos that can guide you on the importance of footwork. Pickleball is no different as it uses a set of foot skills that crosses over to all these sports and more. So, if your being coached or attend a clinic that does not cover footwork at the very beginning of the session or not at all, you should be asking yourself “why am I here and what am I paying for?” when our feet are in position the shot will be better played. Some of the basics that should be covered is the basic ready position stance, slide steps, crossover step, retreat or drop steps, and split steps. Some coaches may have unique and catchy names for some of these moves to help you remember them but when it comes down to it, they are all the same and footwork is the foundation of all sports. So next time you go out to the courts to warmup, instead of just dinking across the net, take a few minutes to do some dynamic stretching to warm the muscles up and incorporate some simple quick step footwork using the end or side lines to get your feet prepared for those quick “kitchen line” moves. Stay tuned for some TABATA style workout routines that I am developing that you can do in just a four-minutes to get your body moving and bring better flow of movement to your game and get an intense aerobic workout in. No One To Practice With?
During these stressful days of the COVID-19 pandemic I first want to wish all of you and your families good health and safe keeping. Those of you who are working in as first responders and the medical professions are the heroes of our times. I wish to you the protection and blessing to overcome the trials you may be facing. For those of you who are avid pickleball players, I know many of you are struggling with the thoughts of to play or not to play. I can only hope you can make the best choices for you and your family. This is something we are all in together and we need to help and protect ourselves as well as the ones we care about and love. I understand that many players are worried on how they will manage to maintain or improve on their skills and play level. As a coach I continue to tell my players that there are more ways to practice and improve when you don’t have the competition. One very valuable way is through continued study of how the game is played. Watching video of those you admire in play and style is one of the easiest. Sometimes we don’t take the time to watch what the best really do we just watch the outcome. Take some time to watch the strokes, the placement, the footwork of those players. Break it down to its finest components and replay what you see. Analyze the approach to the outcome of the motion, stroke and delivery of the ball. Do this with each skill. If you have video of yourself, I encourage you to do that with your own skills. If you need assistance, I offer you my services to do short stroke, play and skill analysis of that video. Take time to view the good and bad. Learn from your mistakes and take them to a new level of improvement. If you don’t know what you are doing wrong, you can’t correct it. Even with all this practice still is the best way. How do I practice if I can’t play or have no one to play with on the court? COVID-19 or NOT self-practice has been around for centuries. Hitting balls to a wall has been around since balls were able to bounce back. My book PickleballCPR Drills book has such drills in it. Doing these drills over and over with or without a partner will improve your eye hand coordination and will continue to help grow and or maintain muscle memory. One of my other favorite drills to tell players is to visualize the action without a ball. The brain doesn’t know the difference between fantasy and reality, right? Studies show that the visualization exercises sharpen skills just as well. Take time to relax and get your brain into the right mindset and ‘feel’ the action of the movements. See yourself in slow motion taking the back swing and ‘feeling’ the action all the way through the stroke. Feel the contact of the ball and see the outcome. There are a multitude of ways to practice and improve on your game alone. Be creative and expand on the methods you like the most. You’ll be like a kid again once you start experimenting with ways to practice alone or with a ‘safe’ partner during these hectic days. Be proactive to help stop the spread of this virus and be proactive in your personal growth as a person, player and family member. |
Are they helping or hurting your game?
I find that many people who are somewhat veteran players are so excited to share the game they want to help others with all they know. AWESOME right? Now they want to impart all the knowledge they possess about the game with everyone they play with. They believe that they are skilled enough to teach all the parts of the game to their partner on the court. Well, they may not be doing anyone a good service. I say there comes a point when too much is too much. Many of my clients tell me stories of players who have been playing for a while and are skilled at many parts of the game and want to share every nugget of information with them and be the “coach” on and off the court. They tell me that these players, who may mean well, are ALWAYS giving tips, skill, and game advice to them without - 1) ever asking if they want the advice, 2) they have no actual teaching ability or 3) the information is not always the correct or appropriate advice for that players skill level. Sure, many time its great advice but many times it’s not always the right strategy for the skill level that most beginners and/or intermediate players can handle. Advice is great when it’s the right time and place. When they tell me what this “on court coach” said to them during play, I just shake my head saying to myself “what did they say?” or “why are they coaching and not just playing?” But here’s the thing and this is my opinion. If you are taking lessons from a private qualified coach or instructor and you are paying them for their advice and expertise listen to them and work on what you are paying for. Like the ole saying goes “everyone has one” and that’s an opinion I’m talking about, all advice is not always the right advice and not all advice is welcome. I ask you to be cautious when you meet people on the court who seem to think they are the expert or the “know it all” who says this is what the pros do, and this is what I do, and this is how it should be done. Well, my friends, not everyone is a pro, and they may never aspire to be one. Not everyone is as young or as agile as a pro or possibly as the player giving advice either. For the most part this is recreational play where it happens, and most players just want to play the game with their friends and enjoy their style of play. If they want advice and want to go to a new level of strategy, they will seek it from a source they trust. I must also say here there are some great instructors online now a days and they have great information but at the same time as some of the strategies they may be teaching are awesome, many of the players who are watching may just not be at that level of play, yet! Know your level and know what you can or can't do and be sure you are practicing these specific skills as well. Sure, many new or intermediate players want to learn skills and strategies at some point but not every moment on the court with someone who may or may not be giving the right information. There is a fine line sometimes with how to handle this. I’ve been a teacher of physical activity my whole career and it’s hard not to give advice to those who are not playing strategic pickleball or playing like I would hope they would play. But I bite my tongue and just coach myself. LOL, I’m the one who coaches herself out loud, but I am talking to myself not my partner. If they are listening, then they may learn something, but I am not coaching them on the court. Now if someone asks and says, “hey if you have any advice please tell me”, or “what am I doing wrong”, or “what would be the right thing to do here.” If this happens I try to ask them back, are you sure you want me to tell you what I see. Then, I’ll share my knowledge and opinion freely. Now after the game is over, if it’s something I really think they would benefit from, I ask them “if you ever want any tips or want me to share what I think may help you let me know.” Or I’ll say something to the effect of “do you mind if I share a tip with you about something I observed?” I hope never to push my teaching on someone who is having fun and enjoying the game at their level or speed. It’s not for me to correct them all the time like some people feel they need to do. The remedy First, if someone is giving you unsolicited advise you can kindly say “thanks and I appreciate your thoughts, but I’m getting lesson and I’m working on what I have been coached to do.” That may send them the message that you are taking pride in what you are doing and that you don’t want their instruction. Or they may put their nose up and go the other way and say something snide back to you like “your coach is wrong and I’m right.” Next, you can thank them as we should always do as a gracious sportsperson and accept the advice and if it valid for your style of play take it or you can always just ignore it. And you know what happens if you ignore it… it keeps coming at you until you put the brakes on it. Sometimes it just doesn't go away. These individuals, although they really mean well, will continue to advise you until you have to say something. And you don’t want any drama to start so maybe you can say politely “really, thanks but I would appreciate not getting any more tips, I’m working on my game.” I’m sure there may be a better way of saying that but sometimes you just must be blunt. Seriously most of these “on court recreational coaches” mean well and they just want you to know what they know or have learned. It's been my experience for the past 10+ years in pickleball and beyond in many other sports I’ve played or coached, there are just people who want to share their thoughts and opinions. I say “nip it in the bud” don’t let that person tell you information that you are not comfortable with or know that they are wrong for a fact. It’s not worth the confrontation or drama, you are there to just play the game, practice what you’ve been coached, and have some fun. So be gentle but be firm and let them know you appreciate their efforts but you’re paying someone to teach you. If you trust that personal coach, then you need to follow their recommendations. For the “on court coach” keep promoting the game and share your knowledge but be sure the receiver wants the information from you. We know you mean well, we know you may have great information but be sure those you share with are comfortable with you sharing it with them. Don’t take it personally if they don’t want it from you just “let it go” and enjoy the game and the people you are with. If you were never trained to be professional teacher or don’t have the credentials backing and you are really wanting to teach the game, investigate into getting a pickleball teaching certification. There are several programs out there. Just be sure to research which one will serve you best and which one will give you support when you finish. Or find someone who can mentor you if they are willing. You love the game, and you enjoy the people you play with, but they may not want the information you have to share. We are all at different levels and we all may play different styles. Find the group that fits your playing style and enjoy the game to the fullest. Don’t be coach if no one asks and be kind to those who want to give advice. Just say “thanks, I just want to move and play.” |
|
Let's talk!
When it comes to communication many of us have resolved to a non-conflicting way by using a techie device to communicate what our needs and wants may be. Thus, leaving the laryngeal voice box on the sideline for the ever so social atmosphere of the pickleball societal chatter. But communication is vital to the play action on the court and any coaching off the court instruction during time-outs or between games. Unless you’re playing singles, your doubles partner should know what you see, hear, feel, want or need during a game. In sports when multiple players are on the playing field it is called a TEAM. Teams need to communicate to each other what is going on before, during and after an action. This is crucial to the evolution of the game as well as the best practices of success. Any “TEAM” from amateur to professional, with two or even eleven players on the field of play you will always hear someone communicating what is going on. So, with that being said, are you communicating with your partner? Pickleball like any other sport is about communicating to your partner. “Mine, yours, me, you, out, bounce, watch out, play it” are just some of the quick words that you should be blurting out to communicate what you see or observe. Not only during the action of a game but before the match, you and your partner should have a strategy that you both will be working on or towards to gain a successful outcome. Without a plan or path, where are you going? It doesn't have to be a tourney game either. Recreational play is more common than tournament play and the majority of pickleball is played at the recreational level. You most likely know the people you are playing with and know what their tendencies are anyway. Using that information, you should have a plan and as I stress and say in PickleballCPR Drills, have a purpose with your shot as well as with what you're about to do. It doesn't have to be a long discussion on super specific details, just a quick comment or strategy to make the game work more smoothly as a team should. Having a simple game plan will get your team on the same page and have a purposeful strategy to shoot for. Some possible examples of communication may sound like this: Pregame: “Hey, let's play Ben's backhand on the serve” “I'm going slow and easy on the return shots today I'm a little stiff and slower today.” “I've got the middle on my forehand side” “Be sure to cover the line on Jane, she likes to drive it when she has the forehand sideline available.” During the game observations: “Jack's poaching the middle, let's set them up and look for him out of position.” “Bob's all over the place today, let's keep him off balance.” “Rhonda likes to lob a lot, be ready to cover the back door” Using the Pickleball CPR grid system to communicate is an ideal way to quickly identify location. Get to know the basic PB9 Grid. Using the location numbers (1-9) a quick conversation could sound like: "Jon is weak at zone 3 at the NVZ. Keep working him to the sideline" "Emily is overplaying zone 8. look for a 7 shot." "Serve to Zone 9 backhand." The possibilities are endless when you communicate effectively with your partner. Post-game review in possible “best of” matches. “They are slow getting to the NVZ after we push them back, let's look for the angles and keep them deep” “Jack's crossing over in his footwork and he's off balance, look for it and work him” “Sue’s drop shot is hanging high, look for the opportunity to drive it back.” “Watch for Mary's poaching the middle when she's on the even court.” Thousands of situations and just as many conversations can be heard, but the point is that you should be talking with your partner, at all times. Information is powerful! Having it and knowing what to do with it can give you the edge. Now you don't have to be a play-by-play announcer on the court, but you can say things to your partner that will make the team stronger. I shouldn't assume, but most people like to play games and to win. Not at all costs I hope but there will be a winner and loser. Winning is more fun and to get there we can't do it in silence. Communicating with your voice, will get you there that much faster. Texting is not the option here. Even if you us sign language you can communicate something to your partner that will be meaningful and possibly help the outcome of your game plan. Many regular playing partners will use signals for where or how to serve the ball. Using this technique to possibly set up a poaching situation and exploit the opponent's weakness are some examples. Having both members of the double team on the same page of the playbook will benefit the games finish. I've heard many people say, “I can't talk while I'm playing,” or “why are you yelling at me?” That one always gets me. I am excitable and energized when playing and may sound like I'm yelling but I assure you it's pure excitement. I tell them “I'm not yelling at you I'm letting you know what I see,” You'll know when I'm yelling AT you.” LOL! I personally can't say I understand them due to my experiences, but I try to encourage people to try and communicate to their partners as they play. If you're going to succeed you're going to need to talk. Every good relationship will have good communication. So, next time you're on the court ready to start, add the weapon of communication in your arsenal of weapons. You may find that talking on the court with your partner may be the beginning of a new relationship. Is the game getting faster??Things to pay attention to this year in pickleball is that the game seems to be getting faster at the higher levels with harder drives and faster paced action as players move to the NVZ. Not to mention the young blood that is sweeping the courts. But mind you, the soft game is not disappearing and is still a vital part of control at the net. But knowing who is playing on the other side of the net is important. Are they fast, slow, agile, paddle skilled or not? Emulation of the top players and being a “want-to-be” in the mind of an aging athlete is sometimes hard to do. You must find your game, play to your strengths and with some strategies that will enhance your game. Trying to be the yester year 30-year-old in the body of a double knee replacement 58+ year-old is a grand feat. But success can be had if you play smarter and not always harder. As you watch the games next month look for strategies in the second shot and how it’s played against the serving team. Is it long and low with speed and pace or is it slowly lofted and controlled? How quickly are they getting to the net on these shots? Where are they returning the second shot ball? To the middle, the backhands or to a specific place or person? Be a student of the game. Learn from the top players and see if you can figure out what the purpose of their second shot may be. And don’t just watch the top-level pros find games that mimic your age group to help you compare at your level. Again, we are not all 20-40-year-old athletes anymore. For those of you who are?? Well bless your hearts and go for the gusto while you can and enjoy the journey. So to continue. Returning a ball with speed and pace on the ball, your double knee replacement or slow-moving body may not get to the NVZ line to establish position and you may get caught in what I call Zone B the mid-court or what is known as no man’s land and you may not regroup fast enough. If you’re not at the net quick enough to block a hard-hit 3rd shot drive, the serving team may have you pinned in the mid to backcourt. That’s if their third shot is low fast and back to you, the slow-moving returning defender. Mind you there are a ton of scenarios but let’s just say no one is poaching and you, the returner, are stuck. But… With a slow well placed lofted second shot return to the serving team, you the slower moving defender, will have more time to get to the net and establish net presence. Now if speed in your legs is not an issue than you have choices, don’t you? Either way, yes you want to get to the net but be sure your second shot placement is a smart one that will get you there safely and with control. So now the third shot is coming back. Was it a baseline Zone A return to the serving team or a short Zone B in the mid-court return of service? If it is a 3rd shot return from deep Zone A you may almost guess, in a well-established 3.5+ player, that it will be a drop shot to help them gain NVZ control as well. A hard-hit return by the serving team from their deep Zone A backcourt may set them up for failure. As the defending team establishes the “wall,” at the NVZ on the return, it will either keep the serving team back with punch blocks or drives that will give them tons of options as the serving teams court is now wide open for attack. If the second shot return is short into Zone B, the mid-court, to the serving team?...... Watch out! A hard drive may be in the offensive play book and even a well-established “wall” may not be strong enough to withstand the third shot attack. Step back, get your paddle up and get ready to defend the incoming missiles. I’ll leave you with that. Just watch and enjoy the Nationals while being a student of the game and your game will improve with observation.Picking a Coach
When it's time to pick a coach be sure they are knowledgeable and understand not only the strategies, strokes and how to hit a pickleball but find someone that has your personal needs and interests in mind. There are a lot of people who are good even great teachers and can play themselves out of a shoebox. And there are a lot of people who have great skills and a lot who have to work hard to develop good skill. So when it comes to picking a coach, pick someone that will meet your needs, has your interests in mind and develops the lesson around you. Not just a canned clinic type session that everyone gets the same drills and skills no matter what because that's the progression the book says I should do. This is a personalized lesson plan that should fit YOU! It is my belief that not all teacher/coaches need to be 5.0 players and that not all 5.0 players are good coaches. Some people are blessed with both but most have one or more of the other. Yes, basics are basics and should ALWAYS be a part of the lesson. But every player is different and every player cannot fit one mold. Your coach should tailor your lesson to fit YOU!. Having a certification for coaching is a good start but again, be sure they are a right fit for you. I am not taking away anything from any coaching certification program but just know who you are putting your trust in. Anyone can pay money for or print a piece of paper that states you can coach now. But coaching is a skill and a talent just like any profession. What are that person's actual credentials, background, and experiences in teaching and getting their point across to you? Again, just be sure the credentials meet your expectations. It's your dime! Many coaches may be good players but certainly, not all players are good coaches. In my athletic career from childhood to college some of my best sports teacher/coaches had minimal success as an actual player but WOW! could they coach. Breaking down a skill with task analysis and magnify the good the bad and the ugly. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when deciding to take a lesson with or from a coach. CHECKLIST for picking a coach.
You and your chosen mentor should work on skills that will enhance your style and improve your play. Find the right coach and give them time to help you. If you don't feel the fit then it's time to quit, and move on. Best of luck and keep drilling. Interpretation of Skill LevelDivisions and Level of Play
Where do I fit in? Many people ask me how do I know my level of play and how do I get a rating? The first place to look is on the USAPickleball.org Ratings Descriptions. Next, you must honestly evaluate yourself and make a judgment of where you stand. I personally believe that if you have athletic ability, played sports in your past especially if you have had racket or paddle sports background you would most likely start in the 2.5 to 3.0 range or better. But NOT always true. Then, of course, you must still be capable of demonstrating the skills within the designated rating consistently. One must also consider who they are regularly playing with on the court. If you are playing with an experienced player, ask yourself honestly “how much of the game are you setting up and/or putting away shot compared to your partner?” If they are doing most of the work and your team is winning, are you the same as they are skill wise? Or are you winning because your partner is doing more of the share shots then you? You should honestly, critique this point. If they are doing most of the work and you are winning points you stand to be in a better skill level. Mind you, YES you want to have a partner who is good and will compliment you but is it fair to say you are their level, and rate yourself higher due to this fact? With all things being equal and understanding the level of your opponent as well as your partner, one must put into play a system of rating that is equal for all. After playing and watching a tremendous amount of pickleball through video and personally experience, one must understand that ratings are somewhat subjective to the observer as well. But with that being said, a 4.0 self-rated LOCAL player in a local non-sanctioned tournament “may” be somewhat different than the 4.0 rated TOURNAMENT sanctioned player. Local tournaments bring in the local flavor of players. With NO disrespect, these players have well-known styles and have played in levels only exposed to in the local area. Players who travel outside of the local region find a “flavor” of player that is in most cases are much different and varied in styles than what they are accustom too in their local settings. Meaning, some communities are the “banger” style and play mini tennis and have very little soft game at the net play. Which in some areas works but when faced with players who have developed the “block” and skill to defend or manipulate the banger at the net and can dominate the kitchen line, the “banger” will soon find that this style of play is futile to continue when forced to stay at the baseline or they are on the run to cover the drops at the net as well as the extreme cross court attacks. So to try to answer the question of “what is my level of play?” In my opinion in the past I have made a simple personal explanation, that goes something like this: 1.0-2.0 – You are a totally new player to the game and/or paddle-racket sports activity or are new to athletic activity altogether. The majority of your shots are defensive working to just get the ball over the net and keep it in play. You are still developing a consistent ground stroke from the end line with both the forehand and backhand strokes. You are aware of, but lack the “touch” of the soft net game nor do you possess a purposeful third shot game strategy. Sparring at the net in fast rallies are uncomfortable to you and they may be lost more than they are won. Initiation of the soft net dinking game on your own is minimal unless it was an “accidental/lucky” short shot over the net. You would much rather be back off the kitchen line when the opponent begins this soft game battle and/or, you retreat quickly once the ball has been returned to the opponent. You are working to understand all the rules of the game. Your demonstration of the soft net dinking game or non-volley zone presences is less than 50% of your gameplay. 2.5-3.0 – You demonstrate the forehand and backhand strokes consistently from the baseline and can execute the occasional third shot drop strategies with purposeful placement. Your team court awareness is not distinctively defined. Movement from backcourt to forecourt with your partner is paired and/or consistently unified between 40%-60% of the game. The percentage of your shot selections are random or are still more defensive maneuvers rather than purposeful offensive attacks. Sparring at the net in fast rallies is not uncomfortable but still may be lost more than they are won. You understand and implement the rules of the game with little error. Your demonstration of the soft net dinking game or non-volley zone presences is apparent approx. in 60% of your game or less. 3.5-4.0 - You have a consistent end line ground stroke in both the forehand and backhand. Demonstration of a third shot attack strategy is regularly apparent and with a purposeful placement of attack. You are keenly aware of your partner's position on the court and your movements from backcourt to forecourt with your partner is unified more often than not. Team play and shot selection are with resolution and you work to set up offensive attacks for you and your partners “kill” shot. Sparring at the net in fast paced rallies is not uncomfortable and you are patient and attack when opportunities present themselves. You have an understanding and demonstrate knowledge of all the game rules. The percentage of your shot making selection has a purpose with offensive shot direction and your demonstration of the soft net dinking game or non-volley zone presences is 60 -70% of your gameplay. 4.5-5.0 – You have a consistent end line to kitchen game from movement using a unified communication with your partner to having well-defined ground strokes from all positions on the court with both forehand and backhand skills. You consistently use strategies on the third shot attack ball placement, demonstrating soft or power attacks equally. You show patience at the net with your shot selection working to set your team up for a “kill” shot with direction and a purposeful attack to your opponent’s weaknesses. You consistently demonstrate planned strategies starting from the service selection throughout the rally or game and implementing various skills when appropriate including but not limited to – spins, lobs, and player switches. You have a complete understanding of the game rules. Your demonstration of the soft net dinking game or non-volley zone presences is well defined at the net approx. in 80% or more of your game. Special Thanks and CreditsI just want to thank not only those who take lessons from me as I believe they are getting quality instruction with an easy method of learning the game. You all are amazing and improving every day. And a BIG thanks to those who have helped me along the way through their support and encouragement when I started this PickleballCPR project. It's been many years of fun and learning. I have met thousands of new people who have blessed my life with wonderful friendships through this amazing sport of pickleball.
Building and maintaining a website takes time and a lot of learning and research to stay current, but thanks to the wealth of information out there now on the web, it's been an eventful experience. Below are credits that go out to talents artist who have in someway helped this website or projects become realities. If you have a chance or need royalty free music check out Pixabay. It's filled with amazing artist. So, thank you to all who have blessed my life and are enjoying pickleball through my classes. May you all be safe, happy and healthy. Claudia Music by John_Kensy_Music from Pixabay
Music by HarumachiMusic from Pixabay
Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay
Music by NaturesEye from Pixabay
|
You vs THE MACHINE
called SIMON It starts with a click of a button, the hum of a motor, a drop into the shoot sound that indicates the ball is out and delivered. The yellow 'holy' ball of the game, the pickleball. It's just you, your paddle and the ball verse the machine. That bead of sweat dripping down your brow with your heart pounding as you see it getting closer. Your plan of attack is the dreaded 'Third Shot Short' to Zone d2 or just over the middle of the lowest part of the net to your opponents NVZ. The ball rises from the mouth of the steel USA made SIMON. You know he is relentless and has no mercy. Ball after ball after ball. He never stops sending them towards you. It's as if he were saying "Take this and see what you can do with it." You are standing in the odd court in Zone A in the backcourt. You see the direction and recognize the shot will be to your forehand As it ascends from the jaws of SIMON to clears the net. Your body is prepped and positioned in a split step and 'SET' to hit your return. Squaring to the point of contact, you watch the ball as it bounces to its apex. Your head down and your focus is in front of your paddle. Squeezing the paddle handle with a firm but yet gentle control, you make contact. Shoulders and jaw are soft, legs and feet are flexed and ready to move and assist in the loft of the ball. The paddle arm drops down low to meet the ball just below its equator or at the four to five o'clock position on the ball. A firm and smooth push forward motion with the heel of your hand and the ball is caressed upward in a steadily rising arc back towards the net from which it came. You watch the unwavering flight as it rises to its peak four feet from the net. From here the ball slows while gravity does its magic and it begins to descend inches above the white tape down toward the opponents non-volley zone. Success! You've done it. Now center up and do it again! and again! and again! Until SIMON's belly has emptied his 120+ "holey" balls upon you. Practice only make you better. So get to the practice court this week. 
Machine or Partner
All is fair in love and war but if you have to choose between a partner or a machine. Well, it depends on what you looking for. Machines give us relentless repetition with minimal deviation. The machine gives a generally consistent delivery of a ball through the shoot. Consistent speed, height, angle and trajectory. It's great for working on a skill that needs to develop muscle memory. For instance, you can set a machine like SIMON up with its 30-degree dink ramp set for low cross court dinks. Using a slower speed you can effectively get consistent cross court dinks over and over and over. Relatively in the same spot, same height, and same angle. Footwork and stroke muscle memory is achieved by repetition along with shot execution. The machine is tireless and hundreds of the same shots can be done until mastered, exhaustion or in some cases frustration if technique and form are issues. You'll need to seek assistance from someone who can help in this case. But if you are looking for variety in shot placement, strategic shot placement against a moving target you'll need a partner or a moving rabbit from the shooting gallery. The benefits of a partner will give you the opportunity to watch the movement and foot placements of your opponent. This visual stimulus gives you the attacker, a perspective of their personal defensive/offensive strategies as they receive and return the ball to you to consider for practice. Crossover stepping is good footwork when used correctly, but getting "caught" in a crossover step and returning a ball back too high can be dangerous. This "caught" position leaves that player vulnerable to a return shot right back at them to their now exposed opposite side. A returnable ball yes, but very difficult if their paddle is not in a good position or angle. A result will be a weak return into the net or an errant lofted ball the will be a certain kill shot in return. So practicing with a partner is also a crucial element of practicing. Machines are very useful for repetition and stroke enhance and more. Partners are very useful for more movement strategies and putting the "English" on the ball. Both are great and have benefits. If you lucky to know someone to partner with or has a machine, I suggest you become fast friends or offer to split the costs or rent the time. Or maybe if you have a coach who has written a book of drills using the likes of partners or a SIMON you can hook up with them.(cough, cough) In any case, a wall is a great partner too. It never talks back it never shuts off and it's just you and the wall. Hit it low, hit it high, hit it soft, hit it fast it always comes back if you hit it just right. Get your game analyzed. Find out how.
Hitting the Return of ServiceWhen returning the second shot, return of serve or even at that the third shot you always have options.
On the second shot or return of service, you can hit long, low and hard to the serving team, long slow and a higher lob or a short shot drop. But before you do any of those analyze your options. Here are a few choices and thoughts to consider. 1. If you hit it long low and hard, you should be thinking hit to a backhand, or to the middle RED ZONE at the service "T." Also against a less agile player, you may consider hitting directly to the body and/or a one-hop shot to their feet and last but not least to the weakest player who may have difficulty with most any shot. With this fast-paced attack, the less skilled player will have difficulty returning the third shot drop back to your NVZ. This variation and the fast-paced ball may surprise the serving team. Again, that's if you are a consistent slow-pace returner. Catching the serving team off guard and changing your expected pattern will always keep them guessing. Remember, the faster you give the opponent the ball the faster it may be returned to you as well. The fast return from you also may hinder your footwork as you try to move to the NVZ to set up the defensive wall. If you pinch the middle or service line as you move forward a line drive down the sideline will be difficult to get and an easy winner. So if you want to return hard and fast you better be moving fast to the net to gain NVZ position. Now.. Think about this! If you give the serving team the ball quickly and start running to the NVZ, who's covering the return lob shot? IF the serving team sees you attacking quickly after the hard drive, they may throw a wrench into the mix and send a high lob deep to your court. A well-placed lob, in this case, will certainly be a surprise to you as your momentum is moving forward. 2. If you hit the long slow-paced higher lob type return to the "waiting" serving team, you may disrupt their patience. Bangers want to bang and work fast. Many former tennis players have a tough time with this waiting for the ball to bounce on the two-bounce rule. They rush their shot and quiet frequently error if they are lower level skilled pickleball player. Now the serving team that delivers the third-shot drop may not mind it so much but the bounce may be higher and catching it at the right spot may be awkward for some to handle. This slower ball forces the opponent to pause and wait until it bounces. Very frustrating to many especially the banger type. BUT, the big advantage to you is that you can get to the net that much quicker. Read a book or have a conversation with your partner, LOL, just kidding but if you are less mobile, slow on the footwork to the net this may be the best advantage for you to get to the net and in the ready position. 3. Dropping the second shot short may be a great way to change the pace when returning to the serving team but be sure to know their skill level. Bringing a fleet-footed player to the net that much quicker may just lose you the rally if you can't match up with them. A drop shot short return is inviting the serving team to the NVZ and that may not be what you want to do if they can get there and be productive. Yes, use it if you believe they will not match up, you want to experiment with some fun or you know their footwork tendencies. Just be cautious and be forewarned that it may not be the wisest of choices. 
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR GAME
Did you make your resolution to improve your game? While sitting and chatting on the sideline is fun when the games are going on are you chatting or are you studying and being a student of the game? For 11 weeks when I had to sit out due to the knee replacement rehab I also had the opportunity to watch the game on the neighborhood courts. I watch who is doing and not doing the basics and more. I study who covers the line and who doesn't. I watch who's backhand is strong and who's is not. I visualize myself in the position of play and 'virtually' play out a point or shot. I am mentally putting myself in that spot. Did you know that the brain doesn't really know the difference between reality and fantasy? Why else would we daydream and fantasize right? No seriously. If you visualize yourself doing something over and over it's just as good as actually doing it. Studies show us this, honest. By activating the sympathetic nervous system we get our system excited and it acts as if it is doing it. Mental imagery has been used in athletics for decades. Do the research yourself but if you practice in your head the perfect drop shot let's just say 30+ times in your head every day. It should be more but let's just pick 30, it's just about as good as really doing it. Sit in a quiet spot. Picture the place, the feel, and smell of the environment you are going to be in. Now see the ball in flight as it comes to you and feel your body in motion to hit. Strike the perfect shot. FEEL the hit, FEEL your body and position, SEE the ball leave the paddle. FEEL the follow through and hold that position in a SLOW MOTION mental thought. SEE the flight of the ball rise and float over the net and drop exactly where you want it to go. Perfection! Now do it over and over every night until you master it. Then do it again!. Do it with all your shots. If you can't hit the court to drill... Drill in your HEAD.. otherwise you will be drilling your head into the wall trying to figure out WHY isn't my game improving? The answer is ... YOU are NOT practice drilling in real time or in virtual time and you need to be to improve your game. Happy drilling! Claudia and Lucy Kovalova talk Pickleball and DrillsOrganizing a Program and Making Everyone Happy This discussion comes from a multitude of venues across the country dealing with these issues as the pickleball explosion expands across our country. Many groups are asking the same questions on how do you get everyone involved, from helping to teach the beginner and keep those with higher skill levels competing at a level they would like to play at. We must remember, NOT every player is a teacher and/or NOT every experienced player wants to teach every time they come to a session or pickleball play date that is available in their area. Some suggestions for the Organizer:
On that note, you as the player must KNOW where you fit in with your playing style. Meaning if you just like to hit the ball around, be social, and are out for some basic exercise without the stress of what some call "cut-throat" play, then you should stick with the recreational sessions. Again, not to say you are anything less, but you may enjoy your experience of play at this more recreational level. Also, if you are losing more frequently at the higher level of play you may want to continue at a lower level of play until you have developed consistent skills that the higher level players routinely practice. Such as purposeful offensive set up attack placement shots, spin shots, consistent third shot controlled hits, knowing when and when not to initiate sparring attack play at the net, being able to increase or decrease the pace of the ball at will are just a few skills and strategies higher level players will expect of their partners and opponents. The organizer, who is working to help those newbies learn the game, must also respect the player with upper-level skill sets and their desire to play the game at their uppermost level. We don't see the varsity squad competing against the freshman teams at high school or colleges. The higher level players, with no disrespect to the new player, wants to play the game with like ability players as well and not always assist in the teaching process. You can argue "if they don't play with better players they'll never get better." True to some degree. But if you keep hitting your head with the hammer, you'll eventually knock yourself out too. I can emphatically say it is beneficial for the higher skilled player to spend some time helping those who are just learning. Teaching and sharing are excellent ways to reinforce your own learning as well. One does not get to the next rung of the ladder without the guidance of those with experience. The experienced player is the best local resource for the beginner to get exposure to the next level of play. With that being said, the experienced player can take this "newbie" time to work on specifics of their own game. I have found that if you take the "macho" out of the game to work on the finesse and controlled shots at the lower levels of play, at times, will vastly improve your higher level gameplay. With a slightly slower paced game set, the advanced player can work on personal control shots and the beginner/intermediate player is gaining experience by playing with these individuals. Again, NO disrespect to any player’s level but there are those who have higher developed skills and those who are still learning skill and ball placement. So by taking this time to slow the game down per se, the advanced player will benefit during these sessions and will be able to transfer the newly practiced skill at a much faster pace when playing others of like skill. It's true, the majority of players DO NOT practice outside of the game session. If you want to improve by greater leaps and bounds at any level you need to take lessons from a qualified instructor, attend regular clinics, practice outside of the game sessions alone, with a wall or with a willing partner. Continuing to JUST play on game night will only keep your game at the same level and maybe, by chance, you will improve slightly if you play often. Practice will give you several hundred and even thousands of repetitions of the same stroke for muscle memory integration. In a game, you may only see one particular shot one in a hundred hits that you may take. Even then, in a two-hour game session, you may only make contact with the ball if you’re lucky 500 times that day with only a handful of those shots being "somewhat" exact, not counting the serve. Using drills from book resources such as Pickleball CPR Drills - Coaching Pickleball Readiness, will give you a multitude of individual to multi-player drills to improve your game with regular practice. HARMONY So for the organizer who wants to help the newbie learn the game and keep the advance players happy, you must find the harmonious blend.
For you, the player at these venues, offer your playing experience to the organizer(s) and USAPickleball Ambassador in your area to help improve the level of play as well as help them facilitate the rules of the game and the rules of the venues. Assist them in contacting your local YMCA's, Churches, Schools, Recreation Dept., Civic Centers and locate open spaced venues that have indoor/outdoor unused facilities or spaces to accommodate pickleball courts. Be a part of the ever growing pickleball movement. Be thankful for your organizers time and dedication to help grow pickleball in your area and be truly thankful for the blessing to be able to move, play and enjoy each other’s company. Remember, the expert on anything was once a beginner. Paddle Up and Play More Pickleball! |
