pickleball strategy

Pickleball News – 20201124 – Archived Version

Jeff


Latest N. Phoenix Pickleball News – November 24, 2020

Archived Version of a Previous Newsletter
OLD NEWS

 

This is an archived version of a previously issued pickleball newsletter. The most current N. Phoenix Newsletter is available by clicking HERE!

Hello N. Phoenix Pickleball Players:

Before I begin with the “news,” I want to encourage everyone to read the USA Pickleball’s Statement on the Coronavirus.



So…You Want to Be a
********** Pickleball Referee **********


The Following information comes to us from Lynn & Linda Laymon via Larry “Bud” Lite – Southwest Regional Director.

In our capacity as regional Referee Training Coordinators we are trying to gauge interest for an online referee training course, primarily to support the Southwest Regional tournament, but also to increase the number of trained refs for all future tournaments.

The interactive course would utilize the USA Pickleball PowerPoint presentation in one or two sessions totaling 3 to 4 hours. We ask that, prior to the course, participants watch the Referee Quick Start video and read through the Rulebook and Referee Handbook, located in the Officiating section of the USA Pickleball website (https://usapickleball.org/get-involved/pickleball-officiating/).

In order to access the Zoom platform all that is required is a computer and Internet connection; the access code will be provided. The training would take place in January to encompass the newly revised rules. It will be free, but we would expect to elicit an agreement from participants that they would begin to practice their skills during recreational play and eventually at local tournaments, since we cannot meet in person for on-court training. We will also work with Certified refs in the region to connect participants with opportunities for supervised practice and skill assessment for a rating.

Could you please utilize your regional Ambassador organization to spread the word?

Anyone interested in referee training should contact us at laymonwalden@gmail.com

Once we have an idea of those interested we will set up a time and date.

Thanks,
Stay safe!

Lynn & Linda Laymon
USA Pickleball Southwest Region
Referee Training Coordinators

 


Free Pickleball Strategy Course
********** By Mark Renneson *********

Many of you know Mark Renneson of Third Shot Sports. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Mark, he is a premier pickleball coach and advocate. He also provides on-air commentary for some of our most prestigious tournaments. Mark has partnered with Selkirk Sports to develop a pickleball strategy course.

For some of our advanced PB friends, much of this may be repetitive. Like most sport-related skill development or learning however, we often tend to forget some of the subtle tips, tricks and suggestions discovered if they are not reinforced.

For those who have been away from pickleball for some time because of COVID-19 or other reasons, this may serve as a good refresher.

Here is what you can expect…

Receive a free Pickleball strategy video every day for 14 days:

  • Learn never before revealed strategies
  • Discover what pro players do differently
  • Elevate your technical skills to win more games

If you are interested, here is the link to sign up for the FREE PICKLEBALL STRATEGY COURSE.



PPA Mesa Grand Slam Qualifier
Feb. 18-21, 2021
********** $55K Prize Pool *********


– Grand Slam Filling Fast –

PPA event at Mesa Tennis Center in Mesa, AZ
Pro & Skill/Age events
Over 910 players already registered
Registration ends 2/21/21

Registration Information HERE:

Find other tournaments HERE AND click “Tournaments” on the top menu.

 


FOR THOSE WHO HAVE READ THIS FAR

How To Generate Effortless Power
********** On Your Pickleball Serve *********

Jordon Briones, of PrimeTime Pickleball, provides three tips that will help playaers generate more power on their pickleball serve which he claims has “devastating speed.”

Watch Below!

 

 

********** Archived Versions of Previous Newsletters **********

 

Previous newsletters that may have pickleball hints, videos, rules changes, etc. are now archived at the following link. You can check out previous newsletters there.

Archived N. Phoenix PB Previous Newsletters


Support your Sport
********** Join the USAPA $20 for 1 Year **********

 

Marketing Image USAPA 1

 
Join the USA Pickleball Association – Click HERE for More Information!

 

Marketing Image USAPA 2

 


********** That’s All for Now **********

 

Stay Well and Play Safely!


Regards,

Jeff Ross



Pickleball Doubles Strategy 101 & 102 from Joe Baker

Jeff

In October of last year, I blogged about Joe Baker’s video – Doubles Pickleball Strategy 101-How to Play Smart Pickleball, Ten Tips

If you haven’t watched it and you are interested in raising the level of your doubles play, I suggest you read the post and review the video. It is an excellent video and Joe Baker teaches the strategies in a very understandable and deliberate manner. Diagrams and game footage are interspersed to make the concepts clear.

You can find this blog post, including Pickleball Strategy 101, at the link below – [Video is at the Bottom of the Page]:

Pickleball Strategy – 10 Tips to Help Win the Point

For those who have already watched the 101 series of tips, here is the follow up:

Joe Baker’s Tips for Doubles Strategy in Pickleball – 102 (Below)

Joe starts out by emphasizing that smart play that often leads to winning points and not necessarily strokes or shots.

As Joe points out, most pickleball points are lost and not won. The improper use of force causes many balls to go errant. That is to say, players often hit the ball hard when they should hit it soft and hit it soft when they should hit it hard and thus lose the point.

As Joe Baker points out, power and control are opposites:

  • Hitting the ball harder reduces control – increases errors
  • Hitting the ball softer increases control – reduces errors

Two Rules of Thumb:

  • When you must hit up on the ball, hit softly
  • When you hit down on the ball, hit harder

Watch the video for complete explanations of the above ideas! I hope you learn some great points as I did!

Are You Ready for Some Pickleball? – Free Strategy Guide

Jeff

Many of my friends and acquaintances have given me some strange looks over the past year because I have developed a passion for Pickleball (PB). I am a relatively new player. I started playing because I was seeking an exercise regimen that would be more fun than my customary 15 minutes of calisthenics followed by 45 minutes of aerobics.

I began playing PB with a group of beginners and as I developed a few very fundamental skills some of my “muscle memory” from my racquetball days started to kick in and pretty soon I wasn’t making as many mistakes as I was making earlier in my development.

Because the poplularity PB was so new (even though it is celebrating its 50th anniversary!), it was hard to find good books and videos about the sport. I was delighted to find Coach Mo’s strategy guide and I think it will be helpful for any beginning to intermediate player. One of the best parts about Coach Mo’s guide is that it is free. Anyone can download it and use it.

Here is an outline of his Guide in Review section from the publication which will give you an idea of what you will learn:

1: Be in ready position early! Stopped with feet parallel to each other at the point of contact of ball on your opponents paddle.

2: Placement is more important than power. Hit at your opponents feet or bounce the ball beside them. Do not sacrifice placement for power.

3: Hit to your opponents’ weakest players weakest shot.

4: Play steady – Do not over hit or make unforced errors. Never miss your serve or return of serve. Have patience.

5: Try and anticipate your opponents out balls.

6: Punch your volleys and swing at your ground strokes.

7: When hitting a ball step toward your target. Point your front shoulder towards your target, follow through towards your target, and watch closely at the point of contact of the ball on your paddle.

8: 80% of all your hits should be volleys at the NVZ line if you are playing to win.

The guide gives more details and more ideas about HOW to accomplish the items noted above. If I had this guide earlier, I think I would have made progress much faster. I recommend this as an excellent starting point for any new Pickleball player or anyone who wants to refresh their PB skills and strategies. You can download the guide at this link:

Coach Mo’s Pickleball Guide – Print Version (Recommended)
Coach Mo’s Pickleball Guide – Web Version

For those with a more visual learning style, Coach Mo has a DVD that is very reasonably priced. With shipping and handling it is approximately the same price as some books about Pickleball, but the benefit is that you get to watch the techniques as they are explained. Read more about the video at Coach Mo’s website – http://pickleballcoach.com/coach/

Here are the topics covered in the FREE Strategy Guide:

Pickleball Strategies

  • Grip
  • Ready Position
  • Return of Serve
  • Volley
  • Drop Volley
  • Lob – Defensive & Offensive
  • Overhead
  • Footwork
  • Hitting Down Sideline
  • How to Practice
  • Poaching
  • Reduce Unforced Errors
  • Know Your Opponents
  • Mental Errors
  • Hitting Fast Balls
  • Anticipate Out Balls
  • Play the Wind

Pickleball Techniques

  • Ground Stroke Stances
  • Serving Techniques
  • Forehand Groundstroke
  • Backhand Groundstroke
  • Overhead Technique
  • Drop Volley Technique

Additional Information

  • Extra Strategies
  • Guide In-Review
  • Definitions

Coach Mo’s website – http://pickleballcoach.com/coach/

Pickleball: Earn the Net

Jeff

When I first began to play Pickleball a year ago or so, one of the points that was emphasized to me over and over again was to get up to the net. Some proclaimed this edict with a near religious fervor. I watched those around me and they were running helter-skelter to the net as soon as they could.

After a while, I realized this isn’t always the best strategy. As Deb Harrison remarks in the video below and as others who coach have noted, you have to “earn the net.” By this they mean that you need to make a good shot in order to approach or work your way into the net.

You can’t return a serve midway into the opponent’s court directly to their powerful forehand and expect to have an advantage while running to the net. In many cases, the ball will get to you before you are ready, or it will go flying by you at a fast clip.

To win consistently, you must make an “approach” shot. That is, a drop volley or angled shot that causes the player go make a weak return, etc. which facilitates an approach to the net without the odds of an even better shot coming back at you.

Now that I have realized this, I am a bit more selective when working my way to the net with my partners and it has paid off.

Watch Deb Harrison as she demonstrates the best ways to “earn the net.”

Pickleball: Earning the Net, Deb Harrison

Do you think “earning the net” will help your game? Are you purposeful in using this strategy? Leave a comment below!

Pickleball Stacking: Winning Strategy or Mass Confusion?

Jeff

I wrote about Pickleball stacking here, but the Pickleball Guru has much more to say about it on his website. Some players might find this advantageous while others will certainly view it skeptically. The fact that the 2014 Tournament Rules were revised to accommodate those who want to use this strategy might give some indication that it is not for everyone.

NOTE: In explaining the advantages and disadvantages of stacking, the article below uses no less than a dozen diagrams; get the idea?!

Find out in more detail exactly what it is and whether or not this might be something that would help your doubles play. Click the link below to learn more:

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Stacking (a.k.a. That Weird Switch-a-Roo Thing Some Teams Do…)