Pickleball Video: Returning a Very Short Ball

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018Jeff

There are times when a ball from your opponent barely makes it over the net. Perhaps it ticks the top of the net and dribbles over. When the ball lands only a foot or so away from the net, this can be a problem for the returning player.

Such a short ball is very hard to return as there is no room for the player to swing and get the ball up and over the net if they hit the ball straight on. There is, however, one very good alternative. Watch the video below to learn a one way to handle this situation.

NOTE – If you can, time your hit so the paddle reaches the ball as it is bouncing up (ascending) so it is not at its lowest point to the ground. The higher the ball, the easier it will be to get it over the net!

Pickleball: Video – Getting Out of Trouble

June 16, 2018Jeff

If you play doubles pickleball on a regular basis, sooner or later you will find that you and your partner are in a defensive posture stuck near the baseline. If this happens, one of the best strategies is to “reset the point.” After all, it is hard to hit a winner when you are pinned near your baseline.

So what is “reseting the point?” Mark Renneson, pickleball coach and owner of Third Shot Sports, explains via the video below:

Remember, the drop shot isn’t an offensive shot. It doesn’t have to be a “winner,” it just needs to give your team time to move forward.

Do you want to Win a Trip for 2 to the 2018 USAPA National Championships in Indian Wells California? If so, CLICK HERE!

Pickleball Video: Give Me the Ball!

May 25, 2018Jeff

NOTES FROM THE VIDEO’S Web Page

Seventeen time national champion, Jennifer Lucore, shares her Pickleball Quick Tip that is simple but brilliant! How can you be ready for the ball when you’re waiting at the kitchen line? Watch and listen as this pickleball pro gives all of us some practical advice for being prepared to hit that winning shot! You’ll be amazed what this simple trick can do for your game. It can make you more aware, engaged and focused, and ultimately, it can set you up for hitting the next winner. What is this quick and easy tip? Watch the video to find out!

When you are playing doubles pickleball do you look forward to having the ball hit your way or do you hope the ball doesn’t come in your direction? Jennifer Lucore, national champion, explains why it is important to want the ball.

This doesn’t mean that you should be a ball hawk and go after every ball. What it does mean is that you should be ready for every ball to come your way and with that anticipation, you will be prepared to make your best possible shot. It keeps your head in the point and therefore in the game!

Keeping your paddle up and in the ready position as well as keeping your eye on the ball, will help you be ready when it does come in your direction. Another great hint offered by Sarah Ansboury, is to use your paddle as a pointing device and keep it pointed at the ball when it is on the opponent’s side of the court. In this way, your body has a better chance of being in the ready position to attack the ball if comes in your direction.

Watch the brief video for a further explanation:

Pickleball: Reflex Drill – A Ball, A Paddle and a Wall

May 2, 2018Jeff

I am one of those people who want to become a better pickleball player, but I don’t like drills; my bad! Most coaches tend to agree that proper drills will do more to help pickleballers improve than will playing games.

Having said that, I often invoke the woe is me defense: “I don’t have a drill partner! Nobody I know wants to drill.” Well, there are some drills that don’t require a partner. What they do require is the will to do them.

Let’s add this question to the “I don’t like drills” equation: “Can pickleballers develop faster reflexes?” Most of the reading I have done from the websites of certified pickleball coaches uphold the idea that reflexes can be improved, i.e. it isn’t necessarily something built into your DNA! Of course we all have physical abilities and limits. Reflexes however can be improved.

Once again I turn to PrimeTime Pickleball and Jordan Briones to show us a drill to help us develop our pickleball reflexes. Good news, all you need is a paddle, a ball and a wall – – – no partner require.

Takeaways: Start by hitting the ball higher so it will take longer to return to you. This is how to sart; slower. Once you can do that well, lower the ball a bit and it will return to you a bit faster. Continue to lower the ball as you get better.

Remember – 1) Watch the ball until it hits the paddle. 2) Hit the ball in front of your body.

I guess I don’t have as many excuses now!

Pickleball: Pecos Park Grand Opening

April 24, 2018Jeff

There was some pickleball excitement in the Valley of the Sun last weekend. Pecos Park in Ahwatukee, AZ was celebrating the official grand opening of their pickleball complex.

The city and citizen planning group has done a wonderful job in laying out sixteen beautiful courts built to specifications allowing for USAPA sanctioned tournaments.

Ramadas are going to be constructed to enhance the experience for onlookers and those waiting to play. There are benches along the side of the courts with room for many more folding chairs.

The lights are very modern and I believe they are LED, but I am not certain. I arrived early to help set up for the big event.

As the crowd began to gather, the pickle twins took to the podium to help bring a celebratory aire to the day.

Everyone was having fun. One round robin tournament player had bunny ears on his hat as he enjoyed the competition. Other guests expressed their enthusiasm in their own particular style.

Seats wer filling up fast. The first two rows were reserved for USAPA Pickleball Ambassadores including yours truly.

The round robin tournament used the new ONIX outdoor pickleball which is visibly stamped USAPA APPROVED!

The ceremony praised the hard work of everyone involved. I am going to do my best to provide correct names for most of the people in the photos. If I have made an error, please let me know in the comment section below and I will revise ASAP.

Esther Avila, Deputy Director at City of Phoenix, Parks and Recreation began with opening remarks.

Councilman Sal DiCiccio, City of Phoenix Councilman for District 6

Justin Maloof – Executive Director – United States Pickleball

Jack Thomas, President of the USAPA

Perhaps the one person most responsible for the vision and custodianship of this new facility was Steve Manolis, Regional Ambassador for Education, USA Pickleball Association, Southwest Region.

Councilman, Sal DiCiccio hits the first official serve to start the play at the new courts.

If you live near Pecos Park, I think you will be pleased to join the pickleball fun!

7010 S 48th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85048

Pickleball: Video- Dink Destroyer

April 14, 2018Jeff

Jordan Briones of Prime Time Pickleball demonstrates what he considers a major mistake many people make in their dinking technique. After describing and explaining the issue, he offers tips and a practice exercise to help overcome a habit that may destroy the best approach to successful dinking.

When I watch novices/beginners play pickleball, I see this mistake many times. Another mistake that beginners often make is taking a step backward at the NVZ hoping to “catch a better bounce” of the ball. Learn to take it in the air if you can.

1 – It avoids the ball taking a funny bounce

2 – It keeps you in position

3 – It takes time away from your opponent.

Pickleball Advice: 30 Seconds to a Better Doubles Game

March 26, 2018May 2, 2018Jeff

Have you ever attended a pickleball tournament? I always find the tournament atmosphere invogorating. There is a positive hustle and bustle surrounding pickleball tournaments and it inspires me to play more and and to strive to improve. I believe we can all use a bit more inspiration every now and then.

One thing that was impressed upon me when I attended my first tournament as a spectator was that the top doubles teams call each and every ball. They say “mine.” “yours,” “bounce it,” etc. They constantly communicate in advance of the ball reaching either of them.

One other thing…if my partner calls a ball, I back off even if I think that I have the better shot at it. We can discuss this after the point, but two players going after the same ball is a fast track for an errant shot!

There is one corollary to this rule – If the ball is toward the center of an area we can both cover and my partner calls it, I will try to backup my partner. What that means is, I stay back a bit and let my partner have the ball they “called,” but I keep my eye on the ball and if they miss, I will try to return it instead. This doesn’t always work, but it has saved some points every now-and-then and a point is a point! How many games would you have won if you had one extra point? I know it would have helped me a good number of times.

When I play, I also like to discuss with my partners who is going to cover lobs. I generally like my partner to cover lobs over my head on my side of the court when I am at the net. I find that the diagonal line is easier and provides more opportunity for a successful return. I then cover lobs over their head when they are at the net. I do communicate with my partner(s), but I need to do more of it so that every shot is assigned to my partner or me well before it reaches us.

Don’t forget, if your partner moves to your side of the court, you need to move over to their side to avoid leaving half the court wide open!

I recently played in a round robin tournament at our community center and there were some players I had never seen before. Sarah Ansboury has in interesting article about playing with a new partner and when we play in pickup games, it is as if we are playing with a new partner many times. As anticipated, she also highlights partner-communication and somewhat humorously, compares this to “pickleball speed dating.” Seriously though, she offers some great advice beyond partner-communication which I think can benefit all serious pickleballers. Be sure to check out the other links in her article for even more details!

You can read the article by clicking on the picture or title below!

https://www.sarahansboury.com/pickleball-speed-dating-fun/

Pickleball Video: All the Non-Volley Zone Rules and No No’s

March 18, 2018March 20, 2018Jeff

VIDEO: Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner explain and clarify Non-Volley Zone faults.

This is the paragraph that accompanied the Pickleball 411 video above.

“Ever heard someone disagree about a non-volley zone foot fault? Look no further! This fun video is the most complete pickleball non-volley zone rule video ever! Packed full of information, it is a one-stop shop for you to have all your questions answered and learn more about the multi-faceted non-volley zone rule in pickleball. Hear from pickleball champions Alex Hamner and Jennifer Lucore alongside our host Rusty Howes, as they break down the non-volley zone rule in its entirety as well as show some helpful real-life examples of actual NVZ faults. Reviewed by the USAPA, this video is a necessity in understanding this fun game of pickleball!”

JBRish reaches a milestone!

March 14, 2018March 14, 2018Jeff

Admittedly JBRish is a very “small” website. The traffic has grown very slowly, but I do receive an average of 50 views a day. There are some days that far exceed that number and others that go down as low as the 30’s.

Early in the morning JBRish had 49999 views

It was exciting to see that JBRish.com was approaching the 50,000 view threshold and I caught the screen shot just in time!

This site is not monetized and is strictly a labor of love. The impetus for JBRish was my enjoyment of quotes, quips, photography, hiking and gardening.

Then one day I was trying to explain pickleball to a woman who was recovering from knee surgery. Pickleball does have some “unusual” rules and components and it was very difficult to give a complete description. The idea to include a pickleball page on my website was born. Not only do I use that page (and website) for general pickleball information, but it helps me to be a better USAPA pickleball ambassador.

I am happy to announce to JBRish readers that yesterday was a “red letter day” for us. We reached the 50,000 view benchmark. I know there are websites that have this many views every day or every few days, but this is a nice step for a personal blog like JBRish.

Arriving home from a variety of tasks, the 50,000 view threshold had been reached!

On the day I wrote about editing photographs taken with my Fuji X-T2 camera, the site received the most views, but I hope I can write another article soon that will top even that one. It will be hard, but it’s a worthy goal!

Thanks to all of JBRish readers, visitors, etc. I hope to continue to provide interesting information, quotes, quips, photography posts and of course, information about pickleball.

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Pickleball: Acquiring and Maintaining the Offense

February 26, 2018Jeff

During a game of pickleball, as you are engaged in the quest for points or a side out, how often are you aware of what I will call your “position of engagement”? Do you know if you are in an offensive, defensive or neutral position?

It may be important for you to understand the difference between these different situations because they should affect your strategy at any given moment in a game.

You might correctly assume that the best position to be in is an offensive one, but what does that mean and how do you get there?

To quote from an article by Sarah Ansboury:

“A big part of thinking offensively is being aware of what position you are in. Defense….neutral…offense. It is difficult to make an effective offensive shot if, at the time, you are in a defensive position. I often see players trying to come up with a marvelous winner when, in fact, they are in a defensive position with only a 50/50 chance of hitting a winner or an error.”

Sarah then goes on to explain her thoughts about the best way to get to an offensive position if you are not currently there.

Learn more about this important and perhaps less considered topic by reading the full article at this link:

Pickleball Defense, Neutral, Offense: Positions You Need to Know

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JBRish.com – quips & queries

A life of musings, queries, quips and quandaries

Pickleball

Pickleball Video: Returning a Very Short Ball

More Pickleball Videos and Information

Pickleball: Video – Getting Out of Trouble

More Pickleball Videos and Information

Pickleball Video: Give Me the Ball!

More Pickleball Videos and Information

Pickleball: Reflex Drill – A Ball, A Paddle and a Wall

More Pickleball Videos and Information

Pickleball: Pecos Park Grand Opening

More Pickleball Videos and Information

Pickleball: Video- Dink Destroyer

More Pickleball Videos and Information

Pickleball Advice: 30 Seconds to a Better Doubles Game

More Pickleball Videos and Information

Pickleball Video: All the Non-Volley Zone Rules and No No’s

More Pickleball Videos and Information

JBRish reaches a milestone!

Pickleball: Acquiring and Maintaining the Offense

More Pickleball Videos and Information