Pro James Ignatowich here. The two handed backhand dink is becoming to most useful shot in pickleball. Gone are the days of people only hitting slice dinks. Let’s go over the reasons why you should hit the two hander, and also the correct technique. Why use it? With a two handed backhand you have the […]
While I avoid it for the most part if possible, there are important situations where you can and should take a step off the kitchen line in pickleball. This depends on who you are and what the exact situation is. Women are off the line at a way higher rate because they are less inclined […]
Less is always more when mastering the pickleball drop. Too often, players overthink their swing, adding unnecessary complexity that throws off their timing. The key to consistent drop shot success is simplifying the motion so the ball feels like it’s just getting in the way of your paddle. Whether you’re slicing or rolling, your drop […]
Many players I talk to are worried about the level of their drilling partners. While it’s usually best to drill with someone of your level or even slightly better, it’s also wise to work with someone below your level from time to time. Aside from the confidence you can gain by repeatedly wiping the floor with your friend, […]
As you start becoming more competitive in pickleball — whether that competition is exclusive to rec leagues or in tournaments — there is one skill you can adopt that you can enact before even stepping foot on the court. Game planning for matches gets easier the more consistent your opponents and partners are, and knowing this can […]
Top 5 pro James Ignatowich here. As you see in the pro game, there’s usually not a 50/50 divide between shots taken by each teammate. Usually, the left side player is taking more balls out of the middle and looking to create offensive opportunities. This should NOT be the case if you’re playing with a left […]
Top 5 pro James Ignatowich here. The average player at my clinics hits their dinks too hard. It’s often tough for me to critique, especially because a lot of these dinks generate errors from the opponent. But as you get better in pickleball, you’ll start paying the price if you don’t learn the volley dink. As […]
Top five pickleball pro James Ignatowich here. One of the most common things I hear on the court is something like “this shot feels great when I drill, but it’s so much harder in a game for some reason.” Of course it’s harder! When you drill, you know where the ball is being hit, and what […]
Top five pickleball pro James Ignatowich here. I already explained how players looking to improve should drill more than they actually play games of pickleball. But how can you get the most out of your drilling sessions? By focusing on no more than 2 shots per practice session. I’ve seen a lot of drilling at this […]
Top 5 pro James Ignatowich here. Pickleball players at level 4.5 and below should be drilling 60% of the time if they want to continue to improve.Drilling is more important for 3.0s – 4.5s than it is for 5.0+ players. It’s no secret that what goes on in 5.0+ games is significantly different from 3.5 […]
