Many tennis players are able to make the transition to pickleball fairly quickly, but reaching a high level in pickleball usually requires a few important adjustments. In this article we’ll walk through the ones that make the biggest difference. As a tennis player stepping into pickleball, you’ve likely noticed that many of your skills transfer […]
Have you ever felt like a single mistake completely threw you off your game? Maybe you missed an easy shot, and instead of letting it go, you let it snowball — grumbling to yourself, tensing up and making more errors. Or perhaps your partner made a few bad plays, and suddenly frustration takes over. Before […]
If you’ve ever felt like the third shot in pickleball is a mysterious rite of passage, you’re not alone. Many players stumble their way through the progression, discovering what works (and what really doesn’t) through trial, error and maybe a few smashed lobs. Let’s break it down, and maybe laugh a little, while we figure […]
In pickleball, landing the perfect putaway shot is like finding an open parking spot right by the entrance. It’s rare, but incredibly satisfying. As you advance in the sport, you learn to level the playing field on offense by moving through the transition zone to the all-important kitchen line. One of the most effective ways […]
Ah, the pickleball serve legality dispute — a classic tale as old as the kitchen line. If you’re using the traditional volley serve, chances are you’ll eventually hear an opponent yell, “That serve isn’t legal!” And let’s be honest, they might not even be sure what the rules are; they just don’t like losing. Why […]
We’ve all done it — moving forward while hitting a shot. It’s a common mistake that leads to shots sailing long, popping up too high or losing control. If you’re in motion, you’re often off-balance, making it harder to place your shot accurately or recover for the next one. When I used to make this […]
At first, pickleball seems simple. You learn how to keep score, follow the basic rules like the non-volley zone and the two-bounce rule and feel like you understand the game. But hidden within these rules is something much smarter. The design of pickleball doesn’t just make it easier to learn. It makes it strategically brilliant. […]
If you’ve struggled with the third-shot drop and feel like giving up on the strategy altogether, this might help. When I started playing pickleball, there wasn’t any formal instruction where I lived. We had a few shared courts and a growing group of players who met through open play. All levels played together, and most […]
As I’ve played over the years, I’ve faced all types of opponents, each with their own unique style of play. From my perspective, there’s no right or wrong in pickleball, every style deserves respect. Whether you prefer a soft game with drop shots to advance to the net, as I do, or rely on powerful […]
It’s common for players to overestimate their pickleball skill level, thinking they’ve reached the coveted 3.5+ mark when they might still be missing key elements of the game. Don’t worry, it’s not just you. Ambition can blur the line between where you are and where you want to be. It is important to understand that […]
