How to Win a Rally Without a Swing

Are you here to play or to watch...

I and several of the players with whom I play have talked about a bad habit we have allowed into our games - hitting balls that would go out of bounds. I think some of this is because it is recreational play and we just want to hit the ball. But we also know that it is not something that we want to carry over into tournaments. The reality is that playing percentage pickleball, a topic I covered in February, also means not hitting the ball at all. After all, it is a 100% sure win to let a ball go out of bounds.

Coach Mo, the creator of the term "percentage pickleball", wrote a Tip of the Month - How to Win 20% More Games Without Improving You’re (sic) Hitting Skills - about that topic.

Movement Around the Court

Preparation requires awareness and movement...

The single most important element in becoming a better player is proper movement around the court. That means a lot of things and we will start a series of posts that cover much of the topic. Today, I want to start with early preparation, which means moving to the proper position to make the best shot...and nothing is more important at that instant.

Last October, I wrote a post - The Most Important Shot - in which I stated the most important shot is the next one. The basis for that statement is summed up in the following:

The only time that you control the rally is when the ball is on your side of the court. Therefore, your next shot will always determine how the rest of the rally will play out. A good next shot increases the probability of winning the rally and a bad next shot decreases that probability. In other words, your next shot is the best immediate opportunity to gain an advantage.

The post goes on to talk about footwork and positioning as key to making the best shot:

• Take the extra step to be in a better position
• Stop before hitting the ball

Keep Your Eye on the Ball to the Paddle

Keep your eye on the ball - even if you can't see it...

Last week we used an item from The Best Advice You Ever Got to go into detail on the "paddle up" instruction philosophy. This week, we will use that same source to discuss another instructional philosophy - keep your eye on the ball.

This must be the single most universal instruction in all of "ball" sports. From the first time baseball players grab a bat, they hear "keep your eye on the ball". The same is true of tennis, football, and all other sports, including pickleball. One example is shown below in a Tip of the Month from Coach Mo (my emphasis added).

Hitting Techniques "Do's and Don'ts"

DO: Make a split step at the point of contact of your opponent's shot. A split step is when both feet are shoulder-width apart and parallel to each other. DON'T: Always try to hit the ball while backpedaling or running forward.

Kitchen Line Percentage Pickleball

The problem was our shot selection...

Coach Mo's Percentage Pickleball was the topic yesterday with some of general rules listed. He also has developed a chart to provide more specific guidance for shot selection when at the NVZ line. It was included in his Tips of the Month and is replicated below. 

Coach Mo's Percentage Pickleball

There's never any percentage in banging before it's time...

My understanding is that Coach Mo coined the phrase "Percentage Pickleball" We introduced some of his concepts yesterday. Today's post will take it a step farther by including his Tip of the Month called Pickleball Percentages.

Pickleball Percentages

• NEVER SACRIFICE PLACEMENT FOR POWER. A SLOW BALL AT YOUR OPPONENT’S FEET IS BETTER THAN A VERY FAST HIT TO THE WAIST.
• NEVER SACRIFICE BEING IN THE  READY POSITION FOR A BETTER POSITION ON THE COURT. ALWAYS STOP AND BE IN THE READY POSITION AT THE POINT OF CONTACT OF THE BALL TOUCHING YOUR OPPONENTS PADDLE.
• THE TEAM WITH THE LEAST UNFORCED ERRORS USUALLY WINS, NOT THE TEAM WITH THE MOST WINNERS.
• A GOOD VOLLIER WILL USUALLY BEAT A GOOD GROUND STROKER. THE GROUND STROKE IS JUST MEANS TO GET TO THE NVZ LINE AND WIN THE POINT.
• YOUR BEST POSITION ON THE COURT SHOULD BE EITHER ONE FOOT BEHIND THE BASELINE OR ONE INCH BEHIND NVZ LINE. STAY OUT OF NO MAN’S LAND.
• THE TEAM HITTING DOWN INTO THE COURT MOST OF THE TIME WILL WIN MORE POINTS THAN THE TEAM ALWAYS HITTING UP,SO KEEP YOUR HITS LOW TO THE FEET. IT WILL PROBABLY BE THE DIFFERENCE IN A CLOSE GAME.
• NEVER EVER MISS YOUR SERVE OR RETURN OF SERVE.
• MOST OF YOUR SHOTS SHOULD BE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT, OVER THE LOW PART OF THE NET, GIVES YOU A LOT OF LEEWAY RIGHT AND LEFT, AND CAUSES CONFUSION BETWEEN YOUR OPPONENTS.
• PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE WHEN DINKING. DO NOT TRY FOR A WINNER UNLESS BALL IS MORE THAN 12’’ ABOVE THE NET.
• NEVER TRY AND HIT A WINNER OFF A VERY DIFFICULT SHOT. JUST PLAY DEFENSIVE AND TRY TO RETURN THE BALL LOW INTO THE COURT.

Practicing Indoors

As much as I would like to practice with my new Tutor, it is the middle of winter here in the mountains of North Carolina. That means looking for alternative practice routines. Coach Mo has some suggestions in his Pickleball Channel video called How to Practice Indoors.

Pickleball Technique Basics

Occasionally, I find it is a good idea to go back to the basics, especially after digging deep into strategies for an extended time. Coach Mo has written tips that remind us of the basics of shot-making called 10 Ways to Improve Your Pickleball Technique.

10 Ways to Improve Your Pickleball Technique

1. POINT YOUR SHOULDER.

Point your shoulder towards your target when hitting on the backhand side on all shots and point your left shoulder toward your target on forehand side on all shots.

2. AIM YOUR PADDLE MOTIONLESS.

Aim your paddle motionless where you think you will be making contact with the ball early before the ball comes over the net on all shots. Early preparation is very important.

3. BEND YOUR KNEES.

Do not drop the paddle below the wrist and bend your knees on low balls. Pretend you are sitting in a chair and stay down until you completely follow through toward your target.

How to be a Complete Pickleball Player

Pickleball is a game where reaching the desired level of success requires some physical skill, knowledge of the game, patience, and discipline. I have touched on aspects of these elements all through this blog. Occasionally, I find something on-line that puts the thoughts together in a single piece. Coach Mo has an article that fits the bill.  

How to Become a Complete Pickleball Player

The Forehand Ground Stroke

The forehand groundstroke is the most common – and comfortable – shot for most players between the baseline and mid-court. A ground stroke is simply hitting a ball after it bounces, a regular occurrence when players are deep in the court.  The forehand is a more natural shot on the stronger side of the body and, thus, more comfortable for many players. The forehand groundstroke is so common that all players should master the basic techniques.

The body position and movement for a forehand groundstroke is very similar to The Service Motion. Your body should turn so your front shoulder is aimed at your target. Your weight should shift to your back foot. Your paddle should be drawn back in the backswing. Your weight should shift forward onto the front foot simultaneously with the paddle swing toward the ball. Your paddle should follow through across your body. All of these movements are identical to the service motion.

Moving at the Kitchen Line

We have already discussed the need for fast paddle reaction times at the kitchen line in the post The Ready Position at the Kitchen Line. But the need for quick reactions isn’t limited to just your hands. Foot movement along the line must also be quick due to the close proximity of your opponent. A complicating factor to foot movement is the potential for a kitchen line fault, especially if you have taken the proper position within 2-3 inches of the line (You. Must. Get. To. The. (NoVolley) Line).

The primary objective of moving to hit the ball when at the kitchen line is obviously to reach the ball. But simply reaching the ball is not enough if you are caught out of position for your opponent’s next return. Therefore, your movement must be efficient as well as effective.

If your opponent’s shot bounces, you can move anywhere on the court, including into the kitchen area. A step into the kitchen area should be taken with only one foot while leaving the trail foot in place behind the kitchen line. Then simply bring the forward foot back alongside the trail foot and into the ready position just behind the kitchen line. The pattern is step forward, hit, step back, ready position. Below is a photo showing the step.

Split Step

Yesterday, my main post was about the ready position as you advance from the baseline toward the kitchen line. Included in that post was the following paragraph describing some important aspects of getting into the ready position:

After hitting the ball, you should advance forward to the kitchen line when it is safe to do so. Stop immediately and assume the ready position when your opponent is about to hit the ball. You should never sacrifice early preparation for position on the court. A common error is rushing to get to the non-volley zone and continuing to move forward while the opponent hits the ball. You should NOT be moving at this time. If you are moving, your body is committed to a specific direction and it is much harder to adjust to a shot away from your direction. Early preparation is always more important than court position in executing a shot.