Aspen's Advice - Patience

Good shots come to those who wait...

Aspen Kern is the creator of the Pickleball Forum and often adds his thoughts on pickleball topics. Aspen is a top player in the game and knows what he is talking about, especially with regard to the way the game is changing and how to win. This piece of advice is timely after yesterday's lessons post.

Aspen's Advice

PATIENCE YOUNG GRASSHOPPER --- A common mistake I see players making, even at the 5.0 level. Is that when they see an attackable dink, they feel like they have one chance to end the point. Unless the ball is clearly high enough for you to end the point, don't feel obligated to do so. Most popped up dinks are at a height where you have to make a decision, these balls mean you're winning and not that you have won. Most times I will use the debatable popped up ball to go on offense to build the winning shot, just like in chess, if you take somebodies queen you are winning but you have not won. As long as I am hitting down, I am in control of the point and will try to build the advantage until I get the ball I am looking for, then and only then is it checkmate.