Optimal Reaction

Hops aren't only for beer...

We ended yesterday's post about split step timing with a question - why bother to hop? After all, can't a player just move toward the ball from the ready position?

Obviously, the answer to the second question is yes, a player can simply step out of the ready position to make a return. But, the answer to the first question comes from science and it says that optimal reaction is created by using a hop.

The split step and, therefore, the hop comes from tennis. But it isn't the only sport that uses it. The women's softball team at Auburn University has looked at the science and uses it extensively in their play. As explained in the below video called Auburn Softball: On the Hop, the hop takes the slack out the muscles and allows them to fire in a "more aggressive purposeful ballistic motion". Its essence is that reaction time is reduced - especially first step reaction time. 

Split Step Timing

Its not the situation. Its your reaction to the situation...

We have been talking about movement and, more specifically, about movement from the baseline toward the NVZ line. A fundamental of this movement is the split step. This technique transitions a player from forward movement to the ready position and then toward his next return. 

We certainly have not ignored the split step in our discussions. It is highlighted in Chapter 5 - Earn the Net and mentioned frequently in many other posts. Many of those posts were written early in my playing and learning experience and relied on some old-school advice about the timing. Generally, players were taught to stop and split step just prior to the instant when the opponent was striking the ball. 

Speed Kills

I feel the need, the need for speed...

Today's post will continue the series on court movement with further discussion of the first big move - getting to the NVZ line. We have discussed this extensively in prior posts and I won't repeat much of that. Please refer to the Positioning and Footwork section of Chapter 5 - Earn the Net. Instead, we will focus on some new perspectives that I have gained in my learning curve - both on the court and from the experts.

We've all seen the guy that hits a ball from the baseline and races forward to get to the NVZ for his next shot. Sometimes it works. Other times the player is unable to change direction or adjust his next hit to account for the momentum of his body. Players race forward in obeisance to the pickleball gods # 1 mantra - "GET TO THE NET". But watching the pros and other high-level players will show that is not how it should be done. Instead, they move forward at a pace that keeps them on balance and under control.

Sarah Ansboury wrote 3 posts for the RV Picklers blog that discussed her observations of recreational play. One of those posts discussed the need to slow down. Relevant excerpts of the post are shown below. The entire post can be read at Pickleball Observations #2: Slow Down, Stop Shuffling.

The Slowest Player on the Court

When I join in during recreational play, I often am the slowest person on the court. Everyone seems to be in such a hurry!  They scurry from side to side, running to one spot while leaving another open.  They lunge forward, head first and paddle last, trying to get to the non-volley zone line.

Their movements are exacerbated by what we talked about last week…bending over.  The average human head weighs more than ten pounds, so it is only natural when we bend our backs and lead with our heads that we will be pulled off-balance and out of position.  If you are leaning left and then need to move right, the weight of your head pulling in one direction will make it more difficult to react.

Rather than focusing on “getting to the ball”, I want you to focus on being in control.  I want you to be balanced.  Instead, focus on what you want to do with the ball.

Aspen's Advice: Get to the Net

The first big movement...

I started a series of posts last week on movement around the court. We will pick that back up today with a brief post from Aspen Kern and the Pickleball Forum. It discusses the first big court movement - getting to the net from the baseline.

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. 

Aspen's Advice

Warning, if you're afraid of a "gut punch" read no further, if your main reason for going to play rec is because you know there will be "potato salad" when you get done, read no further. Now that I have gotten rid of the weekend warriors, let me get to a serious matter. If your goal in a game isn't to get to the net and start a dink war, you are not playing Pickleball. 

Pickleball Growth, Volunteerism, and USAPA Ambassadors

Those who can, do.  Those who do more, volunteer...

I want to use yesterday’s post about the Waynesville pickleball party to discuss the positive impact of volunteers on the sport. I attended the party with a mission – to recruit a new USAPA ambassador for an area with a vacant spot. As I launched into my recruiting speech, I quickly realized that I needed to develop a new set of talking points. That is the genesis of this post.

We all know that pickleball has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. That is because 1) the sport is a fantastic game with lots of social benefits and 2) lots of folks have volunteered to find, organize, and develop players and places to play. 

Much of pickleball’s growth is organic, meaning that it occurs by word of mouth as new players fall in love with the game and tell their friends. In the Mountain District of NC, we have many retirees who are part-year residents in Florida or are “half-backs” that have moved out of Florida. Their time in the pickleball hotbed of Florida exposed them to the game and they brought their enthusiasm to NC. We are now a hotbed for pickleball growth as both locals and transplants are finding the game.

Waynesville Pickleball Party

Its a fellowship thing. We just have fun...

Last Saturday afternoon exemplified one of the main factors that drives pickleball growth - a party! Andrew Sanderbeck, a local player from Waynesville, hosted a picnic at Vance Street Park. It was simply an occasion to celebrate the camaraderie that exists among a group that plays together regularly. Thanks to Yira Pia Sanchez-Brugal, our newest USAPA ambassador for Asheville, for the following photos of the event.

Offbeat Sunday - Sick Pickleball Tricks

Warning. These shots can be dangerous...

This video is so fun it has to be seen.

How Golf Relates to Pickleball

Balance is not something you stumble across.  It is something you create...

I mentioned golf in yesterday's post about movement. The statement was:

"I like to talk about golf when explaining this concept in clinics. Golfers practice the mechanics of the swing hour after hour to build the muscle memory to repeat it on the course. But the ball must be in the same place relative to their body to make the same swing. Therefore, they adjust their body by bending at the knees or or waist in order to play a ball on a slope or otherwise impaired."

Today, I would like to expand on that relationship. First, I want to use a Mark Renneson video called Golf vs Pickleball. Mark's emphasis in this video is about the power generated when a player loads up by "coiling" his body. The power behind a shot is released when the body "uncoils" during the swing. While that is an excellent concept to understand, it is not how I want to use this video. Mark briefly mentions getting into the proper position and I want to explore that more in-depth.

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

Hendersonville Beginner Clinic

Experts start as beginners...

A beginner pickleball clinic will be held 11:30 - 1:30 on July 22 at the Henderson County Athletics and Activity Center on S Grove Street. Please invite friends and relatives who want to learn to play this wonderful game. The clinic will be run by Henderson County USAPA ambassador Deb Romaine. Her contact information is shown in her flyer below.

2017 Connestee Falls Scholarship Pickleball Tournament

Take me to the mountains to play pickleball...

The 2017 Connestee Falls Pickleball Tournament application package was recently released. From their website:

Join us at the seventh annual Connestee Falls fundraiser pickleball tournament on September 21, 22 and 23, 2017 in Brevard, NC.  Our first six tournaments provided competitive play for players from NC, SC, GA, FL, IL, CO, AL, and SD. This year we hope to continue our trend of raising more funds to support scholarships for Transylvania County students and to get players  from  a wider universe of states to participate.

This three day tournament will be a Round Robin, Four Level tournament - 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 & Above, so all teams will get to play all of the other teams at their levels. We will have Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles for players aged 45 and over  governed by USAPA rules and regulations. Depending on the number of entrants for each level, we may make some format and/or bracket modifications to ensure that everyone gets a good amount of playing time. Keep an eye out for more information as we get closer to the date.

Come join us for this fun and exciting tournament and enjoy some time in the cool, beautiful mountains of western North Carolina.

Their flyer and registration form is at their website and shown below.

Independence Day

SE Regional Ambassador Retreat - Beginner Clinics (Part 2)

The mountains are calling and I must go...

Saturday's post kicked off the discussion of beginner clinics. It included a handout from Dick Osman's presentation at the SE Region ambassador retreat at the Beech Mountain Club. Dick had additional handouts with more details on the clinic content. These are shown below.

Outline for Beginners Clinic

1. Introduction

• Introduce Instructors
• What is Pickleball?
• Invented in 1965 in Washington State
• A combination of tennis, badminton, ping pong, paddle tennis, paddleball
• A game which is easy to learn, FUN, ADDICTIVE, and CONTAGIOUS
• By the end of this clinic, you will be a pickleball player!

2. Safety and Movement

• Proper footwear: court shoes or cross-trainers
• Hydration and sun protection; eye protection is recommended
• The Ready Position: wider base = low COG = better stability and balance
• Warm up by practicing safe movement on the court:
• Lateral movement: space out on the court in several rows, practice moving side to side shuffling, not crossing, feet
• Moving forward: demo moving forward with split step to stop; line up at baseline, 4-6 feet wide, practice a couple times
• Moving back: demo with drop step, line up 4-6 feet wide at NVZ line, practice a couple times on both sides
• “Ball” – stop play immediately and play a let

3. Hitting the Ball

Offbeat Sunday - Pickleball Memes (Part 1)

Fun is about as a habit as you can have...

One of the characters I ran across while searching for pickleball stories is Pickleball Jones. Today is the day I highlight his work.

SE Regional Ambassador Retreat - Beginner Clinics (Part 1)

The mountains are calling and I must go...

As I mentioned yesterday, a group of 41 USAPA ambassadors plus guests recently held a 3+ day retreat at the Beech Mountain Club. The retreat consisted of various learning sessions, of which one was beginner clinics. Dick Osman gave the presentation based on his experiences with clinics in the Charlotte area. Dick and his wife Desire are ambassadors and area team liaisons in Charlotte. Dick's handout is shown below and my discussion follows.

TEACHING PICKLEBALL TO BEGINNERS

• Every clinic is different: number of students/teachers, ages, time available, facilities, etc.