Category: Slate Blog
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Let Go of Your Fear of the Drop
It’s okay to hit your drops high. Third shot, fifth shot, even the holy seventh shot, whichever. I know it’s not your intention. I know you sometimes get blasted as a result of your errors. But just because you occasionally loft them up and get severely punished as a result, does not mean you have…
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Let’s Get Match Tough!
“I am so much better during a drill than during an actual match.” I hear this all the time. The struggle is real. Many players are just not match tough. The most obvious reason for performing better in a class is because there is no pressure. A primary goal during an instructional setting is for…
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The ATP in Pickleball Doesn’t Have To Be Impossible
The “around the post” shot (ATP) is a classic fan favorite and can get the whole crowd roaring with approval. You see it a lot on the pro tour and occasionally at the highest levels of club play. It’s when the ball is wide enough that it becomes possible to send it outside of the…
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The Power of the Dink in Pickleball
You know how it goes: you get on the court and players warm up about six dinks and quickly decide they are “warmed-up” and ready to go. Within 30 seconds of the game starting, balls are being smacked back and forth for a banger’s delight. Everyone then says, “Wow, what a point! Wish I could…
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A Secret Shot on the Return of Serve in Pickleball
What are some key tactical items of the return of serve in pickleball? You would likely answer “to send the ball deep to keep the opponents back making the third shot more difficult, all the while making sure you have time to get to the non-volley zone.” But what if you do the opposite? Hit…
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Top 3 Technical Mistakes Expert Tennis Players Make When They Try Pickleball
As I’ve gotten a few of my tennis professional pals onto the open play pickleball courts, I’ve noticed three major incorrect technical patterns that all these athletes succumb to, preventing them from getting to 4.0+ right away. The first is you’ll see a lot of balls dumped right into the net when ex-tennis players attempt…
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Junior Player Development and Pickleball
Coming from the world of tennis player development in my previous career, I was exposed to the best leaders and sports scientists in the world. I was lucky that I had access to them. I learned and grew as a coach, studying their ways of modern teaching and coaching methodologies. As I transitioned over to…
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Use the Rhythmic Swing to Increase Your Power in Pickleball
Is your pickleball swing choppy? Do you not hit the ball as hard as you want to? Having a rhythmic swing is your answer. Maintaining a fluid swing from start to finish is essential to increase your power, spin, and timing, maximizing your accuracy and depth control. I have always been a player (tennis, badminton,…
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The Rise of Pickleball Over Tennis
If you’re expecting the typical “growth of pickleball” talk about how pickleball is accessible and super-fun and social and the whole family can play and that’s why it’s blown up, you’ve come to the wrong blog article! Sort of. In my previous career as a tennis manager and coach working for a corporation that was…
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Know Your Opponents’ Shot Clock in Pickleball
The importance of understanding the shot clock when developing strategy in pickleball.