Category: Slate Blog
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
Know Your Opponents’ Shot Clock in Pickleball
The importance of understanding the shot clock when developing strategy in pickleball.
-
The “Not So Secret” Society of Pickleball
Pickleball is universal! It unites people of all ages, genders, races, beliefs, socioeconomics, physical abilities, and more. It’s a welcoming culture. No matter where you come from, you have a place on the court. There are few things in this world that bring people together on such a grand scale, but pickleball does just that.…
-
Upgrade Your Dynamic Warmup for Pickleball
In my previous blog post, I discussed the importance of a proper hitting warmup before a match. I also mentioned that in my next piece, I’d speak on warming-up before you even walk on the court to rally. Would I say that a pre-hitting warmup is as necessary as a proper hitting warmup? No. But…
-
The Art of Pickleball Open Play
Believe it or not, there is an art to pickleball open play. The idea of open play is to bring together players of all levels, ages, and gender in the spirit of community, teamwork, and sportsmanship, but sometimes, it goes off script. There are so many different types of players you’ll encounter at open play:…