Tag: Chicago
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Level Evaluations: Reflections and Results
📝The data is in! As of writing this article, we have conducted assessments on exactly 240 Stage 1 Slaters! We’ve had at least two sets of eyes from our highly trained staff on each Evaluation to ensure maximum accuracy. 👁️Have a look at the distribution chart below: You can see there is certainly a bell…
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Slate’s Junior STAGE Program
Junior Development! This became the bedrock of my passion for coaching tennis a decade ago. Developing the physical literacy and tennis skills of a student from a young age all the way to the point where they became teenage tournament-level players, growing their love for the game in the process, was very rewarding. Perhaps it comes…
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Levels at Slate
Pickleball has changed. A 3.0 is different today than it was two years ago. The reason comes down to the increase of the skill gap. Now that millions of people are playing, and the professional scene has skyrocketed, the levels of play that are at the top are far greater. But, there aren’t numbers added…
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We’re Opening On Tuesday!
The Brookside Backcourt is opening to play and programming on Tuesday, October 1. Now you’re wondering, why not September 30? Well, the weather last week was not conducive to the paint drying. We wanted a high amount of acrylic layers to increase the quality of the court surface, which means more drying time. But the…
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Sneaky Pickleball Shots to Elevate Your Game
The common goal in pickleball is to neutralize the point, get to the NVZ, hold your ground, and win the point. Surprising your opponents and watching them scramble is all part of the fun. There are many ways to do this at the NVZ, but here are my three favorite: Slate’s Adult Group Instructional program…
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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…