Tag: CLub
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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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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 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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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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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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Know Your Opponents’ Shot Clock in Pickleball
The importance of understanding the shot clock when developing strategy in pickleball.
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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.…
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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…
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Standards at Slate
Hello future Slate members, A club with a program as comprehensive as ours is going to require a complex standard of procedure architecture. Every aspect of our robust programming is going to be of the highest caliber, and for that to occur, the standards must be set well before opening, and the coaches fully trained. …