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5 Ways to Keep Your Eye on The Ball in Pickleball

IMAGE OR 5 TIPS ON KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE BALL IN PICKLEBALL

I was on the court today and my opponent popped a ball way up. Already picturing my graceful and accurate put-a-way,  I raised my paddle and watched the ball descend, but at the last moment I looked down and completely missed. Victory was not mine, not to mention, it’s embarrassing.

What happened? I was so sure I had it that I got over confident. Rookie move! I and many players have done it. GOT IT! Oops!

Sometimes you can’t help but look away when someone lobs the ball directly into the sun. Below is a video of opponents who used the sun as part of their strategy much to the annoyance of Leigh Waters.

Other times, it’s just sloppy playing.  Don’t be sloppy.

Here are five ways to keep your eye on the pickleball while playing:

  1.  Focus! Don’t get distracted by spectators, your opponents, or even your partner. Laser focus. Concentrate on tracking the ball’s trajectory, speed, and spin. A good drill is to write different numbers on the balls and  play. The players have to spot the number
  2. Track the ball with your paddle. Here’s a good tip from Sarah Ansboury, pro player, who said to follow the flight of the ball with your paddle. I use this with beginners and novices and it works!
  3. Ball! Another tip, say BALL as you are watching the flight to your paddle. It’s hard to think of anything else if you are saying BALL.
  4. Positioning. Position your body in a way that allows you to see the ball clearly. Keep your head up, eyes forward, and body balanced. Stay on the balls of your feet with eyes on the ball.  Try to stay ahead of the ball in thought and action.
  5. And my last tip is, it isn’t fair to your partner to NOT keep your eye on the ball. Yes, sometimes good old guilt works the best, but truthfully, you are not being a good partner or player for that matter, if you aren’t keeping your eye on the ball.

Remember, consistent practice and concentration are key to keeping your eye on the ball. By honing your visual skills and staying focused, you’ll be able to react quickly and effectively during the game, and we all want to play a good game.

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry
Terry Ryan, Founder of Sarasota Pickleball Organization, LLC
PPR Certified Coach (over a thousand students so far)
Dinkpickleball@Gmail.com

picture of pickleball Terry

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You can AirBNB your pickleball Court

Caught in a pickle? The ‘Airbnb of pickleball’ can help L.A. players find a court

(Source: https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2023-06-28/swimply-airbnb-pickleball-courts)

The biggest challenge for pickleball fans in Los Angeles is often step No. 1: finding a court to play on.

Since the pandemic, when the paddle sport exploded in popularity, city officials have been grappling with ways to meet the demand for more spaces. But change has been slow — factors ranging from neighborhood drama to a lack of funding to pushback from tennis players worried about their own turf have hampered efforts to expand the number of courts across Southern California.

But things are finally starting to take a turn — or a backspin, as a pickler might say. One inventive solution comes from L.A.-based Swimply, the Airbnb-like platform for homeowners to rent out their pools by the hour. The company recently added pickleball courts to its roster. Players now can scroll through the website or app and find about 20 private pickleball courts available to rent in L.A. County and 300 nationwide, with those numbers increasing rapidly, according to a Swimply rep.

Court rentals start at $25 an hour, with an average hourly rate of $40 (along with a 10% service fee for parties of up to 14 players). Court hosts set the rate, list amenities and establish court rules. Yes, the price is heftier than what you’d pay at your local rec center, but it may be a good option if you’re looking to play doubles with friends for an hour at a unique locale. You can rent a private court in Bel-Air that includes a fire pit and mini-fridge, a Studio City court surrounded by greenery or a court in Encino that allows up to 100 guests.

Swimply founder and Chief Executive Bunim Laskin said the company’s mission is to take spaces that are typically exclusive to the wealthiest and help make them accessible to everyone. Adding courts was “a no-brainer,” he added.

“With pools, we are taking a luxury that is owned by few, desired by many, and essentially democratizing that,” he said. “It was the perfect step for us to apply our Swimply magic to pickleball as well.”

The company also rents tennis courts and is exploring expansion into arenas such as private music studios and backyards for events.

The explosion of pickleball, which combines elements of badminton, tennis and ping pong, has been seen across the U.S. According to a 2023 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Assn., pickleball participation nearly doubled in 2022 and has increased by 158.6% since 2021. Laskin notes that you don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy yourself. Less physically strenuous than tennis, the sport has been a godsend for some older players.

“Pickleball is more about the moments you create rather than the sport itself,” he said.

 

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry

Nancy Mancini, a pickleball coach and the director of pickleball at Swimply, uses the platform to book courts for her clients — some of whom are celebrities and feel more comfortable using private home courts rather than public ones. She said she has seen pickleball’s power to unite people, especially after the pandemic.