Tag: Terry Ryan

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Your Lizard Brain And Pickleball

Your Lizard Brain and Pickleball

Your lizard brain…what?! I have a LIZARD BRAIN and what does it have to do with pickleball? Good question. Let’s start with the lizard brain…

Also referred to as your reptilian brain as it refers to the most primitive part of our brain, where lay the instincts that warn us of danger when it lurks.

Image result for reptilian brain psychology–

The “basal ganglia” (lizard brain) refers to a group of subcortical nuclei within the brain responsible primarily for motor control, as well as other roles such as motor learning, executive functions, emotional behaviors, and play an important role in reward and reinforcement, addictive behaviors and habit formation.
In Nick Bollettieri, tennis master and founder of IMG tennis camp, said in his documentary (Love Means Zero-Showtime) about your lizard brain, it is the part of your brain that automatically knows when to step out of the way of a speeding car. You don’t have to process it…look there is a car…what should I do?  No, the lizard brain automatically takes over and you jump out of the way.
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Activate your automatic…This is what your pickleball instructor means when they say, “MUSCLE MEMORY.” The pickleball students execute a drill over and over again until it is locked and loaded into their brain and it becomes automatic.
Example: I was standing at the net at my Friday clinic when one of my students popped the ball up.  At the moment, my thinking was more on what I was going to cook for dinner, but my lizard brain saw the ball and I automatically slammed it down the middle and past the dinking students. I apologized immediately. One of  them said wide eyed, “How did you do that?”  I said, “My lizard brain took over.”
Hence: to be better, to level up, and to be a competitive player, you have to DRILL DRILL DRILL.  What do you have to do? DRILL!!! Lock in to your muscle memory.
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If you don’t want to drill, you don’t want to win.
But Terry, drilling is boring. No. it isn’t. If you find it boring, you are doing it wrong. Get a foursome together and go to a court, not during the morning rush, and drill. Set a length of time, say for an hour or two.  Somebody gets lazy in the group and declares it is boring and they want to play a game, then don’t ask them to drill next time. Get a group of DEDICATED TO IMPROVE. DRILL FOR THE THRILL!
Pickleball Terry
Receiving instructions at Pickleball Camp

Examples of some drills

Youtube is an excellent source to find pickleball drills. You can do 3rd Shot Drop drills, and dinking drills. Or sign up for a drill session with me.

Complaining students…

Whoa… I have blogged about this before, that in a clinic I was taking in Punta Gorda, one of the players complained to the instructor that his drill was boring. Oh, it went from bad to worse in just a few seconds as the student was scolded by the coach. “Don’t tell me how to run my class.” he demanded.

And I’ve had that happen to me. “Let’s move on, this is boring,” said one of my students. I moved on to another drill hoping she would find it more interesting.

IF YOU WANT TO MASTER ANY SPORT, YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE!
Tom Brady: Hey Coach, I don’t have to practice anymore, I’m Tom Brady.
Coach: Get out of here!
Muscle Memory and Learning Skills

The famous saying practice makes perfect applies here.

You might have heard people mention the term muscle memory when you’ve been training and exercising. Muscle memory can also be referred to as motor memory and it refers to your body’s memory to perform certain actions.


And researching MUSCLE MEMORY I find this…

The two parts of the brain which are responsible for controlling the muscle memory are the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. They help to learn sequences of actions and help to adjust errors in learning in order to improve our ability to perform the movements correctly.

The cerebellum (which is Latin for “little brain”) is a major structure of the hindbrain that is located near the brainstem. This part of the brain is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements. It is also responsible for a number of functions including motor skills such as balance, coordination, and posture.

In order to learn movements and make them habits which can be performed efficiently, you must go through a process of attempting the movements and then refining these movements until you are happy with how you perform them. The movement or behavior becomes learned and ‘hard wired.”

 

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A good example of this could be the first time you preform a pickleball underhanded serve with a continental grip. It feels weird and you fail at first, but keep on trying and you are able to improve your serve. During this process, you go from thinking really hard about how to execute it to performing it effortlessly without thinking!

The best example of motor memory would be learning to drive or to ride a bicycle – combinations of movements which at first are extremely difficult but once mastered are performed mostly without over thinking.

I hope this blog post inspires you to drill and not just get out there and play. Unless you are just a Sunday/Funday- kind of player, then ignore all of the above. But for the players who want to become better and be the kind of player everyone wants to challenge on the courts, then drilling is thrilling, and practice makes a better player.

Thank you for reading! All the best!

Pickleball Terry

Picture of Pickleball Terry, Terry Ryan

USA Pickleball Ambassador
PPR Certified Coach
Owner of SarasotaPickleball.com
Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

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How to Maintain Your Focus

Keeping mental focus Sarasota PickleballWhen I first started out playing pickleball, I found it very hard to maintain my  focus. Little things would steal my concentration; a yell “OUT!” from another court, people walking behind the court I’m playing on, or just someone new walking in the door. And the minute something steals my attention whoosh there goes a ball by me.

Here is a video on improving your mental focus. 

Sometimes my mind will wander, and I’ll even start thinking about my shopping list, or other errands I should do after pickleball. All the above is not good for your game. Your mind should be on one thing, and that is the next shot. Not even the hopeful outcome of the game, but your next shot. Meaning; don’t get ahead of yourself.

You can become rattled by a bad shot you made, or even by the opponents saying the incorrect score, and you’re thinking, wasn’t it 2 – 4? How did they get 3? Meanwhile, the ball is going back and forth and you are still thinking of the score. Not good! Your head should be in the game. What is happening right now? Where are your opponents’ weaknesses? Who has the weak backhand?

There are some tricks to keeping your mind in the game. As the ball is moving back and forth, pickleball pro Sarah Ansboury, likes to point her paddle in the direction of the ball. She feels this keeps her focused.

(Check out this video by Sarah Ansboury-What’s in my bag?)

Sarah Ansboury keeping focused Sarasota Pickleball
Sarah Ansboury

Another way, is to say “ball” (to yourself)  as the ball is coming towards you, and another pro told me to look for the holes in the ball. It’s hard to be distracted when you are focusing on the ball.

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I would recommend getting into your game head. As soon as you step onto the court clear your mind of everything else. Say to yourself, I am only thinking about this game. Between points, I will tap my hat with my paddle and that is code to my brain to FOCUS!  You can tap your knee or squeeze your paddle as a way to get ready. But please don’t slap your thigh with your paddle so it creates a loud SLAP. That is neither helpful or comforting to your partner.

If you miss a shot, don’t continue to think about it. Shake it off. Tap your knee. Focus on the next rally. If someone rolls their eyes at you or gives you a smirk, ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Think only about winning the next shot.

In a tournament, one of the opponents’ strategies is to call a time out if you and your partner are getting way ahead in points. This is a method to break your concentration.  Take this time, for a water break and keep thinking about the game. When you get back on the court, stay on the balls of your feet, give your partner a little encouragement with a tap of the paddles, a look meaning “we’ve got this!” and proceed where you left off.

To summarize, stay FOCUSED!

By Pickleball Terry

USAPA Sarasota Ambassador
Creator or SarasotaPickleball.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Tremendous 12 Pickleball Shots

A picture of Pickleball Terry, Terry Ryan, and Coach Russell of Suncoast Pickleball
Pickleball Terry
Receiving instructions at Pickleball Camp

I had the pleasure of participating in a Suncoast Pickleball Camp in Punta Gorda this past week.  What an amazing experience, and boy, did I learn a lot…under fire. The 4 pros, Barry Waddell, John Sperling, Scott Tingley and David Dunkin all kept a close eye on the 32 students, so much so, that 2 courts over from me one of the pros yelled out, “Terry, did I just see you step in the kitchen?”

Sue serving at the Pickleball Camp
Sue showing her serve.

The camp started at 8:00 a.m. on 8 courts at the Pickleplex. If you don’t know what the Pickleplex is, it consists of 16 outdoor pickleball courts constructed on the Florida Southwestern College campus, and it literally put Punta Gorda on the pickleball map. Read this article here on how much $$$ the Pickleplex brought into the community.

We were divided into groups of 8 and had a different pro in the mornings and afternoons practicing: dinking, reset, lobs, serves, blocking and more, for 7 hours with a break for lunch. After 3 days, I’ll admit I was tired and sore.

It was an amazing experience and I would suggest anyone who is serious about pickleball and sharpening their skills should take a clinic or camp.

On the first day, pro, Barry Waddell, mentioned that there are 12 tremendous pickleball shots with subshots. I asked him to send them to me via email, and I will share them with you.

https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/2019/05/28/meet-the-pros-barry-waddel/

The 12 Pickleball Shots according to Barry Waddell:

  1. Serve (3 types: Topspin, Slice, Lob)
  2. Forehand return of serve (2 types: topspin and slice)
  3. Backhand return of serve (2 types: topspin, slice)
  4. Forehand topspin ground stroke drive
  5. Backhand topspin ground stroke drive
  6. Forehand volley (5 types: block, jab, roll, reset, kill)
  7. Backhand volley (5 types: block, jab, roll, reset, kill)
  8. Overhead smash
  9. Lob (2 types: flat, topspin)
  10. Dinking (3 types: flat, slice, roll)
  11. Third shot drop (3 types: flat, slice, roll)
  12. ATP shot

There you go. Master these and you master the game of pickleball.

A picture of Pickleball Terry Ryan and Coach Russell from Suncoast Pickleball
Pickleball Terry and Coach Russell, owner of Suncoast Pickleball
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The New Owners of Sarasota Pickleball Academy

I had the pleasure of meeting with the new owners of Sarasota Pickleball Academy, Brian and Valerie McCarthy, and I am happy to say that they are down-to-earth and sincerely wonderful people. In fact, they are the kind of people you want to succeed in their next endeavor; buying the Stardust Roller Skating Rink and turning into a 12 indoor pickleball courts facility.

With the husband’s and wife’s familiarity with commercial real estate (shopping centers, marinas in the Keys, an olive grove in California, etc.) and their equal interest in pickleball, they agreed to undertake the massive project of rehabbing the old building located on 12th St and turning it into the first dedicated, indoor pickleball facility in USA.

They plan on opening in the fall of 2020 after putting in over a million dollars of improvements that will include a new roof, floors, HVAC and repaving of the parking lot.

Some of the programs planned are drop-in play, ability to reserve courts, clinics, lessons from area pros, veteran leagues, youth programs, and tournaments. There will be a coffee and juice bar, locker rooms with showers, a pro shop and possibly beer and wine available to encourage the after-play, social aspect.

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To Order For Your Pets Click on The Picture…

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As far as rates, there will be a membership program in place including a Snowbird plan.

I will plan a mixer in the spring to introduce the McCarthys to the Sarasota pickleball community so we can all give them a warm welcome.

For their press release. Roller Skating to Pickleball

Their website is SRQpickleball.com

 

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Order Your Custom Design Paddle

Pickleball Terry is now an ambassador for Third Shot Drop. They design custom made paddles just for you! 

 Third Shop Drop. 

Who are they?  CLICK HERE

Which Core and Why?

Currently, we offer three different types of cores: Aluminum, Nomex and Polymer. Each one has playing characteristics that suit certain styles of play.

Aluminum– (touch)

Aluminum core paddles feature advanced, lighter weight, aluminum honeycomb cores. Aluminum cores are known for their outstanding “TOUCH”. The ball comes off just a bit slower, which gives players an extra edge of maneuverability and control. This extra amount of control is due to both the soft rebound and the lightweight nature of aluminum. Players may prefer this core for their third shot drops and touch shots. However, aluminum cores do dent over time (more so with the “rubbery balls”), so are not recommended for super hard hitters. You will lose a bit of power with aluminum cores.

Polymer– (balance of power and touch)

Polymer core paddles are the most popular core currently used in pickleball paddles. The honeycomb polymer core provides power performance, yet gives soft control for the touch shots. Polymer cores have earned the reputation of being the quietest core on the market due to being slightly less deflective than the other two cores. The reduced deflection offers players a split-second longer to manipulate the ball, hence offering control.

Nomex– (power)

Nomex core paddles feature a lightweight Nomex honeycomb core that has been used in a variety of sporting and high-tech industry applications. Nomex was the first core used in pickleball paddles and is still is a popular core material. Nomex honeycomb begins as a cardboard-like material which is then dipped in resin creating an extremely damage-resistant material. They are also the loudest of the three cores. Nomex cores are well-liked for their durability and consistency. Players looking for a lot of “POWER” prefer Nomex cores. You may lose a bit of pace control due to how quickly balls come (pop) off the Nomex core.

 

Which Surface and Why

The three most commonly used surfaces for pickleball paddles are Carbon Fiber Weave, Graphite and Fiberglass Composite. Each has characteristics that, when combined with a core material, give each paddle the performance profile that suits every player’s unique style and game.

Carbon Fiber–

Carbon fiber surfaces are the most expensive, most durable and lightest weight. When bonded properly to a honeycomb core, Carbon Fiber weave (it is actually fabric before being bonded to a honeycomb core) is strong, durable, high tech and very distinctive in appearance. It provides the ultimate in ball control, but can lose a bit of power compared to the other surfaces.

Graphite–

Graphite paddle surfaces are very thin, about the thickness of a fingernail. Light and responsive, yet hard and strong. Players like the quick action off the Graphite face. Graphite is a bit heavier than carbon fiber and slightly less durable (and more cost effective, which is a reason many manufacturers use it rather than carbon fiber). Because of Graphite’s stiff nature, the ball does not sink into it, so it is easier to direct the ball, providing fantastic ball placement.

Fiberglass Composite–

Composite paddle faces take full advantage of the latest aerospace composite material technology. Variations of composite surfaces are expanding throughout the industry, increasing their play-ability. These paddles feature an incredible combination of touch, feel, and strength. The Composite surface provides a bit more power than the other two surfaces.

Weight

Paddle weight is a hot button for players.  Many believe that the weight determines how well they respond to the ball and should be based on their size and gender.  That’s the opposite of what they need to think.  Skill determines how well a player responds to the ball.  Weight is more about what your body can cope with during play.

Very similar to baseball bats and tennis rackets, the player must first have the skill to aim, respond and direct the ball.  The weight is what lets them do it comfortably and accurately. Heavier paddles help smooth out players’ shots, making them more consistent and repeatable. Lighter paddles can encourage too much herky-jerky movement and inconsistent hits. Simple physics, Force = Mass x Acceleration, dictates that the heavier the paddle, the more power a player has with less effort. The paddle is doing the work. Players with light paddles tend to incur more wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries.

Before a player decides that they must have a certain weight based on their size or gender, they should instead be sure that: 1) their grip is properly sized, and 2) the paddle weight matches their level of strength, regardless of their stature or gender.  That combination is the most important factor in choosing a proper weight.

Also keep in mind how the weight is distributed in a paddle. The key is how a paddle is balanced, not the total weight of the paddle itself. Mitigating the scale weight so the swing weight of the paddle feels light and responsive is what separates Third Shot Drop Custom Pickleball Paddles from the rest. You can pick up two paddles with the same weight and one may feel significantly heavier due to how the paddle weight is balanced. Blind studies have shown players typically think many of our paddles weigh an ounce or more less than their scale weight.

Grip Sizing

Improper sizing will not only restrict your game, it can cause physical problems as well.

  • Using a paddle with an undersized grip causes you to use more force to squeeze the handle. This can affect your hand, forearm, and elbow, leading to fatigue and eventually tendonitis. It also restricts the fluid motion so important in the soft game.
  • Using a paddle with an oversized grip restricts your wrist’s motions, makes changing grips harder, and requires more strength to use.

  • What handle shape do you want. Oval handles can be as small as 4”, while octagonal (tennis) and square handles begin at 4 3/8”.
  • Grip tape style.  We will grip your handle to the exact size you ask.  However, if you plan to add your own over-grip, it can add 1/16” – 1/8” to your handle size.  Be sure to deduct that amount when ordering your paddle, so your final grip size is correct. We offer flat, ridged, or stitched grip tapes.

The grip size is the circumference of the handle at the midpoint.  It’s measured in 1/8” increments.  This measurement is the finished size of the handle, including any over-grip that may be added to the factory finish.  If your measurement is between sizes, step down one size and add an over grip to increase it to the proper size.

Index Finger Test

Hold your paddle in your non-hitting hand. You should be able to fit the index finger of your other hand in the space between your ring finger and palm.

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Start playing with your own custom designed paddle. Order here.

SO, now you are armed with the truth about paddles!

Hooray for you! You are now ready to get rid of all those “not-so-good guesses” taking space in your bag and replace them with an educated decision that will improve your game, raise your confidence and make your overall pickleball experience even better!   Can’t wait to see you on the courts!

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Meet Janet – a New Pickleball Enthusiast

Meet Janet. Pickleball enthusiast.

Sarasota pickleball
Janet

Janet never played racket sports before, but her neighbor told her one day to play pickleball. She tried it and loved it (who doesn’t). Soon she signed up as a member at Palm Aire and played with some much better players who told her to find something else to do. But she stayed with it and at the end of the summer she received the MOST IMPROVED award.

From Omaha, Nebraska, she moved down to Florida in 1984. Janet didn’t have time to play sports because she worked back then, but now she lives in Mote Ranch and plays at least 3 days a week.  I ran into her at Longwood Park.

Her advice is…Do not be intimidated by better players, but also you don’t want to ruin their game. Find a good in between and stick with it.

 

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Pickleball Rules

http://www.pickleballnow.com/rules

WHAT IS PICKLEBALL?

Pickleball is a simple paddle game played using a perforated, slow-moving ball over a tennis-type net on a badminton-sized court. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn!

HISTORY

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, WA. Three dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum -whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities are credited for creating game. Pickleball has evolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the US and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well with many European and Asian countries adding courts.

Learn more about Pickleball history.

RULES

The ball is served diagonally to the opponent’s service court underhanded without bouncing it off the court.

Points are scored by the serving side only and occur when the opponent faults (fails to return the ball, hits ball out of bounds, etc.). The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until the serving side faults. The first side scoring 11 points and leading by at least a 2-point margin wins. If both sides are tied, then play continues until one side wins by 2 points.

Double Bounce Rule: Following the serve, each side must make at least one ground-stroke, prior to volleying the ball (hitting it before it has bounced).

Non-Volley Zone: A player cannot volley a ball while standing within the non-volley zone.

See the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) Rulebook for more regulations and rules.

SCORING

  • Points are scored only by the serving team.
  • Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.
  • Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.
  • When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right-side court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left-side court when serving or receiving.

COURT

The dimensions and measurements for the standard pickleball court are 20 feet (6.10 m) wide and 44 feet (13.41 m) long for both singles and doubles matches.

Court lines should be 2 inches wide and measurements should be made to the outside of the lines.

Baselines: The baselines are the lines parallel to the net at each end of the court.

Sidelines: The sidelines are the lines perpendicular to the net on each side of the court.

Non-Volley Line: The non-volley line is the line on each side of the net between the sidelines and parallel to the net. These lines are located 7 feet (2.13 m) from the net.

Non-Volley Zone: The non-volley zone is the area of the court bounded by the two sidelines, the non-volley line, and the net. The non-volley line and the sidelines are included in the non-volley zone.

Centerline: The centerline is the line on each side of the net bisecting the area between the non-volley line and the baseline.

Service Courts: The service courts are the areas on either side of the centerline, bounded by the non-volley line, the baseline, and the sideline.

 

 

PADDLES

An official paddle (used in tournament play) should not contain holes, indentations, rough texturing, tape, features that are reflective, or any objects or features that allow a player to impart additional or increased spin on the ball.

Shop Pickleball Now paddles.

Learn more about tournament IFP paddle requirements.

BALLS

A standard ball is made of durable plastic material molded with a smooth surface and free of texturing. An official ball should be 2.75 inches (6.99cm) to 3 inches (7.62 cm) in diameter and should weigh between 0.8 and 1.02 oz (21 and 29 grams).

Shop Pickleball Now balls.

Learn more about tournament IFP ball requirements.

NET

The net should be made of any open, meshed fabric material small enough to prevent the ball from passing through the net.

The net should be least 20 feet long (6.1 m) extending from one sideline to the other. It should measure exactly 36 inches (0.914 m) tall at the sidelines and 34 inches (0.86 m) at the center of the court. A center strap may be placed at the center of the net to enable easy adjustment.

The top of the net should be edged with a 2 inch (5.1 cm) white binding over a cord or cable running through the binding. This binding must rest upon the cord or cable.

Net posts should be placed outside the sidelines. Recommended placement is 12 inches (30.48 cm) from the sideline.

LINGO

Carry: Hitting the ball in such a way that it does not bounce away from the paddle but tends to be carried along on the face of the paddle during its forward motion.

Cross-court: The court diagonally opposite your court.

Dead Ball: A dead ball is declared after a fault.

Dink Shot: A soft shot that is intended to arc over the net and land within the non-volley zone.

Double Bounce: A ball that bounces more than once, on one side, before it is returned.

Double Hit: One side hitting the ball twice before it is returned over net. Double hits may occur by one player or could involve both players on a team.

Drop Shot: A groundstroke shot that falls short of the opponent’s position.

Drop Shot Volley: A volley shot that is designed to “kill” the speed of the ball and return it short, near the net, to an opponent positioned at or near the baseline. This shot is especially effective when initiated close to the non-volley line.

Fault: A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.

Groundstroke: Hitting the ball after one bounce.

Half Volley: A groundstroke shot where the paddle contacts the ball immediately after it bounces from the court and before the ball rises to its potential height.

Hinder: Any element or occurrence that affects play.

Let: A serve that hits the net cord and lands in the service court. Let may also refer to a rally that must be replayed for any reason.

Lob: A shot that returns the ball as high and deep as possible, forcing the opposing side back to the baseline.

Non-Volley Zone: The section of court adjacent to the net in which you cannot volley the ball. It includes all lines surrounding the zone.

Second Serve: A term used to describe the condition when a serving team begins the game or subsequently loses the first of its two allocated serves.

Overhead Slam / Smash: A hard, overhand shot usually resulting from an opponent’s lob, high return, or high bounce.

Passing Shot: A volley or groundstroke shot that is aimed at a distance from the player and is designed to prevent return of the ball.

Permanent Object: Any object near the court or hanging over the court that interferes with the flight of the ball. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators (when in their recognized positions) and all other objects around and above the court.

Rally: Continuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault.

Replays: Any rallies that are replayed for any reason without the awarding of a point or a side out.

Service Court: The area on either side of the centerline, bounded by the non-volley line, the baseline, and the sideline. All lines are included in the service court except the non-volley line.

Side Out: Declared after one side loses its service and other side is awarded service.

Technical Foul: The referee is empowered to add one point to a player’s score or a team’s score when the opponent violates one of the rules calling for a technical foul or, in the referee’s judgment, the opponent is being overly and deliberately abusive.

Volley: Hitting the ball in the air, during a rally, before the ball has a chance to bounce onto the court.

STRATEGY

  • Try to keep serves firm and deep. Vary direction but make sure they’re in bounds.
  • Serve from near the center line so you can get at most returns more easily.
  • Try to keep returns deep and to the corners.
  • Generally stay near the back third of the court.
  • Try to force opponents to use their backhand, most players are weaker there.
  • Anytime you can, hit a deep forcing shot into the corners, where your opponent doesn’t have time to set up for their shot. That gives you a chance to come to the non-volley line and hit a passing shot.
  • Face your opponent. You’re in a better position to return a shot to either side.
  • Never hit a drop shot when your opponent is deep. Good players will get to it quickly and be in position to hit a passing shot.
  • Vary your shots so opponents can’t anticipate you, occasionally try to make them think you’re doing one thing but do another.
  • Generally move left or right as your opponent moves but stay closer to the center line.
  • Use lobs only when necessary and your opponent is at the net or non-volley line.
  • If your opponent has managed to get to the net and you are still back, then you have 3 choices – hit a hard passing shot, hit a dipping shot that hits the ground at your opponent’s feet or hit a lob.
  • The best choice depends upon your skill level with each type of shot. The best players rarely lob because it’s a difficult shot to hit deep enough to keep a good player from putting it away.

Learn about strategy for doubles play.

Content provided by our friends at the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA). Learn more about the USAPA.