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Obsessed with Pickleball and want to Improve?

Start Here The Basics
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The Art of Pickleball

I’m obsessed, and this site and the associated videos are here to share the techniques and strategies to excel at pickleball.

I have been obsessed with the sport since picking up a paddle in 2021. Not having a tennis background, I first learned the soft game (drops and dinks).
I’m always happy finding shots to master and decision-making to improve.

I’ve taken camps with pros and watched many videos, but I’ve drilled and practiced even more.

When I heard Simone say she drills 30 hours a week, I knew drilling was the key to improving. My goal is to drill more than I play.

Scott Moore said Pickleball is a mental game, and I agree… Once you have the skills and knowledge, the game comes down to who executes/plays the best. Scott also recommends deciding where you will hit the ball before the ball is hit to you.


A great book for the mental part of the game is “The Inner Game of Tennis.” I’ve listened to it many times. I should add a summary to this site!

“Obsession is going to beat talent every time. You got all the talent in the world, but are you obsessed? Let’s face it. It’s you against you out there.” –Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugerman – Hustle 

Successful people do what unsuccessful people are simply unwilling to do.

– Jesse Doe

The Basics

Cut Down on unforced errors.

Aim shots to the middle of the court. And hit the balls slightly higher than you think you need to clear the net.

How to Excel

Play and Practice like the Pros. They practice a lot more than they play.

I heard Simone drills 35 hours a week.

Pickleball Terms

All the words and phrases of pickleball

ATP – Around the Post

Ernie –

Dink

Drop (Drop shot)

Drive

3rd Shot Drive – when the third shot of the game is hit as a hard ground stroke rather than a soft drop shot.

3rd Shot Drop – The 3rd shot of a point that is hit to land in or near the kitchen, giving your time to advance toward the kitchen if hit correctly.

3rd Shot Lob – As of 2022, this is becoming more of a shot. AJ Koller is the current king of the 3rd shot lob.

Firefight – Fast exchange of volleys from the kitchen line

Reset – When you return a hard (well) hit ball back to the kitchen, enabling you to regain equal footing with your opponents.

Return – Return of serve

Volley – A ball hit before it bounces

Serve – First shot of the point.

Lob – A shot hit over your opponent to the back of the court.

Kitchen – (The Kitchen, aka non-volley zone – middle 14’x20′ = 280 sq. ft.)

Transition Zone – space between the kitchen and the back of the court

Waste high, let it fly – advice not to hit balls that might land out of bounds

Jump the corner – When you jump over the corner of the kitchen, off the court, to hit a shot.

Down the middle solves the riddle.

Chicken wing – The area of the paddle side of your body

Pickled – losing a game 11 to 0

Fault or Kitchen Fault – Touching the kitchen when volleying a ball