The Only Five Pickleball Lessons You Need

Seriously...

Author

Shea Underwood
July 21, 2024

WEEK 25

Welcome back to the Road to Pro!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

  • The secret to making consistent shots

  • 3 short tips for better contact with the ball

  • An easy drill for quick improvement

  • The only five pickleball lessons you need

As always, I’ve answered a question that one of you submitted, and this week Bernice gets a brand new paddle for her question! If you want the chance to win a paddle, click on the button below to submit your pickleball questions. Anyone whose question is featured in my newsletter will automatically win a new paddle!

Now let’s get to it!

Q&A Spotlight

This week’s question comes from Bernice. Time for a new paddle!

Where should my eyes be focused during a rally? People tell me to keep my eye on the ball, and others tell me to keep my eye on the opponents paddle, but where should my focus be in order to have the best shot of returning anything that comes to me?

Bernice

Answer: It may sound simple, but knowing what to focus on during a rally will make your contact with the ball so much more consistent, and your shots will improve drastically.

(We cover this topic in more detail in my most recent video, “The Only Five Pickleball Lessons You Need”)

Your goal should be to watch the ball all the way through contact. This means that you should keep your eye on the ball as it’s coming off your opponent’s paddle, during its flight to you, throughout the motion of your shot, and as it’s traveling back over the net. By knowing exactly where the ball is at all times, you’ll be able to make more consistent contact with your paddle and take the shot you want. The only time it’s not possible to watch the ball all the way through contact is when you’re in a hands battle at the kitchen. In this case, the ball is moving too fast to be able to track its full path back and forth.

Keep your eye on the ball through contact

However, there is other information you need to be aware of during a rally, like where your opponents are positioned and where their paddles are, which will help you anticipate their next shot. So, while you’re keeping your eye on the ball, be sure to make mental notes of these things in your peripheral, so that you can use that information in the game. It takes practice training your mind to be aware of all the moving parts, but the more you do it, the easier it will come. Just remember to keep your eye on the ball!

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If you have a question you’d like for me to answer, click the button below to fill out the question submission form.

If your question is chosen for next week’s newsletter, you’ll win a free paddle!

Dink Master Discount

If you haven’t already seen this pickleball product, you need to check out the Dink Master by Enhance Pickleball! It’s a movable wall that is marked with the exact net height as well as various targets to train your accuracy.

This allows you to practice pickleball whenever you want from your own home, and you don’t have to worry about the weather or finding anyone to play.

You can use my code SHEAUNDERWOOD for free shipping when you order your Dink Master.

Tip of the Week

Improve your contact

In addition to keeping your eye on the ball, there are three other things I want to share with you that will help you improve your shots.

  1. Shorten your backswing

Keep your backswing short and avoid pulling your paddle too far behind you. Ideally, you want to hit the ball in front of your body when you're the most balanced and ready. A big backswing causes you to lose balance and time. You allow the ball to come too close to you instead of hitting it in front of your body, which means a less effective shot, and you also give your opponent more time to prepare. The pace of the game is fast, and having a big backswing makes it difficult to respond to nearly any shot.

Make contact in front of your body

  1. Breathe out at contact

Have you ever wondered why tennis players grunt when they hit the ball? It’s because they’re exhaling at contact which releases tension from their body, adding power to their shot. In pickleball, you should practice breathing out as you make contact with the ball. It’ll help with the fluidity of your movements, give you more control and power over your shots, and it’ll simply prevent you from getting lightheaded during a long rally from lack of oxygen.

The drill I created for you this week (see below) will help you improve your breathing. Try it out for yourself and you’ll start to notice more consistent control over your shots.

  1. Weight transfer

Don’t forget that the power and control of any shot you make doesn’t just come from your arm, it comes from your entire body. When you have proper weight transfer, you’ll generate more power, and you’ll be able to maintain your balance.

Imagine lifting a heavy object over your head. The easiest and most effective way to do this is by bending your knees and pushing with your legs, using that momentum to shift to your upper body and lift the object over your head. If you keep your legs straight and try to lift the object using only your arms, it’s much more difficult, takes a lot more effort, and is a great deal slower.

Take that knowledge and apply it to pickleball. Let the power come from your legs, through your body and into your shot. I guarantee that if you do this, you’ll see better results in your contact with the ball.

Drill Highlight

Breath control

This drill is designed to help you practice better breathing during a game.

If you want to do this drill alone, all you need is a wall to hit against. Start by dinking against the wall, and count every dink out loud as you hit it. Calling the number out loud as you make each shot will force you to breathe out slightly at every hit. This will help you become accustomed to breathing regularly during a rally. If you don’t want to do this drill alone, then just grab your drilling partner and dink with each other, counting your dinks out loud as you hit.

Count out loud as you dink

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Videos You’ll Enjoy

  • Get inspired to level up your game! Go watch Cracked Pickleball’s video where we show you what you need to do to become a 5.0.

Discounts for You

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