"Master, I am having problems," said Po.
The master was writing a scroll detailing the proper way to polish a pickleball net cord.
"Eh, Po, what is it blocks your happiness?" asked the Master.
"I've been been getting to the net properly, as is written in the temple's Guide to Pickleball Greatness, but once I am there, it seems to cause me problems."
"Are you dinking properly?"
"Yes, that is not a problem. I'm striving to lift and push and use hybrid shots as required."
"Excellent, the dink is not for the hurried or impatient. It is the Chi of the sport and transcends the heavens and the earth."
"Er, yes Master, but I'm having problems when I try to score points."
"How so then, Po? If you are dinking well, the points will arrive."
"I am waiting for an error from the opponents and when I see one, I try to pounce and exploit it," said Po.
"Are you sure the opportunities that you see are really there?" asked the Master.
"I think so, I'm able to speed the ball up and keep it in the court."
"And..."
"When I hit, the opponents seem to return it too often. And it comes back harder than I hit it," said Po.
"Are these good opponents?"
"Yes, they are."
"Perhaps the fast ball is less effective the better the player?"
"I understand Master, and that seems correct."
"But it works better with your level and below?"
"Yes."
"So you must change your game depending on whom you are playing? Is that not always true? If a player hits soft serves, then there is no need to play back. If a player will not poach, then more of the court is open to you and you select shots thusly."
"Ah, so speed up a ball only against certain players?" asked Po.
"No, you must punish all the mistakes of others. But what is a mistake with an average player is not a mistake with a good player. You must decide if your sped up ball will be suitable for the skill of your opponent. If not, then dink more. Wait for a better shot. Marginal shots will be punished by the opponents! Strive to hit no ball that can be attacked, for that is the path to be punished," elaborated the Master.
"Ah, so more patience?"
"Yes. As it takes time to properly make rice flour and tea, a pickleball point is an item to be properly constructed, coaxed along like an egg in a fry pan, and finally served when properly completed. Cut no corners, Po, for that is not the path to happiness.
"Alas, all this talk of tea and flour has made these old bones hungry. Is it not dim sum day at the cafeteria, Po?"
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Here are some thoughts that are hinted a bit in the above:
1) A speed up has to be good, as the return shot will be coming faster
2) don't use marginal opportunities with good players
3) don't forget to expect a return shot
4) It might be better to look for a soft, low, well placed strategic shot than a hard one that will be returned. think "mate in five" not "stroke of death"
5) How good is your return of a hard shot? Gets back to #1, the ball tends to speed up with average players. If you are overwhelmed, then a reset shot is needed, do you have one of those? Mark of a master!
6) If you have a good return of the initial speed up, then you can tease opponents into speeding up. Hit a shot that is just high enough to tempt them, and be ready for the faster ball.
great one. pls keep these coming
ReplyDeleteThanks. The master has a list of topics, Po has much to learn...
ReplyDelete