More Thoughts on Style

 I wanted to add some thoughts in re style inspired a bit by thinking about the last post, which described some of the elements of Bryan and Lori's usual game.

To summarize their style we could call it conservative in that they don't try to out hit opponents, but to out dink them.  There is a lot to like about this style as it lends itself to few errors.  The points tend to be longer with a mixture of soft shots and few of hard ones.  Since missing shots is a major downer, this style looks like it maximizes happiness, which ain't half bad...

Others, like one of the Pauls, tries to hit winners off of a lot of shots.  You'll get either a down the line or cross court short ball.  He hits them quite well due to his tennis background, but it leads to very short points will little rally time.  And it requires a lot of stretching on an opponent's part (which is fine except for the first game of the day!).

Those are the two extreme styles.  There is a large middle ground where the style is a mixture of the above.  Hitting the ball hard shortens points and soft shots lengthen them.  The good player will use the appropriate shot for the conditions.  And the conditions are not as simple as pure pickleball game theory might suggest...

We are all out here to have a good time and lunging for the extreme passing shot might not be at the top of the list of fun things to do.  (I'd put in a cheeky reference to chasing down lobs too, but I'm trying not to overly prejudicial on that point and I've actually hit a couple of lobs that were successful recently.  Perhaps I'll welcome the dark side one day.) 

Back to conditions...  As Jason has put it, "Partners matter."  There are styles that you and/or your partner can't handle.  For example, if you like to rush the net early, that requires your partner to hit perfect drops shots.   And if your partner won't follow shots to the net, that makes it awkward as well.  Expectation of fundamental pickleball movement is a bit part of the game.

Also speeding up a shot at the kitchen is fine, except if your partner can't handle the counter shot -- and there usually will be a lot of counter hits.  If that's the case, then speed up less and wait for exceptional opportunities only.  Shots you may want to take may only be appropriate with the proper partner.

If you're playing against beginners, hitting hard shots won't be sporting and won't help the beginners improve quickly.

The circle of posts has come around and we can see that with whom we play and against whom we play affect which style we use for a particular game.  The end goal being to have a good time for everyone.  (Exceptions below.)

As Strunk and White, said, it's all about the elements of style.  Ah, a literary joke there, but I think it's useful to look at some of the choices to be made in re how to play in all circumstances.  

These choices are more varied for recreation play versus tournaments, but I think it's worthy of discussion for both.

Broadly speaking we have drives and drops, dinks and lobs, and we can place those shots either in the middle of the court, deep, and/or to the sidelines.  (Lobs are best done over certain shoulders, maybe a different post on that one.)

If you are playing a rec game with less skilled players, then playing gently up the middle or right at the opponents will generate the longer points and let everyone hit the ball more -- kind of what we are there for.  And playing with a less skilled partner, softer shots tend to come back soft, which your partner can handle better than hard shots at extreme angles.   Play the shots that your side can best handle and don't be an oaf and beat up on lesser opponents.

I've wanted to write about how to play tournament PB for a while, but I've not gotten around to it and since I've not played in any, it's been put off.  But let me extend some of the thoughts from this post to that venue as it seems useful and it's raining, and you're herec reading, so more content is better than less.

You've got the same choices in a tournament.  But now the gloves come off and you are interested in the most efficient way to score points and win.  Shot selections, depth, speed, angles are chosen to provide your opponents with problems to solve.  You hope they can't manage that and you get a ball you can put away.

It's also important that you take into account the ability of the partnership and if you seek to out dink or out hit the opponents, you have to consider how well your team plays with that style.  Speed up a lot if you both have fast hands and like a fire fight, or be more careful and patient if you don't, for example.

Also the opponents might be great hitters and lousy dinkers, so even if your side is not great at dinking, you may gain an advantage with that style.  With a single game match, you want to figure out the winning style very quickly.  

If I were to embark on a partnership for serious play, I would have detailed discussions with partner about style, shot selection, and placement.  I'd also know what partner expects to do or cover, when balls are at extreme sides of the court and also, most importantly, the middle shots.  If that is all understood, then you could have deliberate plays to push one or the other or both of the opponents off the court, modify coverage and seek to gain an advantage.  Some of that might work best if the opponent is left handed and which sideline you use might be vital too.

When the game begins, evaluate each opponent quickly and figure out how to play to them.  The answer might be to never play to a specific player -- unlike rec play you don't care if they don't have a good time.  :-)  And your partnership needs to agree on whom to attack and how and do that efficiently.  So there is an additional element here, that looks complex and rewarding to figure out.  "How to beat up on Strangers!"  Might be a good book to read or write.  

This has turned out more interesting than I thought it would be, at least for me.  :-)  I can see a checklist for partnerships, either on paper or mentally.  And a quick evaluation of partner's abilities ought to influence shot selection to allow partner to play at the top of their game.