Dear Readers, we have a new report from the monastery, where the Master gives a lecture to the seventh year students. New readers will not be familiar with the teachings of Monastery, but acolytes are taught the fine arts of pickleball. The very good players will stay on as masters and perpetuate the theory and practice of Pickleball. The players who are not destined to become monks, often move to the professional tour. Let's listen in while the Master questions the acolytes.
-- The Editor
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"Our friends to the East say, 'It's good to have a wall'," said the Master.
The lecture a review of the "Basic Movement Theory." The acolytes had gathered court side to hear it.
"Grasshoppers, it is imperative to see the future clearly. All action requires equal and opposite reaction. That comes to us from an obscure player from England named Newton, back in the days when play was just starting. We now have the basic theory as fully defined by Master Ran Di, where we can extend the reaction model of play to one of great value.
"As the wind blows the willow branches, the ebb and flow of play must be recognized and used to tell the future. Master Ran proposed that all good players should predict at least three shots into the future.
"As you have progressed as students, you have observed that the game slows as your abilities develop. This allows more time for contemplation and selection of shots. Always a treat and the basis of why we play...
"But," the Master's voice rose to clap, "You must be in the proper position to perform as desired. Being fast or seeing slow, or knowing what is going to happen are trifles to being in the proper place. If you lack position, you will lack grace and honor and most of all, time.
"So we begin. To conserve time, you must strive to be efficient and move when required and where.
"Acolyte Po, if you are at the net to defend the second shot, where will the ball come?"
"Master, I do not know. It could come anywhere," answered Po.
"Po, this is mushy thinking, list the possible targets promptly or you will be doing meditation exercises for a week!" stormed the Master.
"Sorry Master, I err. Right at me, to my left or right, and if I am playing against certain players, a lob might be a possibility and that might be over either shoulder," said Po.
"Good, Po. Haha, lobs, but we are serious here... There is a major condition that you should expect and, here is a hint, hope for. What is that?"
"Oh, yes Master, I am slow this morning, the shot that is going out," said Po brightly.
"Very good Po. Now Acolyte Do, what are the important elements of the Position of Anticipation?"
"Master," replied Do, "the Position of Anticipation, or PoA, or "ready position" as it is more commonly called in the village, is the balance from which the next movement will come. As Po has said, shots are coming left, right, at one, over one, or going long. The PoA allows a player to move in all directions, including up or down, easily and quickly."
"Tell the class about the up and down movements, Do."
"If the ball is judged to have been hit with too much spice and too little spin, then we lower ourselves to let it pass. If it will not go long, then we may have to rise up for the downward facing backhand block, also known as the Happy Swan."
"Very good Do."
"Now let us talk of movement to the kitchen line. Do we ever defend from the middle kingdom, Acolyte Ro?" asked the Master.
Ro, who is a talented, but slow of foot player, answered, "We must be ready to defend from all positions, Master. Where we are does not matter. We, stop, get into position, calm the mind, ready the paddle and prepare to return a shot. It matters not if we are at the kitchen line or moving to it."
"Yes, Ro. One can defend from the so called transition area just as well. A point where the ball is being hit too hard, may not give you time to get to the kitchen line. Players who drive the ball or enter the court too early will be faced with this many times. Never give up on defense. All balls can be returned when the will overcomes fear. Do not backup, get ready and be fierce!
"When grasses are parted, the tiger can pounce. So was it written many years ago by, Master Shana Na. What is meant by that, Acolyte Ho?"
"Master it means that when a team cannot stay together on the court, they may hand the keys to Heaven to the opponents."
"Very good Ho. And while being split from your partner is not uncommon, what is meant by handing over the keys? Ko, what is that?"
"Master, that is hitting the ball to the opponent who faces the open lane between the players. He will have an easy cross court shot, where no one has time to defend."
"Yes, exactly. You must strive to place the ball where it must be hit through your wall, not around it. But if that happens, Ka, what is the counter to that attack?"
"Master, when the ball seeks the lane, the defender shifts to fill the lane," answered Ka.
"Which defender, Ka?"
"The one furthest from the net as he will have more time to move and being further away, more time to return the ball. But Master, it seems that this will not a happy point most of the time?"
"Exactly. Note that a shot that exposes the lane is very poorly placed. Imagine the lane runs cross court left to right. You partner is at the kitchen on the right and you are back left. The ball comes to you. The best return is middle right. A good return is further right as long as it drops, or even a small amount left of center. The poorest shot is down the left side, which is a poor choice unless you can hit a good drop and advance. Any drive down the left lane is like a bald cart tire, often a problem. As your opponents become more skilled, the fewer shots you can hit. Learn these patterns!
"And yes, good question Ka, the chances of winning this point dwindle when the cross lane is open and the "wrong" opponent has been handed the ball. One must try to cover the lane, but the wily opponent may counter this with the inside out shot. However, covering the lane is better than giving it up.
"The other open lane to discuss, is, of course, the middle. You've all been studying this from year one. Acolyte Po, what are the two dangerous situations that create the dreaded open middle lane?"
"Master, most often at the net. When a player neglects the center when his partner is in a cross court battle. Lazy footwork leaves the middle unguarded. Any marginal dink will allow an opponent to drive to the middle and score easily.
"Also when striving to get to the net after serving. If players are split, then one must place the shot that will force play through your partner or where you will be after the approach shot. Examples are to drop the shot in front of your partner, or at least attack their middle."
"Excellent, Po. There is much play at the net and the middle is often the neglected coverage. The wary partnership keeps at least one foot near the center stripe. Partners must change roles as the ball moves from one cross court to the opposite.
"Approaching the kitchen with a partner who is already at the net, is a delicate operation and requires finesse and placement. We will discuss this another time.
"That is enough for this lecture. Return to your drilling. Do not forget about the special dinner tonight, it's baked fish with brown rice and perhaps a slice of bread, it is, of course, the New Year's feast."
With a swirl of his robes the Master took his leave. Soon the sound of well struck pickleballs filled the court room. The people in the village below the monastery noted the noise of the play and were content that all was well on the top of the hill.
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