The Master on How to Play

Hi all,

The blog might be slowly coming to an end.  I'm finding myself writing about the same things over and over.  I'm still noting things, for example elbow positions of awkward shots that might generate some thought and a post.  So if you are impatiently awaiting the next post, there will probably some more, but more infrequently.  Predictions are difficult, particularly about the future as Yogi Berra is purported to have said.  

Ok, we journey back the pickleball monastery as Po gets another bit of advice from the Master.

Bonus content: as I was writing the prior sentence I left the o out of another and the spell checker didn't object!  So "anther" is a word, new to me, and sadly of little future use as its definition is of use to botanists and no others, but it's nice to learn something new.

Rich

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"Master, I am not winning many games," said Po, a monk in the order of the Shaolin temple, pickleball branch.

"Er?  What is your problem Po?" asked the Master.

"I and my team seem to be better than the opponents, yet we lose more games than we should."

"Do you lose when in the lead, Po?"

After some thought, "Yes that does happen often."

"And does you play style change as you accumulate a lead?"

"I think so.  It seems normal to play carefully in the early game.  And if we get a lead, then it's common to become complacent in the middle or late game."

"What is careful play, Po?"

Po stands tall with shoulders back and recalls some of the lessons from over the years.

"As stated in volume 4, chapter 3, of the sacred text, Early Game Play, careful play is based on ball speed control and shot selection."

"Very good, Po.  And why do you do that?"

"To acclimate to the serves and playing styles of the opponents."

"Yes and how will you play after those items are assessed?"

"If they are bangers, sorry for the loose phrase, Master, then my team would dink more and slow down the game with an emphasis on hitting low soft shots.  If they played a soft game we would play that way too and judge if we can out-dink them.  If we can, then we dink.  Otherwise we would try to speed up more and drive more."

"Good Po.  What is the middle game all about?"

"If we have won the early game, we should be on a lead.  Then we wish to continue what is working.  If we are losing, then we must change something, either speed of shots, or placement, or which opponent we attack.  If the game is even, then we would wish to refine our play to do better."

"What refinements are those, Po?"

"As the Masters have written, always hit shots that can't be attacked.  Thus allowing our team to always gain the net, and to avoid having to defend smashes."

"What are the characteristics of the unattackable shot?"

"Low, soft, and usually to the backhand Master."

"Very good Po.  When do you hit the ball hard?"

"When I have no better shot, Master.  As I have been taught, a smash is low percentage shot, unbeloved of the Gods and worthy of little respect."

"Po, you are perhaps a bit harsh.  Save something for lobs.  Heh, heh.  But, yes, a smash or an attempt to put the ball away is exciting for the novice, but the expert realizes that the shot can easily be missed, either into the net or out of bounds.  When master plays master, there is no ball based solely on speed that will trouble a master.  A shot that cannot be returned is one that is perfectly placed.

"As your journey to understanding of what pickleball is, Po, you may come to realize that the essence of the game is the rally and the goal is to make the rally end in your favor, but more importantly, to craft it so that it is interesting, dynamic, and lengthy.

"A rally is made up of a series of shots, selected to manipulate the opponents in their expectations of speed, direction, and reality.  You demonstrate mastery by knowing where the next shot will land, you arrive to field that shot, and your selection of the next shot is to weaken your opponents' court position or mental condition.  Then deliver the shot that cannot be returned.  Note that this shot does not exist until the opponents are off balance, split, or in error.

"To this philosophy, we at the monastery, emphasis the need for control and stability of paddle and mind.  We are happy to block hard shots with no need to panic or need to speed up the ball.  If the opponents are back and expecting speed, we give them soft and short.  If the middle is fertile ground to plow, we use it, if it's covered, then we hit to split the opponents.  Always making them move and hit a different shot every time.

"Strive to be a Master Po.  Always seek to extend a rally and not to end it.  The end will come soon enough and then careful making of the next rally will begin again.  Enjoy and respect that creation.  If you do it correctly, you will create memorable rallies, and not just another point as you see so often down in the village.  Yes, they can hit the ball hard, but sadly, they think that's the key to a good game.  

"It is a game of control, Po.  Strive to get every shot in.  Forgo the smash unless it's impossible to miss.  Make the opponents guess and move and wonder where the next shot will go.  Be creative so that they cannot find a pattern in your play.  These are marks of the Master.  Yes, we make it look easy, but the true mastery is making your opponents feel out of place and awkward.

"Go Po, and do your best.  Seek simple perfection.  Frills are for the future that should not come.  Be so solid that none can stand before you.  Be the player that everyone wants to play with, and against, and yet, cannot beat."