I've written a whole bunch of posts about playing when the skill levels are different. Basically, the better player(s) should dial down their play to just a smidge above the other players. That provides some challenge and keeps the rallies longer. The better player can work on placement and consistency and try to play error free as their own challenge. This way everyone gets some challenge and fun out of the game. As one of my partners said, "It's not about the score, it's about the rallies!" She is correct. Savor the good rallies.
What I have not written about is the case where there are two good players and they want to play together. I've gotten push back a bit when I do this. It kind of boils down to, "it's not even teams, or fair, etc." And I will agree that it isn't fair, but depending on how the good partnership plays, this might be the best way to divide the skill set. Allow me to explain my position.
I think that PB is a pretty simple game. Once you can hit the ball reasonably well and stop hitting too hard, then the only thing you have to learn is where to move for the next shot. That's it. Sure you have to observe spins and soft shots and drop shots, but those are really not too difficult and a year or two will see you a very good player if you're interested in becoming one.
One of the beauties of PB is that anyone, even the very beginners can pull off a great shot on occasion. Let's keep this in mind as we move to the next point...
If you trust me that the game is one of movement, then it soon becomes very important to know where your partner will be, what they are going to do, and as part of that, who will hit any particular shot.
If you develop a partnership with someone, you will gain this information. At some point your team will operate as a well oiled machine. Soon you can trust your partner to do the right thing. Of course the play at most parks there is a lot of partnership shuffling and I would suggest that that is not a great policy. I would encourage you to find someone who is at your level and play with them as exclusively as possible. I will get back to this.
So, when the forces of evil and the grand karmic schemes break up my partnership, then chaos and injury can lurk nearby...
As I mentioned beginners don't understand where they need to be; when to advance, or stay back or retreat. And they, if aggressive, will go after balls that belong to their partner. So, I find that if I want to play well, then I am stretching for shots that partner should take, and I can become a pin cushion when partner hits pop up when they should have dinked, for example. And I've taken partner's paddles to my hands on occasion. Band aides have a place in my gear bag. I'm getting old and the skin is thin and, well, I bruise and bleed easily. I'd prefer to avoid all that.
So I really don't enjoy playing with beginner as a partner, but I'm happy to play at a lower level against them.
When I was a beginner and played at Downs there was no interest in playing at a lower level by the better players. One specific player would simply put away every shot that came to him. Well, pretty soon no one would hit him a ball and he couldn't really understand why. Had he played back a shot that would have made more a longer and more interesting rally, he would have had a lot more action. Out of this learning ground came the idea that better players should not play was well as they can, but play to match the game they are in.
Now, if you are interested in becoming a better player, then you will learn a lot more playing against a good player than playing with them. You'll have to think about why you are not winning and what you might be doing wrong, but the instruction is there. Most players are more than welcome to talk pickleball and asking a question in the middle of a rec game, I think is very appropriate. I would welcome that, speaking for myself and I think the PB 101 teachers would be happy to talk. There is usually some standing around between games, so don't be shy!
(Maybe the next post should be, "Why you lose at pickleball." That's been written in the blog over and over, but maybe a short summary would be useful.)
Regarding playing consistently with a partner, obviously that's very hard at our favorite friendly court. But lately I was asking why the pros very seldom if ever have contention on whose ball it is. That's pretty much the answer I think.
ReplyDeleteRegarding "movement", I've recently been playing with a new but very good player, both with and against. I honestly think she moves very similarly to ALW, the best female player in the world. If she learned how to call a switch, she would get even better. For myself, one of the biggest lessons in moving was a woman who has a semi-lob serve. I finally, finally learned to move my darn feet instead of standing there thinking here's an easy ball.
John, thanks for the comments. Yah, moving feet is a big deal and you need to do it. But, if you know where you probably need to be, you can move very early and not be in much of a rush when it's time to hit the return shot. Pros move early and then stop to hit a ball.
ReplyDeleteHaving a partner who moves like ALW, is interesting. It does require a certain skill level of their partner as to avoid the pin cushion effect. But I like and agree with the aggression. It's required for tournament play, and it's fine with rec play as long as the shot hit is not too violent. - My opinion, of course. Rich
Not sure what a "pin cushion effect" means. I did find that some overhead slams by our opponents going more or less to me, we would have been better off with me getting out of the way and letting her take the defensive shot. I'm just not fast enough to get out of the way.
DeleteBut yes, against beginners, a hard drive at the body should be a major no no amongst others.