That Ready Position

 I'm watching some of the Major League PB play and I noticed a difference between the top women players and the second level pros.  The top players when at the net, in a dink or hands battle, are back into the ready position before their shot crosses to the opponents' side of the net.

So there a near instant return to the ready position.  The lesser players had the droopy paddle syndrome frequently and just were not ready.

I was using this today.  It works.  I was ready instantly and had lots of time to return the next shot.  I really like this and it suits my style.  "Style?" I hear you say.  Yes, because you can't take a huge swing at the ball and get back to the ready position instantly.  The worst offender is a "big" two hand backhand shot, which will leave you well out of position for a return.   You must hit short blocks, punches, and deflections, or dinks, and then you have very little body motion from which to recover to regain the ready position.  Highly recommended!

------  And now for something different...  -----

"What's that?"

"What?"

"On your thigh."

"Oh, pickleball bruise."

"Really?  Looks like a bite mark."

"Well, it's not.  I only get bit at home."

"Ha ha.  I hope so.  Who gave you that bruise?"

"Some banger."

"There are bangers in pickleball?"

"Yep."

"Like Beaters in Quidditch?  That's a position or something?"

"Don't be silly.  It's just name for players who hit the ball like there are extra points for excessive speed."

"How many bangers are there?"

"Not too many actually.  There are usually only a few exceptional examples.   They are shunned somewhat as they are not a lot of fun to play against."

"All those thigh bruises?"

"Those, plus hands and the occasional head shot.  And the worst part is that the points are very boring.  Hit it hard enough and the rally ends one way or the other.  Not much decision making or shot making or combination play, it's just hit, block and duck a lot."

"Why do people play that way?"

"Well, good question.  The psychological literature is full of explanations, but there no definitive reason.  Extreme physical reaction to a problem is the carpenter with only a hammer, all solutions look like a nail."

"But you said that only a few play like that."

"Yep.  I don't know.  Maybe it's a batter who only tries to hit home runs.  At some point, that play doesn't help the team.  You would think that it all being rec play and waiting for a court to open, that you want to maximize your time on the court.  So ending points quickly is not a good use of your time.  

"Some claim that winning is the only thing they enjoy and they think that blasting the ball is the best path to victory.  Sometimes they seem to be tongue in cheek when they say it, others seem to be serious.   While it might make them happy to win that way, it's not much fun for the other three players on the court."

"Can you choose who you play with?"

"Mostly, but there is the odd alignment where the problem people get in a game with you.  I usually try to play with them and try to get them to hit some soft shots and relax a bit."

"Does that work?"

"Some seem to be approachable.  Others, nope."

"Is banging a good strategy over all?"

"Pickleball is interesting.  What shots are effective depends at what level you play.  In a beginner game, just getting the ball back will win most of the time.  But then as players improve you need to hit the ball lower than a beginner game.  At some point people get good enough to start hitting the ball hard and they run with that.  It's quite effective until you reach a level where everyone can handle the hard shot -- they usually have learned to duck a bit and then the bangers have a real problem.  And here is the dilemma, the bangers have not needed to play the soft game and when all the hard shots come back and they are forced into a soft game, they are in a world of hurt.  

"The soft game for bangers is not needed until it's needed and at that point, it's needed a lot.  And the bangers can't improve as they didn't put the time into an all round game.  But those levels are fairly rare and if you are careful of whom you play against, you can bang for a very long time.  And, again, they are not fun to play against, so it might be a fairly lonely existence."

"What's then, the epidemy of a pickleball player?"

"You should strive to be the player that everyone wants to play with, and against, but can't be beaten. That player should challenge the opponents but not savagely beat them up.  Play for long rallies and good hearted companionship.  Enjoy the good shots of the opponents and partner and strive to play an interesting game."

"Well, that's a lot to think about.  Maybe we can get back to your upper thigh?"

"Sounds like a good idea..."