How to Get Better and Win All the Games While Ding It!

 One of the problems with teaching PB students is simply to get them to do the basic things.  For example, always follow a service return with a swift dash to the kitchen line, and to simply get serves in and not try to win points with it, and to move to the middle of the court to properly defend the middle, and to hit drops and soft shots, and to not run into the court after hitting a serve.

None of these is difficult, but there seems to be a fear or something when doing these things.  I have stood right next to a student and yelled at them to move to the kitchen line and they just can't do it.  They get that "deer in the headlights" look and literally freeze.

The items in the above list are very basic, in my opinion, and all 3.5+ players would do all of them automatically, so the items are important and you have to do them to advance past an intermediate level.  

So, here is my suggestion.  Instead of playing in an intermediate or advanced game, play in the beginner game.  I know the adage is that "I want to play with better players, so I can improve".  That adage is not helping you become a better player until you do all of the "normal" things.  What you want to do is find a game so soft that you can force yourself to do all the scary stuff.  

So don't go to May Nissen on MWF, but go Tuesday and Thursday and try to play better pickleball.  The field will be softer and you can concentrate on the "strange" things without worrying that you might lose a game or look foolish, or whatever the problem is.

Another tip: when you are not playing, but waiting for a court, spend time watching the other games.  Notice how frequently the players will not do the basic items.  See how that works out for them as they will be stuck in the wrong court location and be lunging for awkward shots.  Another thing to notice is how often players will play a ball that would go out if they would only duck.  It's amazing.  Learn to duck and you'll never fear a banger again.

I was playing at Down's the other day and watched some of the better players taking a lesson.  I talked to one of the students a day later and asked about the experience.  He mentioned that the lesson was good, but when the pro had them stop drilling and start playing, then all the old habits came right back and no one was able to use knowledge from the lesson.  The need and desire to win is a real determent to getting better, so play down a level, play unafraid and learn to play differently.

Finally, if the beginners start getting beat up by roaming intermediates, I apologize, but you'll be getting to play against better players, so steal their shots and copy how they play!