Drill, baby, drill!

And I am not talking about oil

In today’s Bite Size Pickleball newsletter:

1. Why we drill

2. You’re on the clock

3. Video of the Week

WHY WE DRILL

It’s really simple, the more you drill the faster you will improve. There is no way you can come close to improving as fast when you’re just playing. If you’re satisfied with where you are as a rec player, by all means, keep doing what you’re doing and have fun. But…

If you want to get more out of your game, because you’re tired of playing second fiddle to the better players on your courts, then you drill. Because these better players have drilled, and they continue to drill. Their work ethic sets them apart from the recreational player. They’re hungry to get more out of their game. Are you?

I haven’t drilled a ton in the last couple of years, but I recently got passionate about drilling again. Why? Because there is a crew of, mainly, younger players on my home courts, and they’re progressing really fast, and I want to keep up with them. BTW, they’re getting ahead because they are doing what? They’re drilling.

One of the things I have watched them develop, is a two-handed backhand dink at the kitchen line. Then I went to watch the PPA in Utah and I noticed that every single pro had that in their tool kit. For a good reason. You can pick the balls up really low with two hands on your paddle and, using topspin, lift that ball back over the net. The topspin allows the ball to make it over the net at the perfect apex, where your opponents can’t attack it. When it bounces, it has a tendency to bounce high, and that can definitely help push your opponent back off the kitchen line.

You simply can’t get that kind of trajectory with a one-handed backhand dink. However, you can get a nice back-slice on a one-hander that will skip low off the ground. Can you visualize the difference? My advice is to have both in your arsenal and change it up. Don’t ever be predictable.

Why is this shot important to me now? Not just because all the advanced players are using it, but I have noticed the more knowledgable players have been trying to attack me by dinking my backhand when I am on the left side of the court. I have a decent one-handed backhand, and I can often step around and use my forehand, but sometimes I am prone to pop-up a one-handed backhand dink. That’s because my paddle face is too open when I try to put slice on the ball.

Thanks to these players for making me see what I needed to work on. Check back with me in about two months when I will be firing that two-handed backhand at their feet. Again, that’s only going to happen if I drill, baby, drill.

Here is a tutorial video from Riley Newman on how to hit this shot.

I’m also working on a two-handed backhand drive, and that’s much easier to practice than the dinking. Because the two-handed dinking is crosscourt, you need a partner to return. In the case of the two-handed backhand drive, I can easily practice it against the wall. And I never have to wonder if it is going to show up on time.

SPEAKING OF TIME

I learned about the value of time when I went to city college years ago. I was taking an acting class and much of the semester we would meet up with our scene partners, very often, at 8:00 a.m. If we weren’t there on time, the teacher locked the door. Now, if that was math, or something, I would have been happy to skip out. But I liked my acting class, and I especially loved the discipline that stemmed from it, taught to us by a wonderful teacher named Max Whittaker.

A sidetrack on “Max.” When he was directing me in a scene, I would turn to him and ask, say, about my characters’ motivation. Actors are BIG on this motivation thing. I have a vivid memory of how Max would respond to my many inquisitions. His legs would be crossed, a cigarette perched between his fingers, and he would just shrug at me. If I asked a second time, another shrug, followed by a puff of his cigarette. Ah, the early ‘80s!

For years I thought he was the worst acting teacher ever, in the directing sense. As mentioned, he taught us a ton about discipline. But many moons later, when I also became an acting teacher (true story), I figured out what he was doing. He was getting the f*ck out of my way and leaving space for me to discover my friggin’ motivations on my own. That’s a great teacher. One who creates space for their students to shine in, and forge their own creative path.

Not so long ago in life, when I led a band, there would be some new dudes that would come in, and before we played a note, they all asked me what I wanted. I just shrugged my shoulders (sans a cigarette) and told them I’d know it when I heard it. Thanks, Max!

Okay, that was more than a bite size detour. Back to the chalkboard.

Try to be on time when you have a set play date with someone. Not only because it shows respect for them, but it’ll save you some stress. When we’re rushing around, trying to do ten things at once, and we get to the courts late, we bring that rushed energy with us. And, immediately, we are starting from an imbalanced position. Often that energy can stick with us our whole playing day.

Arrive a few minutes early, develop a routine, maybe that includes stretching, and stick to it. You’ll be so much more relaxed and ready to play once tee time rolls about. Or, is that “tea time?” ;)

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Meet commercial director Chandler Bakersfield directing his first spot that features pickleball in it. i.e., Chandler don’t know jack about pickleball. Which is the same for almost every major spot that includes pickleball in it, the directors just don’t seem to have an idea on how to do something as simple as hold a paddle. Thusly, where I got the idea for this spoof.

Fun fact: The other guys in this with me are not trained actors. They are trained friends and had no prior knowledge of the script. I just fed them what to did as we went along. That is the best way to work with non-actors. You don’t want them at home with the script, ahead of time, staring into the mirror doing their best Robert DeNiro impression. “You talking to me? YOU talking to me? You talking to me?”

These friends are full-on troopers, plus one of them has some pretty awesome pickleball courts. In short, we had a ton of fun. However, one of the guy’s wives is a little suspect of me now. LOL. Roll cam, Chandler!

Hey gang, if you’re enjoying the Bite Size Pickleball newsletter, it would be awesome if you can contribute a whopping $5 a month to help the cause. After all, I do need to buy more Skittles (watch the above video).