STOP PLAYING IT CAREFUL
When you’re too tight and the sharks are circling
In today’s Bite Size Pickleball newsletter:
Stop feeding the sharks!
What is the purpose of a pump fake?
Favorite tournament food?
I can spot a “too-careful” player a mile away. And, when I do, I start circling. Why? Because I know this player is bound to leave too many balls high and attackable. I want to send that player a message in a bottle: Hit it harder!
Which is not to suggest “become a banger.” It is to suggest that you’re leaving attackable balls on the table by playing them safe. A good rule for “attackable,” is if the ball is over the height of the net. Almost always, in this case, you should hit it hard. You should especially hit it hard if it is your 3rd shot and your opponent’s 2nd shot lands short, and high. What I like to do, in that case, is saunter up to the ball, like I am taking a walk in the park. You know, super casual. I lull my opponents to sleep, and they think I am about to play it safe/soft, when at the last moment: BANG, right between the eyes. Or, in other words, middle solves the riddle.
You don’t need a costume to solve this riddle. Just look for more opportunities to hit it harder. Again, DO NOT bang everything that comes your way. “Bangers” get their reputation because they try to hit EVERYTHING hard, including low, non-attackable balls. You are not going to become a banger. But by banging, when it is available, you’re going to swing your “too careful” play right out of your system. Remember, you can always dial it back down if you need to.
I’ve seen this tip work time, and time again, and it is often just what is needed for someone to take a large step up in their game, especially when they are on the intermediate/advanced fence. Try it on for size, and then send me a message in a bottle saying: “thanks.”
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A PUMP FAKE?
Wait! What is a pump fake? Think of a basketball player, how they show the ball to their defender in an effort to get their opponent off balance. It’s the same purpose in pickleball, but now you are using your paddle to do the fake rather than the ball.
Again, the idea is to get your opponent off balance before you hit it. I have been advocating for this kind of trickery for three years, and wrote an article on it for Pickleball Magazine. Here is a podcast I did on the subject.
If you want to see an excellent example of it in the pros, watch former tennis player Jack Sock in game 1 vs. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters. He didn’t fare as well in games 3 and 4, but you can bet other pros will start going there once they saw how Sock crushed the best in the world (for one brief game).
Remember, you can’t do any kind of movement BEFORE your opponent hits the ball. But after they hit it, and before you do, you can direct air traffic if you want to.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD TO PACK FOR A TOURNAMENT?
Mine’s not food at all! It’s a smoothie. Packed with all the important ingredients my body needs to sustain a solid energy level: Fruit juice, bananas, yogurt, peanut butter, blueberries. The best thing about a smoothie is you can sip it even if you are nervous, and your stomach has the butterflies.
In my first tournament, I was anxious the morning of, and I couldn’t eat much. I came into match 4, and was losing energy fast. Unfortunately, I also ate a turkey sandwich too fast between games 4 and 5, and almost left my lunch all over the courts. My stomach was way f’d up for a game and a half. I recovered in time to win a bronze with my partner, but we may have been competing for a gold if I had know the secret: Smoothies!
For those of you who don’t know, I have a really fun brand of pickleball clothing, and gift shop. Gifts include pickleball mugs and pickleball puzzles, and so much more. Use discount code VIPCustomer15 for 15% off at the Bite Size Pickleball website.
Enjoy your pickleball week! Keep what you’re working on simple. Perfect one thing, and then move on to the next.