Three Stamina Drills: Dink-and-Go, Drop-and-Crash, Butterfly
Troy Akin’s point: late in game 3 it’s often your legs, not your strokes, that fall apart. Three stealable drills for the week.
Zero → Forward: Compact Forehand Volleys
All Things Pickleball pins missed forehand volleys on swinging too big. Pros use a “zero → forward” idea: the paddle starts at zero (already out, no real backswing) and only travels forward through the ball.
Kitchen Momentum: Fault Even After the Ball Is Dead
Aylex cites USA Pickleball Rule 11.H.2: momentum from a volley that carries you into the kitchen is a fault — even if the ball is already dead.
Backhand Roll Volley: From Block to Topspin Pressure
Coach Jess (Athena Pickleball) treats the backhand roll volley as the upgrade after you’re comfortable with punch/block volleys.
Ready Position: Belly-Button Height Beats High Hands
Tanner’s cue: amateurs hold the paddle high and react to everything — including balls sailing over the fence. Pros keep it around belly-button height.
Scoring 101: Three Numbers, 0-0-2 Start, Switch Only on Points
Preston’s Playbook walks traditional side-out scoring: play to 11, win by two, and only the serving team scores. The score call is three numbers — your score, their score, and whether you are server 1 or 2.
Fourth Shot: Topspin to the Feet, Don’t Blast the Chest
Elite Pickleball Coaching flags a common fourth-shot mistake: when the opponent pops up a third and you’re taking it out of the air, most players try to crush it at the person still in transition.
Around the Post Is Legal — Through the Gap Is Not
Aylex flags USA Pickleball Rule 13.C: a ball may be returned around the outside of the net post. When you’re pulled wide, whipping it around the post counts if it lands in.
Paddle Rules: No Weight Cap — Size Is What Is Limited
Aylex cites USA Pickleball Rule 3.D.3: there is no restriction on paddle weight. Rule 3.D.2 likewise puts no cap on thickness.
Rebuild the Forehand Drive: Torso Engine, Dip, Lag, Contact Point
Backpaddle films a full rebuild of his forehand drive with Coach Naveen (top-10 A pro, tennis background).