Stop Being Late! The Key to Playing Better Pickleball!
Summary
Richard says taking the ball early is the biggest single change that helps your transition game. Bad drops usually go into the net or float high enough to get attacked. He wants your drops to be more linear, so that when you miss, you miss deep and low. Even if opponents volley it, they have to take it around the waist and can only roll it, giving you an easier reset.
The way to get there is contacting the ball further in front, which slightly closes the paddle face, and lengthening the follow-through forward rather than straight up. It works for push, slice and roll drops, on the forehand and backhand. From the wide side he keeps the ball even lower over the net; from the middle he adds a touch more height because there’s less space.
Key takeaways
- Miss long, not high
- Contact the ball further in front
- Follow through forward and up, not just up
- Stay a touch more linear from the wide side, slightly higher from the middle
Action items
- Hit 20 drops focusing only on contact in front of your body
- Have a partner tell you whether misses are long or high
- Practice following your drop in and resetting the next ball