Amanda Hendry’s Favorite Pickleball Drill: In the changing sport of pickleball, drills and practice routines play a crucial role in honing the skills of top athletes. Recently, Simone Jardim, a legendary figure in the sport, shared an insightful Instagram post featuring fellow player Amanda Hendry. Their discussion centered around the “7-11 drill,” a favorite of Hendry’s, offering a glimpse into the training methods that shape their games.
Simone Jardim: A Pickleball Icon
Simone Jardim, a name synonymous with excellence in pickleball, has an illustrious career spanning several years. Born on November 7, 1979, in Brazil, Jardim’s journey from a collegiate tennis star to a pickleball champion is nothing short of remarkable. Ranked as the number one female player in the world from 2016 to 2020, Jardim’s dominance in the sport is evidenced by her four consecutive US Open women’s singles titles from 2016 to 2019. Additionally, she is a two-time triple crown winner at the US Open Pickleball Championships, claiming victories in singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles in 2017 and 2018.
With 32 women’s Pro Pickleball Association titles to her name, Jardim holds the record for the most titles in the association. Before her pickleball success, Jardim was an All-American collegiate tennis player and served as the head tennis coach at Michigan State University from 2009 to 2016.
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Amanda Hendry: A Rising Star
Amanda Hendry, originally from Wilton, Connecticut, is carving her path in the pickleball world. Hendry’s athletic skills were first displayed on the field hockey pitch, where she excelled as a starting goalie for the University of North Carolina. During her time at UNC, Hendry was a three-time NCAA Division I field hockey champion, a four-time ACC Champion, and earned First Team All-American honors. Introduced to pickleball by her mother, Hendry began competing in the sport in the summer of 2021.
Alongside her athletic achievements, Hendry has a passion for ceramics, a creative outlet that complements her competitive spirit. She also comes from a family of athletes, with her sisters Madison and Jessica having played collegiate field hockey at Penn and Richmond, respectively.
The 7-11 Drill: A Game-Changer
In a video shared on Instagram, Simone Jardim introduced Amanda Hendry and highlighted their discussion about Hendry’s favorite drill. Jardim kicked off the conversation,
“All right you guys, Amanda here. We are going for a third one in a row and we are in a row literally. Talking about Amanda’s favorite drill, what is your favorite drill?”
Hendry responded, “My favorite drill is probably 7-11 when you’re working your way in from the baseline and trying to get all the way up to the kitchen line. It’s definitely been the most helpful for my game and to this day still something that I need to work on.” Jardim, intrigued, asked for more details,
“So you might be wondering what is 7-11? What is this?”
Hendry explained, “So 7-11 is when one person is at the baseline and their partner is at the kitchen line and you’re competing against each other. The person at the baseline’s goal is to get up to the kitchen line and win the point and the person at the kitchen line’s goal is to keep your partner back and not let them in and then essentially win the point that way.”
The drill emphasizes the importance of transitioning from the baseline to the kitchen line, a critical aspect of the pickleball strategy. The challenge lies in the baseline player advancing while the kitchen line player aims to maintain control and prevent the advance.
The insights shared by Simone Jardim and Amanda Hendry offer a valuable look into the training techniques that shape successful pickleball careers. The 7-11 drill, as described by Hendry, highlights the strategic intricacies of the sport and shows the dedication required to excel. Jardim’s illustrious career and Hendry’s rising star status show the diverse pathways to success in pickleball, united by relentless practice and a passion for the game.
News in Brief: Amanda Hendry’s Favorite Pickleball Drill
Simone Jardim and Amanda Hendry recently discussed the “7-11 drill” in a revealing Instagram post, showing a key practice routine in pickleball. Jardim, a legendary player with multiple US Open titles and 32 Pro Pickleball Association wins, and Hendry, a rising star with a background in field hockey, highlight the drill’s importance.
The 7-11 drill involves one player starting at the baseline and advancing to the kitchen line while the other player aims to prevent this advancement. Hendry credits this drill as crucial for improving her game, emphasizing the strategic aspect of transitioning effectively. Their discussion shows the dedication and technique required to excel in pickleball.
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