Augie Ge’s Pickleball Success: Jordan Briones recently shared his coaching experience with Augie Ge, a rising star in Major League Pickleball (MLP). Augie, known for his dynamic left-handed play, played a major role in helping the Dallas Flash win the 2024 MLP Championship. Briones highlights how key coaching moments helped Augie enhance his game.
Self-Awareness Leads to Improvement
Despite his success in the PPA and MLP events, Augie reached out to Briones for coaching to address specific areas in his game. Briones noted that one of the first lessons Augie demonstrated was the ability to be self-aware. He recognized areas in his play that needed improvement, such as his offense from the non-volley zone line. Briones emphasized that players must have the awareness to pinpoint areas they need to work on to continue progressing in the sport.
Briones meticulously studied Augie’s game before their lesson, reviewing his past matches to identify what changes could lead to improvements. By understanding Augie’s goals, Briones crafted a personalized training plan, focusing on Augie’s biggest challenges.
The Importance of Footwork and Efficiency
A major focus during the session was Augie’s movement and footwork. Briones explained that efficient footwork is fundamental to creating better shot opportunities and positioning. While Augie’s natural movement was already among the best in the sport, Briones identified inefficiencies in how Augie was moving to the ball, which affected his shot quality.
Briones emphasized that every player, no matter their skill level, can improve their footwork. Good footwork sets up the right contact point, which is critical for executing high-quality shots. He highlighted how top players like Ben Johns make the game look effortless due to their superior footwork.
Coachable Players Achieve Success
Another lesson Briones learned from coaching Augie is that being coachable is essential for improvement. Despite Augie’s impressive accomplishments, he remained open to feedback and was committed to applying what he learned. Briones noted that Augie’s willingness to improve made a difference in his success.
After their session, Augie worked on his footwork and patterns, practicing consistently over the next few months. This dedication paid off during the 2024 MLP World Championships, where the Dallas Flash, considered underdogs, triumphed. Augie’s refined movements and aggressive play contributed to their victory.
Impact and Takeaways for Players
Briones’ experience coaching Augie reinforces a key lesson for all players: improvement comes from deliberate effort and consistent practice. Briones believes that if a player like Augie, already an elite athlete, can seek coaching and dedicate time to learning, any player can improve by putting in the work. He encourages players to be open to coaching, remain patient with their progress, and keep practicing to reach their goals.
News in Brief: Augie Ge’s Pickleball Success
Jordan Briones helped MLP champion Augie Ge refine his footwork and offensive play, contributing to the Dallas Flash’s victory in the 2024 MLP Championship. Briones emphasizes that self-awareness, consistent effort, and coachability are key to reaching the next level in pickleball.
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