James Ignatowich Reveals Pickleball Mistakes: Professional pickleball player James Ignatowich recently shared three key mistakes that players should avoid during games. In a video with The Pickleball Clinic, James Ignatowich explained how improper use of the wrist, poor balance during dinks, and bad countering technique can all hurt a player’s performance. The tips were given through on-court demonstrations and explanations.
Don’t Overuse the Wrist on Drops
James Ignatowich began by warning players not to overuse their wrists when hitting drop shots. He explained that while it’s okay to use some wrist on dinks to add topspin, the motion for drops should not look very different.
“This is what a dink looks like. Now as I take a step back, you tell me what changes about my upper body technique.” – (Ignatowich)
He said the biggest issues happen when players finish their drops with too much wrist motion, such as swinging too high or finishing the shot on the opposite side of their body.
“For me, when I’m hitting topspin drops, I’m finishing on the same side of my body and I’m not doing this with my wrist. I’ll save that for drives.” – (Ignatowich)
Keep Both Feet on the Ground During Dinks
The second mistake James Ignatowich addressed is leaning too far while dinking at the kitchen line. He pointed out that leaning left or right and lifting the back foot off the ground can cause a loss of balance.
“Leaning forward is much different from leaning to my left, losing my balance, letting my foot come off the ground, let alone maybe causing some foot faults, right?” – (Ignatowich)
He added that this unbalanced posture makes it harder to control soft shots and often leads to the use of extra wrist to adjust. His advice was to follow the ball with your feet to stay in front of it and create better topspin.
“Which is following the ball with your feet, trying to be in front of the ball so that you can impart topspin on the ball when the opportunity presents itself.” – (Ignatowich)
Avoid Letting the Elbow Fall Behind During Volleys
James Ignatowich’s final tip focused on countering at the net. He explained that players should avoid letting their elbow fall behind their body when hitting forehand volleys. This often results in a weak slice or a ball that goes too high.
“If you let your elbow come behind your body, not only are you probably going to slice that ball—which is not what we’re always looking for—it is most likely going to go up.” – (Ignatowich)
He said it’s better to keep the elbow in front of the body, around the right shoulder, to push the ball downwards effectively. He stressed that getting the ball down matters more than hitting it hard.
“A lot of players like to hit the ball hard, myself included, but the most important part about any volley is getting it down, not hitting it as hard as you can.” – (Ignatowich)
Why These Tips Matter
James Ignatowich’s advice can help beginner and intermediate players improve their technique. By focusing on control, balance, and proper paddle use, players can be more consistent and successful. These lessons may seem simple but avoiding these errors can lead to better game results and fewer mistakes.
News in Brief: James Ignatowich Reveals Pickleball Mistakes
Professional pickleball player James Ignatowich shared three key mistakes to avoid: using too much wrist on drops, leaning sideways during dinks, and letting the elbow fall behind on volleys. His tips aim to help players stay balanced and hit more consistent shots, improving their overall game performance.
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