Tanner Tomassi Pickleball Myths Exposed: Pickleball coach and content creator Tanner Tomassi shared five common myths that players believe, which may be slowing their progress on the court. Through simple corrections, Tomassi showed how players can quickly improve and gain an edge during matches.
1: Stay Tethered to Your Partner
Many players think they should always move in sync with their partner when approaching the kitchen line. But Tanner Tomassi explained that the better approach is to react to your partner’s shot.
“When I saw the video, I honestly did not think it was that hard, but I just died laughing,”. “I could not believe they got it on camera.”(Tanner Tomassi)
He said players should take two steps forward and watch their partner’s paddle. If the third shot drop is solid, they should crash the net to apply pressure. If the shot is too high, they can back up to defend.
Tomassi added that this tactic works with drives, too, but he advises players to practice first using it only with third shot drops because those are easier to read.
2: Forehand Always Covers the Middle
Tanner Tomassi challenged the belief that the forehand player should always take pickleball shots in the middle. He explained that coverage depends on who is diagonally across from the ball.
“If I dink the ball that way, it doesn’t matter if I’m lefty or righty. I’m looking to cover middle. He’s looking to cover line,” (Tanner Tomassi).
This system, he said, removes confusion and ensures the whole court is protected during fast exchanges.
3: Go for Winners on Drives
Tomassi warned against hitting every drive at full power. Instead, he suggested hitting at 75% to make the ball dip just over the net. This forces the opponent to volley up, making it easier to win the next shot.
“Even if your opponents handle your drive, they’re still forced to volley up on the ball,”(Tanner Tomassi).
He said hitting with control keeps players from getting punished and allows for smoother transitions into the next play.
4: Avoid the Stronger Player
Some teams avoid hitting to the better player, thinking it will lead to fewer mistakes. But Tanner Tomassi said doing this allows the stronger player to take over more of the court.
“If you hit every ball to the weaker player, it allows the stronger player to creep over more and more and play more of the court,”(Tanner Tomassi).
He explained that hitting behind the stronger player forces them to stay in their area. This opens up more space and makes the weaker player easier to attack.
Mental Tip: Use Your Practice in Tournaments
Tanner Tomassi ended with a mental tip for players who freeze up in competition. He said that many players forget to use what they practice when the pressure is on.
“This past tournament I played in, I went in with the mindset telling myself that there’s unlimited tournaments,”(Tanner Tomassi).
He gave an example of how he worked on his two-handed backhand dinks all week but would switch to slice dinks during matches. Last week, he finally stuck with the new shot during tournament play and saw great results.
“I did the time to get the skill. It was just the mental,”(Tanner Tomassi).
He told viewers the only way to grow is to use new skills during pressure situations. That’s how long-term improvement happens.
News in Brief: Tanner Tomassi Pickleball Myths Exposed
Pickleball coach Tanner Tomassi shared five pickleball myths that slow player growth, including movement timing, court coverage, and shot selection. He also offered a mental tip to help players apply what they learn in practice to real matches. Tomassi’s advice can help players sharpen skills and build confidence.
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