James Ignatowich’s Pickleball Mastery Tips: Professional pickleball player James Ignatowich revealed five strategies to help players reach a 5.0 skill level and beyond. Through these tips, players can improve their drops, volleys, dinks, and court control by focusing on smart technique rather than just power.
Drop to the Middle When Defending
James Ignatowich said players should reset or drop their shots to the center of the court while defending from the transition zone.
This method works because the middle part of the net is lower and reduces angles for opponents.
“So, when I’m on defense, I’m going to drop it to the middle,” (James Ignatowich).
By hitting to the middle, players make it harder for opponents to attack effectively.
Be Aggressive on the Right Side
Ignatowich encouraged right-side players to use their forehands more aggressively.
“A couple years ago, it was all about the right side player just making dinks and being consistent,”. “But if you watch the pro game now and the high five game, the 5’s that are on the right that have dead dinks to their forehand are being aggressive.”(James Ignatowich)
He noted that using forehand power on the right can pressure opponents and create scoring chances.
Keep Volleys Low on Fast Balls
When returning fast shots, Ignatowich said the goal is not power but control.
“If somebody speeds it up at me, I’m not trying to hit it as hard as I can and I’m not taking a big swing,”. “All I’m thinking is down. And if I hit it hard, style points.”(James Ignatowich)
He explained that even professionals focus more on keeping the ball low rather than smashing it back.
Hold Your Dinks Longer
Another tip Ignatowich gave was to pause briefly before hitting a dink shot.
“Instead of just dinking and just hitting the shot how you would, holding it for a split second before you make contact, making it look like you might speed the ball up can make a world of difference,” (James Ignatowich).
He added that adding a little movement or hesitation can confuse opponents and give players more control over placement.
Use a Two-Handed Backhand Dink
Lastly, James Ignatowich stressed the importance of mastering a two-handed backhand dink.
“If you watch the pro game, a lot of the players are trying to hit a two-handed backhand dink,”. “And if you can hit an aggressive one with topspin, you can do a couple things. You can earn yourself space, push your opponents back, and also threaten a speed up.”(James Ignatowich)
He explained that, unlike the one-handed slice, a two-hander adds the threat of a sudden fast shot, which makes the opponent more cautious.
News in Brief: James Ignatowich’s Pickleball Mastery Tips
James Ignatowich, a pro pickleball player, shared five strategies for reaching the 5.0 level. His advice includes dropping to the middle, being aggressive on the right, keeping volleys low, adding hesitation to dinks, and mastering the two-handed backhand dink. These tips can help players level up their game.
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