Pickleball Tournament Tips: A pickleball coach shared three simple tips to help players feel confident and play well during a tournament. The advice focused on staying calm, choosing smart shots, and keeping the paddle ready at all times. The coach explained that these strategies would help avoid common mistakes and control the game.
Start With Controlled Drives
The coach said it is normal to feel nervous at the start. Because of this, players should hit third shot drives instead of third shot drops when beginning the match.
“You’re going to be nervous and so are your opponents. So, you’re going to start off the match by hitting third shot drives at 60% power as opposed to third shot drops. The reason is when we hit the drives, it’s much more comfortable for us as well as it puts the pressure on our opponents.”
This approach helps players feel steady and makes it harder for opponents to return the ball.
Attack Balls in the Air
The coach also gave advice for when players reach the kitchen line.
“When we do make it to the kitchen line, we are not going to speed up any balls off of the bounce, we’re only going to attack out of the air. And the reason is when we attack balls out of the air, we’re able to hit down on them towards our opponent’s feet. When we have to attack off the bounce, we have to hit up. So, especially when we’re nervous, we’re probably going to send it long.”
This tip helps avoid hitting the ball out of bounds.
Keep the Paddle Up
The last tip was about keeping the paddle in the ready position.
“You want to exaggerate and keep your partner accountable for having both of your paddles up at all times. You’ll be amazed at how many times I see players hit the ball and then drop their paddle, look, and then react. Cut all that extra out by just being up and wherever the ball is, just track it with your paddle tip. It makes a massive difference.”
This habit allows players to react faster and return more shots.
Staying Calm and Focused
These three tips can help players stay calm, reduce mistakes, and improve performance. The coach reminded everyone that keeping a clear mind and sticking to simple habits could make the difference between winning and losing.
News in Brief: Pickleball Tournament Tips
A pickleball coach shared three key tips for tournament success: hit third shot drives at 60% power, attack balls out of the air, and keep paddles up. These strategies help players feel calm, react faster, and avoid sending shots out of bounds.