Pickleball is quite easy to master, and this is one of the reasons why this sport is developing so fast. Let’s give 5 tips for beginner Pickleball Players.
As a new player, you may get stuck with some bad habits. which will slow down your progress to the heights of pickleball! It is worth noting right away that it is very difficult to start playing with strong opponents. where fast and complex decision-making is required, physical readiness, and the availability of game strategies.
Here are 5 common mistakes and tips to fix them
1. You’re in a hurry to serve
As you know, haste has never done anyone any good. Even a well-known proverb tells us about it.
The speed of the pickleball allows us to move around the court with short breaks. With that comes the desire to rush when it’s your turn to serve. You can see from the side how the players just walk up to the line and hit the ball without even taking a breath.
Take a minute, slow down the pace of the game, give yourself time to get ready, and relax.
Tip: The best way to resist the rush is to have some kind of ritual. which you can repeat every time. Maybe make a couple of hits with the ball on the court. Or at least look at your opponent and take a breath before hitting.
2. You look away from the ball
Watching the ball seems easy, but in the game it will be more difficult than you think. There is often a desire to look at the opponent or look up. Or away from the ball. And as a result, the result will be an oversight.
Tip: Practice keeping your attention on the ball yourself. It should be a habit. This way, there will be no distractions in front of you. Once you develop this action into a habit, you can try to look at the opponent on the other side to see if you can keep your concentration.
3. You wear uncomfortable shoes
So, this is repeated many times—new players come in new uniforms, they are delighted that they go out on the court with a new racket and look a little arrogant. Let’s look down. What are they wearing on their feet?! Believe me, the right shoes are more important than a good racket! You may have the best technique and skills in the world, but if your shoes don’t allow you to move around the court and get to the ball well, that’s a disaster!
Tip: Properly selected tennis/pickleball sneakers will provide your feet with the support they need to move quickly in several directions. More importantly, they will protect your legs and joints from injury. Invest in good shoes before buying the most magnificent racket!
4. You are tense on the court
There’s no denying that the first few times you step onto a pickleball court, it’s scary. Seeing a plastic yellow ball rushing towards you at speed can be scary. You need to try to establish contact with him and at the same time control him, and this is not easy! Add to this the need for footwork. And for most beginners, it becomes simply overwhelming. too much for brain processing.
The first thing that affects the congestion among the players is the speed of the legs. How often have you felt like you were standing and looking at a ball that an opponent had just hit? And you were not ready to fight him off. The solution to this problem is not to play above your level too early. The faster the ball moves, the less time you have to figure out what’s going on. And even more so, go to the ball on time and correctly for your shot.
Tip: Find a training partner who will give you time to prepare for hitting the ball. And practice moving at the pace you need, approaching the ball as comfortably as possible. The more experience you gain, the better your hitting skills will be. Over time, you will be able to hit and move automatically!
5. You are nervous and panicking
You don’t want to let down your partner, whom you just met! After all, first impressions are important. Many players panic and worry about what their partner will think. But this is a mistake; most of the time they will worry about their game. And also that they will let their partner down … a mirror situation! And it’s too easy to forget that you’re here to cheer yourself up, not to give yourself a heart attack by nagging.
The Council: We all play pickleball because we like it. Keep this in mind the next time you panic or get mad at yourself. Enjoy yourself and this amazing sport. Don’t forget to have fun!
Also read, 20 Best Pickleball Shoes for Men and Women….
Final Thoughts
Add some time for training. Always remember that it takes time and patience to get better at pickleball. Simply participating in matches will not give you the quality of practice you need to progress. Try to achieve a good balance between training and matchplay.