Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic Newsletter!

Do you ever wonder if you are actually getting better at pickleball? Today, you’ll find out if you’re really improving, discover the best pickleball tips, learn how to hit counterattacks like a pro, and much more.

Let’s go! 👇

It's time to play another round of "What Did You Say?" (Well, it's not actually called that, but we're talking about when we ask a question to our community (YOU!) via our Facebook and Instagram accounts, and then take a look at what you had to say!

The latest question was "If you could give a beginner player one pickleball tip, what would it be?" Let's hear how you responded...

Actually, before we start, we must say that while we expected great comments from our smart and good-natured pickleball community, the responses were even more insightful than we expected!

Many people suggested taking lessons and working with coaches, which is very important because it allows someone who really knows the game to look at your game specifically and tell you what needs improvement.

Several players mentioned the importance of footwork, which is often overlooked, but crucial in terms of being in the right position and on balance while hitting your shots. 

A few commenters mentioned the grip (which should be the "continental" or “hammer” grip), and one person wrote: "Do not grip the paddle tightly. Mostly grip the paddle at 6 out of 10 tightness." We agree about not holding the paddle tightly, but we would go even lower and suggest that you hold the grip at about a 3 or 4 out of 10, especially on shots like dinks and drops.

Some classic tips, including "serve and stay," "return and run," "deep serves and deep returns," and "keep your paddle up at the kitchen," were offered, as was an important safety tip: "don't run backwards."

To clarify, that means that you should not back up quickly on your heels or "backpedal," as that is easily the greatest cause of falls and serious injuries. Instead, turn sideways and attempt to hit an overhead, or turn around completely and run forwards in order to track down a lob.

But the most common advice had nothing to do with technique or strategy. Sure, it might sound corny, but sometimes the best advice is. And that advice centered around enjoying the game and having fun. We couldn't agree more!

One person put it well by writing: "Keep your chin up, and don't let any unkind players suck the joy out of it. (Most are very nice!)"

We can't end one of these without mentioning some of the funny responses, which included: "At least hit the ball," "duck!," and "don’t buy expensive paddles if you have zero skills." 😂

While that last comment is funny and we do agree that the most expensive paddles may not be necessary for beginners, we also don’t recommend that anyone use real beginner paddles, as they are not made well and provide very little power, which can get beginners into the bad habit of swinging too hard.

Study Your Opponent!

Pickleball strategy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every opponent has different strengths and weaknesses—some have stronger backhands, some defend their paddle shoulder well, and others handle shots on the move better than balls hit straight at them. Pay attention to what works and adjust your game plan!

Now THAT’s how you hit a “tweener” drop. 👇

Black Barn Pickleball, Dayton, OH

There are 8 indoor, cushioned pickleball courts in this unique destination in Dayton, Ohio. What makes it unique? For starters, players feel like they are playing inside a giant barn. Plus, Black Barn takes that experience to another level with high ceilings, indirect lighting, and Pro-Cushion courts designed for comfort and performance.

The black, green, and gray court design gives the space a bold, modern look that perfectly fits the venue’s identity. Locally owned and operated, Black Barn is creating a place where the Dayton pickleball community can come together to play, stay active, and have fun. Court Kings built all 8 courts and is so happy to be a part of it.

A common question we get asked by pickleball students is, "Am I getting better?" It's a valid question because unlike sports such as golf and bowling, where you can objectively see with numbers if you are improving, with pickleball, it's not as easy to tell.

Plus, people generally play with the same group of players, so if the entire group is getting better, then it's often difficult to know if you are improving. In fact, if the people in your group are improving at a faster pace than you are, it can sometimes appear as if you are getting worse! 😮

But don't worry, the vast majority of you are, indeed, getting better. How do we know? Because we see it with students ALL the time.

What can be discouraging, though, is the fact that people progress at different rates. Some people might just be more naturally coordinated, athletic, or they have more "aha" moments that allow them to understand the game faster.

So while it might take one person several weeks to see noticeable improvement, it may take someone else many months or even years. But rest assured, no matter what your level is, if you keep practicing AND keep trying to understand the game, then you will almost always improve.

The only real pitfall to avoid is being stubborn. By that we mean that if you refuse to be honest with yourself and acknowledge deficiencies in your game (whether it's mechanical or strategic), then it will be tough to improve because you will fall into the trap of doing the exact same thing and expecting a different outcome.

But with that exception, there is no reason why people shouldn't get better. We have seen players start off at very low levels and stay at that level for months. But sure enough, they inevitably improve to a point where they can enjoy the game way more than they used to.

One disclaimer: just because we can all get better doesn't mean that we don't have a ceiling to our potential. And along those lines, the better we get, the harder it is to get even better.

In other words, it is easier to move from a 2.5 to a 3.0, then to move from a 3.5 to a 4.0, and then even harder to move from a 4.5 to a 5.0. Because like anything in life, the highest levels rise like a pyramid, such that fewer and fewer people can get to the higher levels.

This makes sense because if they didn't, we would all be on our way to playing professional pickleball. But of course, that's not why we play. We play to have fun, enjoy the game, and to become the best that we, ourselves, can be. 💪

You gotta start ‘em young these days. 😄👇

Did you know that Sunday is World Menopause Day? Well, menopause is just one of the many things that happens to our bodies as we age, and honestly, it's hard to keep up with everything that contributes to our overall health. But rather than juggling all the various elements that go into staying healthy, with Marek Health, you can streamline the process by managing your labs, supplements, and medical advice all in one place.

At Marek Health, you get a dedicated health coach and physician-led team that manages everything from blood work and treatment plans to prescriptions and follow-ups. Menopause, for example, can impact energy, overall wellness, and the ability to maintain an active lifestyle. Marek Health provides the coaching, treatment options, and lab panel from Diagnostics so you can not only understand what is specifically happening to your body, but also take the best steps moving forward. Or you can build your own lab panel as well. There is a one-time intake fee (take 10% off when you use CLINIC), and then clients only pay for the medications and supplements they need.

It's time to develop a plan for your health that's specifically tailored to you.

As most of us know, speedups are very aggressive shots that can give players a big edge at the kitchen line. But there is one big antidote to the speedup: a counter. Good counters (counterattacks) can be so powerful that they fire speedups back at opponents even faster than they were initially hit. Today, Coach Matt shows you how to hit the two-handed backhand counterattack. Check it out below. 👇

A few weeks ago, we told you about a new Guinness World Record that was recently set for the longest consecutive pickleball match ever played, which was 60 hours straight! But that was doubles. It turns out that a singles record also exists. And that record is... 28 hours! It was set by two friends in Michigan, Brad Haverkamp and Caleb Dang, and just as the rules were for doubles, the pair was allowed a 5-minute break each hour to get a drink, go to the bathroom, or just sit down.

The feat isn’t just difficult from a physical perspective, but from a mental perspective as well. "I think at a certain point, your brain just shuts off and you're on autopilot," Dang told a local ABC News affiliate after breaking the record. "I might as well have blacked out for the middle 20 hours of that attempt."

Hope you enjoyed the read. See you next week!

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

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