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Tips & Lessons
Key Habit of a Highly Effective Pickleball Player
By James Hackenberg
We’ve all heard it before, right? Probably from our parents, or maybe it’s something we said to our children. I’m writing this article in hopes that someday I can “Do what I say” or “Walk the talk.” In reading this article, maybe you can identify with my situation and make a commitment to change a behavior on the pickleball court.
To Seek, Or Not To Seek, An Unfair Advantage?
Tasked with identifying behavior of good sportsmanship in a succinct document, the USAP Sportsmanship Committee was...
High Percentage Shots: What They Are And Why You Need To Hit Them
Players grumble about a "low-percentage shot" then they turn around and go for it again on the very next point! What is the...
The Science of Spin
Spin can be a powerful weapon. It can complicate your opponent’s decision-making, occasionally causing confusion and even earning you some extra free points.
7 Hit To The Middle Secretes
If you’ve been playing pickleball for any length of time, you’ve probably been told by some player to “hit to the middle.”
Senior Strategies against the Youth
I have been playing this great game of Pickleball for 42 years now. I started playing competitive intramural tournaments...
When to Attack
What is your favorite shot in pickleball? It’s the SLAM, the TAG, the FINISH—basically any ball that you can attack, right? How many times do you SLAM a ball that you thought was attackable and it winds up in the bottom of the net?
Should You Copy the Pros?
Because of YouTube, it is possible to watch many of today’s top pickleball players while sitting in the comfort of your home.
Pickleball Marriages, Breakups, and Lygoism
For those pickleball players who enjoy singles, they don’t tournaments have to worry about the dilemma of picking partners.
Middle, Middle, Solves the Riddle - NOT!
I have had quite a few students ask me a lot about various strategies in doubles. Many of these questions concern...
Playing with Your Spouse
My wife, Yvonne, and I have been playing in pickleball mixed doubles tournaments for over nine years now.
3 Big Mistakes and 3 Benefits of Being at the Non-Volley Line
In this article, we’re excited to feature Prem Carnot, the Pickleball Guru, as he shares some tips about getting up to the...
A Tennis Player's Perspective on Pickleball
Pickleball has been experiencing tremendous growth over the past several years. Much of it has come from the...
Playing on Different Surfaces
Over the years I have had many opportunities to play competitive pickleball on many types of surfaces. In the ‘80s...
Definitive Players Guide to Stacking
I once asked a player, “Do you like to stack?” and he replied, “I like to stack my pancakes!” Needless to say, that was...
Three Tips to a Better Doubles Team
In this article, we have long-time doubles team Alex Hamner and Jennifer Lucore. Since most pickleball players actually...
How Much of the Court Should You Take
This is a question that has many answers depending on several factors, such as the skill level of the players,...
Hitting Down The Middle
For this article, Pickleball Channel is pleased to partner with well-known pickleball coach Richard Movsessian...
When and Where to Attack
A general rule of thumb for when to attack while all four players are at the non-volley zone is when the ball is above net height.
The Importance of Being Centered
I run a quarter horse farm. Horse people say horses need to be "collected." All four legs need to be beneath...
Winning Tips for Your Next Tournament
Get ready for your next tournament by learning from the pros who have won multiple gold medals in tournament play!
How to be a Closer
Have you ever had a strong lead, only to have your momentum stop just short of finishing the game?
Stacking
We get a lot of questions from our subscribers about stacking. What is it, and why would you...
Proactive vs. Reactive
“Look out!” is a common phrase used after someone hits a bad shot. It’s easy to recognize a bad shot—that’s...
How Timeouts Can Help You Win
Competitive play is an excellent way to improve your game and have fun! While you might not have considered it...
How Spouses Can Co-Exist on the Pickleball Court
One of the best things about pickleball is that it’s a sport couples can play together, even into their golden years.
What Tennis and Table Tennis Players Need to Understand
I recently attended the World Championships in Punta Gorda, Flordia, with two...
DEFENSIVE PICKLEBALL: THE KEY TO SUCCESS
Pickleball is an extremely fun, yet complex sport with many nuances. In order to be a successful pickleball player...
How to get to play with better players
As a full-time pickleball coach, I often tell my students that one of the best ways to improve is to play with better players.
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