Let It Go – Tipbit #6

Letting balls go is an underrated and the most overlooked skill in all of pickleball. It’s not always easy letting a high ball go and many times it’s just your ole’ ego rearing its ugly head when you do take a high ball. So, maybe you should take some advice from the Disney classic movie "Frozen" and just - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

                                                                           “Let it Go”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paddle technology has made the game faster than ever. Paddles are engineered to provide as much power and spin as possible. At the beginner’s level, this additional power usually means a loss of control. Most players aren't dialed in enough to hit the ball as hard as they can and still keep it in the court.

 

As a rule of thumb, any big forehand windup from mid-court should be an automatic cue to “Let It Go”.  If your opponent attempts to speed up a low dink from the kitchen, that too is a cue to “Let It Go”. If your opponent is frantically on the run and hits a shot, again that’s a cue to “Let It Go”. If your opponent happens to make the first shot, so be it. If the second shot lands in, then it’s time to start blocking. If you're the type of player who wants to prove their mettle by hitting every ball back, you're probably giving up free points.

 

 You need to start taking chances and “Let It Go”:

• It’s natural to hit every high ball coming your way, but it's important to train your eye to see which balls are going out and which ones are staying in. If you let three balls go and one bounces in, you’re still net positive two.

• Are you playing a banger; many times their balls will fly long.

• We’re indoors now, but when at Glen Park, check out our windsock. Does your opponent have the wind at their back? If so, their ball is even more likely to fly out.

• Watch your opponent’s body language; are they preparing to windup? Be actively engaged in the game; watching and analyzing. . . collecting data.

• Trust your partner, a ball’s trajectory is better viewed from the side. Tell your partner to communicate by saying, "watch, leave, out, etc".

• Remember this saying, "If it’s shoulder high, let it fly”!

 

Above all else, simply keep this in your mind: “If you don’t ever see the ball bounce in, you’ll never see the ball bounce out.”

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                                 C' ya on the Greenwood courts. President Lueck

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