Hello and welcome to the first “Cup of Joe.” We will share statistics from charting various pickleball matches as a regular feature of this column. The first is shown below. Touch shots account for 40% of all balls hit in men’s doubles. It averages 45% in women’s or mixed. What do these percentages mean in terms of which shots to practice? Whether you are a male or female player, you should spend nearly half of your practice time on “dinks” off the bounce and soft controlled volleys. The question is how to practice these delicate shots when the majority of your pickleball maschine friends are only interested in playing games. Here are some options for getting more quality practice and exercise in less time, without the scheduling issues that come with lining up for a foursome.

 

  1. Wall Practice- Use your garage door or a nearby schoolyard wall. Concerned about leaving a mark on the garage door? As an alternative, a foam tennis ball can be used.
  2. Solo Practice- Because delicate touch shots are so important in pickleball, do a few minutes of “ups and downs” a day to improve your consistency and control. Experiment with both standing still and walking.
  3. Rebounder Nets and Tarps- look on pickleball websites for these items. There are numerous creative options.
  4. Ball machines- there are several options. Once again, Google is your friend! Just keep in mind that by practicing alone for a few minutes each day, you can significantly improve your playing level in a matter of weeks. Just don’t tell your opponents about it!

 

Many similarities exist between ball sports. The effect of ball rotation on the sport is one of them. Curve balls are used in baseball, and spirals are used in football. Effective use of spin is linked to successful performance in sports such as bowling, basketball, soccer, and even golf. And, while multiple ball spins are possible in table tennis and tennis, topspin has the most impact. So, how about pickleball? Pickleballs do not spin as much as tennis balls. Why? Because the balls are much harder than tennis balls and there are no strings to grip, grab, and create spin in pickleball paddles.

 

What effect does this have on the sport?

Topspin allows tennis players to hit harder while still keeping balls on the court. Pickleball maschine relies heavily on gravity to return the ball to the court. What does this imply for pickleball players? The lack of topspin limits the amount of power you can hit on all shots (except high volleys and overheads). Because of the lack of topspin and the “kitchen rule,” control is more important than power. This has two consequences: It is a gender equalizer first and a power neutralizer second. These are pickleball selling points because there is a wider range of players with whom each of us can enjoy playing. And, my pickleball friends, that is a good tradeoff for spin! Learn more at SpinshotGermany!