Pickleball! Winning With Purpose! Do You Hit Shots With Intent? You Should! 

I don't think it is fair to attribute the struggles these players are having to lack of intent. It is difficult to tell from watching others whether they don't have intent about what they are trying to accomplish with a shot or whether their accuracy doesn't allow them to consistently accomplish what they intend. I know there are many times when I have the intent to hit a third shot drop and what anyone observing would see is me teeing the ball up in the opponents put-away zone. The fact that many shots go into the net or well long is a strong indication that execution is the culprit rather than lack of intent. (Nobody intends to do those things.)

3.0 Rory ? That's very generous .I don't think any of them have much of a clue about anything . Hopefully, they'll watch this video of themselves and learn something from your comments .

I hate to disagree with you Rory. These players are 2.0 level. LOL

Hi Rory, I'd love for you to make more videos in the 3.5-4.0 range. I started watching your channel when I was at a 3.0 level. As I'm getting better (now a 3.5), I want to see more videos in the higher levels. Not sure what others think. Thank you.

Hey Rory! Interesting video. I'm a chess player, so I can relate to this! At this level, the players are not thinking of intent. Their primary purpose with their shots is pretty clear: 1) Hit the ball hard or with spin to try to get a winner, or 2) Simply keep the ball in play with shots that they're comfortable with. These players are missing 3 key elements: -Overall understanding of the incredible importance of getting to the kitchen. They might have a vague understanding that it's better to get to the kitchen, but they're more comfortable hitting lobs and hard drives at the baseline or even the transition zone, rather than setting themselves up to get to the kitchen. -Technical skills to drop the ball into the kitchen consistently. Once in a while a player might try to drop the ball into the kitchen...and that's great! The guy in blue tried to, and yes, he deserves credit, even when his attempts fail. -Confidence to use a drop. This is because they don't have the technical skill to pull it off consistently and are afraid to hit the ball high for an opponent put-away or into the net because they don't have enough touch. Rec games are still competitive, and people want to win! Hence, they'll revert back to what is comfortable for them...even if it stalls their growth. I see many players peak in their development because they're unwilling to risk losing in rec play by committing to using drops. They just don't have confidence in their technical skills or touch. So they revert to drives, or worst yet, lobs. If players would commit to practicing their drops, even at the risk of losing points, they would become stronger overall players in the long run. But this is easier said than done for most players. PS - these players all have the physical skills to move well past 3.0. But they would need to adjust their mindset in order to grow.

Would love to see this sort of hitting shots with intent stuff in a 3.5-3.75 kind of game. To your point and one of the comments I saw here, a year and a half ago, I was a 3.0-3.5 type, over relying on athleticism, but it wasn't until the game really slowed down (less happy feet, more of a plan with what to do with the ball) for me that I was able to get to the 3.75 or near 4.0 type level.

In working with new pickleball players I have found it challenging to get them to recognize that in pickleball your play won't improve to higher levels until you work on developing your soft shot when you are in a defensive position to your opponents. To overcome their fear of messing up a soft shot I have the players play a match where they lose the point if they volley the ball. In the beginning, the points are short because of the lack of skill of the players being able to hit good soft shots but as play goes on they begin to get a better feel for their soft shot and they actually enjoy getting some dinking play into their game. Playing enough of these types of games gets players to change their mindsets on volleying all their shots.

At what point of learning the game does strategy and intentional shots become as ingrained as basic shot mechanics? I’ve been playing a year and have been focusing on understanding scoring, serves with intent and strategy, moving up as quickly as possible, third shot drops, reacting to bangers and having fun? I get that you are trying to demonstrate “how not to play” here (by all the negative comments it’s a wonder they should show their faces on a court) but there is little suggestions on how they learn to improve?

Agree with what you are saying. My perspective is that this is the kind of play you see when players do not have a third shot drop. The only thing left is drives and lobs. It does not matter what the intent is? They are just short on the skill of third shot drops.

They do stand back on return of serve, and stay back after a serve, so I think they've taken a few lessons, but should invest in more, as they all have the ability to be 3-3.5's with some good instruction. Having fun is the main goal at this level, and I think they reach that goal.

Well, to be fair, this is relatively beginner/beginner + rec play. When I was at that level, yes, I was intent on hitting the ball back over the net, and think Yay, Me! I am definitely getting better with practice and drilling, but having the ability to quickly--like nano-second-quick think of not only reaching the ball, but hitting the ball, getting it over the net, and then to add on top of that PLACING the ball...and then to be thinking a few shots ahead...well, for people who do not have a natural, innate athleticism (like me), it's really struggle to think multiple shots ahead, especially when you're already past the third or fourth shot in a play. That's probably why I'll never be a 4.5 or above (maybe, at best, a 4.0 if I really work at it), I just do not have that natural athleticism that advanced strategic play requires and once a firefight starts or the pace quickens, it's about all I can do to just hit the ball. Pickleball is great because you can still have fun anyway, and these folks are having fun, and definitely have the ability to take their game up a notch or two. If one has natural athleticism, it's really hard to understand how hard it is for those of us who don't have it. Example, I'm very musically-inclined, and it's hard to see how someone who claims they are tone-deaf can't "get" certain aspects of music. Thinking fast on your feet multiple steps ahead....it's just REALLY hard for some, if not many, folks. Can you improve? Sure....but I'd say it's MUCH harder for us non-athletic people than it is for those natural athletes. Well, I'm wandering here. I just see myself in my earlier pickleball days like these folks; I've been thinking a lot about this as I've had friends start playing after I've been playing for years, and advance much further than I have, and actually leave me behind, so I have a soft spot for these guys! They'll get better!

There's a group near me that says they are "high level players" they play EXACTLY like this 🤦 I find it difficult to play with them all they do is slam the hell out of everything with lack of intent , pop everything up no finesse at all. And that lady throwing the ball down if you said something I almost guarantee she would argue she's doing anything wrong. This type of play is annoying at best.

Hi Rory, thank for your videos, they are all very helpful. You speak a lot about how you can not / should be moving as you are making your way to the non-volley zone when you are hitting your return through the transition zone. I was wondering if you had any video's or can make one highlighting the proper technique of getting set to hit your shot as you try to make your way to the non volley zone.

Great commentary and helpful pointers. I actually play with 3 out of the 4 people in this video. (Not black cap banger) I’ll let them know that this video gives constructive criticisms of their play! Ps - I’ll let the lady in this video know her serve is illegal 😅

Illegal serves - who should tell a player? Or should you tell another player? and if so, when? Start of game, after game? Personally, I don't think these are 3.0 players. But they do seem to be having fun and that's important. Love your videos.

Can you provide some examples of strategies or set ups? I know about 3rd shot drops vs. drives but what other set ups are there?

2.75-3.0 level. they are having fun, but have no 3rd shot drops, lack patience and direction. They are keeping the ball in play, but that's because most shots are high. A 3.25 team would crush them and run them ragged. Lessons would really be helpful for all of them.

Probably one of the biggest strides I made forward is from being happy to make a difficult dig or return a difficult shot to having the intent to return a difficult dig or shot as a reset. Obviously, it is difficult to do but just digging or returning a tough shot with no intent is more often than not coming back at me hard. One advantage of a third shot drive is that it often sets up a much easier 5th shot drop. I saw a few nice drives but they didn't take advantage of them.

The lady in the near court has an illegal serve and the guy in the near court foot faults when he serves. Example is at 18:12 and throughout the game. They all must be pretty new.

Let's name this shot. The tee-up.

Maybe they are trying to make a 3rd shot drop but aren't good at it and just hitting it too high. I've done that several times. I know what I'm trying to do but just don't execute.

That is what is like to play with 2.5 players . No point to this as they need to learn how to play first , you even mentioned the illegal hit

Ugh! That was painful to watch.

This is so cringey. This is exactly the same recreational play I see in indoor at all the san diego recreational centers. It is painful to watch. It's painful to be partnered up with these people. It's painful to be the one resetting only for your partner to constantly drive it and your reset meant nothing. This is negative 3.0 pickleball because it's thinking backwards. If you're this bad, the smart thing to do is sit down and watch what successful people do and JUST COPY THEM. Simple as that. Watch a good match at your local rec and JUST COPY the patterns that successful people do. And that also goes with life in general.