Me and my partner just love you! Your delivery, honesty and humble approach are awesome. We just started playing 6 months ago and playing as partners two months ago. This is super helpful! ❤️
Love all your videos, and this one does not disappoint! I'm only a beginner but seeing such clear and straightforward delivery (and a bit of humor!) has shown me a lot and has made me hungry to learn more. Thanks so much!
Great advice and demonstrations for my wife and I. As a mixed doubles team, we have been stuck on how to improve our game and your information is by far the best we have seen of all the channels.
Last weekend my partner and I won gold after implementing the first part of this. He told me to watch him on his drops so I would stop getting killed when he popped one up a bit. What you expand on in the rest of the video is excellent.
I'm a newbie. Played 3 days. Researched and sample tested several sites that had new player information to help my game progress. You are the winner. Love your presentation skills.
Great video! I knew about the traffic lights as a measure of when to attack or reset, but never heard anyone use it for a drop shot. This is great stuff. I'm going to use it today and see how it goes. Thanks!!
Thanks for the tips. I've played with partners who like to rush to the kitchen line no matter what. I've made a high 3rd shot and am shouting, "stay back." Sometimes they don't get it. The traffic light system would be easier to explain.
Good stuff! How would the system and partner communication change if the returner decides to DRIVE the third shot? Again, as with the drop shot, assume that the other partner would start in, stop, turn, observe the drive, but then react when? After observing how(if) that ball comes back and restarting the process of advancing on the NVZ accordingly? It seems that about 50% of the third shots are being driven in most matches vs dropped. Thanks for the great content.
I just saw your blurb at the end of the video about a video coming soon about what to do on the third shot drive! Looking forward to that wisdom as well. Thanks again.
Yeah that's a great question. I haven't made that video yet. It can be a bit tricky, and I want to make sure I do it right. For now, here's this: The answer is it depends. If I'm playing with someone with a really strong drive. (meaning, they don't just hit it hard, but they hit it low,) I'll often crash in toward the kitchen line. But I do turn my head to get vision of where they are going to drive the ball. If I trust them, I might go green more often. Now, if you do that, and they miss the drive high, you can be in a bit of a bind. That's okay though. Just experiment. If I'm playing with someone who has a bad drive, i'm trypically staying in a yellow position because i know if I go to fast and they're not that good, I'm getting burned too often. And I don't want to take the risk. Also, yes a lot of people at the pro level drive the 3rd shot. But most of the time, they're not winning the point on that drive. The opponent blocks it, and then they get a 5th shot drop. But again it all depends on how good your partner is at driving. How good you are at crashing, and how good your opponents are at blocking.
Hey Kyle: Great video on the 3d shot. Notice you using a 2-handed BH on defense. I gotta try it. Looking forward to your clip on the split step. Needed that skill a couple days ago....ugh!!
How would this system change with your partner hitting a drive instead of a drop? I see pros almost always moving up on both drops and drives and executing the shake n bake
good question. It's all partner dependent. The reason the pros move up sooner more consistently is because they have deeper trust in their partners ability to execute the shot. Amateurs miss more and there is more inconsistency which would keep me from moving up as fast as often!
Pickle ball requires great athleticism: eye hand coordination; court coverage; stamina; strength, athleticism etc. truly the best athletes on the planet; surpasses tennis, golf, basketball and baseball.
What if your shorter individuals. Wouldn’t standing by the kitchen line put you at a disadvantage if the other team just lobs the ball over your head/reach to the back corners or back of the court? What do you do then? You’d have to turn around and chase after the ball.
Being at the kitchen gives an advantage, especially if your short...if you're back your opponents can attack your feet and the court is more open. If they lob and you're short just turn and run around the ball...let it bounce and drop it over the net.
That's one component of it. I'd say, It's all about recognizing if the drop your partner hit will (1) bounce in the kitchen (2) force the opponent to hit it out of the air in an upward motion.
That works fine until your partner decides to hit a drive instead of a drop, and the ball glances off the tip of their paddle, hitting you in the eye, partially detaching your retina. Happened to me. I look at my partner a lot, but look away as they begin their swing. When you are that close, you don't have time to react if they mishit the ball.
It's a good question. There is definitely a bit of nuance to it. It depends on a few things. 1. how good is my parter at hitting 3rd shot drives. If they typically keep it low, I may "Crash in" a bit more. If they suck. I'm staying back to see what happens with their drive. Also, Sometimes I'll wait to see them hit a few and see whats the spot they like to drive it to. Line. Middle. Or cross court. Either Way, I still prefer to turn my body to watch, but on a drive if Im crashing I'll continue moving forward. Experiment with it a bit next time you go out and play.
That's what makes me laugh when players say always run to the kitchen. It also depends on your opponents skill at hitting deep to the middle giving you less time to reset.
