Pickleball Beginner Tips Reduce Unforced Errors Video Resource Guide

NOTE: This is a work in progress. Welcome to the rabbit hole




Before you can run, you must learn how to walk
Before you can walk, you must learn how to crawl

Unforced errors kill the pickleball fun factor
Unforced errors are frustrating
Unforced errors make you cuss on court
Unforced errors make you throw your paddle
Unforced errors make you doubt yourself
Unforced errors shake your confidence
Unforced errors make you lose
Unforced errors are the difference between 3.5 and 4.5 players



Become a Student Of The Game

• Know the rules of the game (USAPA Rule Book)
• Watch videos of top players
• Watch instructional videos
• On YouTube, learn how to analyze pickleball games: Pickleball Game Analysis - Shots, Strokes, Skills, Strategy
• Learn how to record your practice sessions and rec games on video and publish them YouTube
• Connect with other students of the game players that are studying the game just like you
• Until you can hit the paddle sweet spot 99 times out of 100, hit the ball daily: Backboard, Ball/Paddle, Practice, Play

Be Consistent

1. Ball Control: Consistently Bounce ball on paddle (Ball/Paddle) Developing Ball Control
2. Ball Control: Consistently hit ball on a backboard to develop muscle memory
3. Ball Control: Consistently hit ball anywhere on the court - Pickleball Basic Strokes
4. Serve: Consistently get your serve in - Pickleball Pendulum Serve, Pickleball Serves
5. Return of Serve: Consistently get your return of serve in
6. Non Volley Zone: Consistently hit the ball over the net from both wings on a bounce and on the fly
7. Relax

Teach/Share ASAP

• Annie Murphy Paul: Why Teaching Someone Else is the Best Way To Learn | TIME.com
• Toui Pomsouvan, 70+
• Authentic Pickleball Training Series by Damon Little, 15

Keep an online journal and/or post regularly to an online Facebook Group with like minded individuals: Pickleball Forum, Port Townsend Pickleball, Pickleball For Beginners, Pickleball Game Analysis Group, Your local club Facebook Group Page, newsletter, website, etc.

 

Link List

• Tips to Avoid Pickleball Unforced Errors
• Pickleball Forum Discussion
• The Mental Side of the Game
• Pickleball Statistical Analysis - Unforced Errors
• 25 Simple Pickleball Tips for Beginners
• Reduce Unforced Errors Pickleball
• The Winning Ingredient - Reducing Unforced Errors
• Unforced Errors Drill
• Pickleball Clinic – Six Sets of Five
• Steve Mueller’s Pickleball 'Invitation' Training Module

Doubles Pickleball Strategy 101-How to Play Smart

I've been asked to do an intro to Pickle ball Port Townsend. Guess they want a newbie's perspective.

A little about me, I'm fairly new to the game and am completely addicted.

Here's a video I found that is very helpful especially for someone new to the game.

Hope it helps.

Also if you have questions, but don't want to ask the advanced players - I'll ask for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ceh-7DI1Y

Doubles Pickleball Strategy 101-How to Play Smart ... www.youtube.com This video provides strategy and tips for playing smart pickleball. It discusses shot selection, court positioning, etc. The focus is on pickleball strategy.

Coach Mo - Playing Percentage Pickleball

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Introduction (Free Preview from Percentage Pickleball DVD) - YouTube Pickleball Coach:

Pickleball Strategies and Techniques Who is Coach Mo?

  Richard Movsessian aka "Mo" taught High School Physical Education for 29 years in MA and coached boys varsity tennis for 10 years. He was selected coach of the year in 1979. "Mo" is a former 4.5 ranked Doubles Player who played on the 1996 USTA Florida State Championship 4.5 Doubles Team.

After retiring from teaching he became a certified member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and as a Teaching Pro gave private tennis lessons. In 2010, Mo (at the age of 70) and his partner were 35+ Men's Doubles Silver Medalists in pickleball at the USAPA Nationals Championships in Buckeye, Arizona.

 

 USAPA 2010 National Pickleball Tournament Age 35+ Semi Finals

Port Townsend Pickleball Play Sunday April 10, Game #3

Senior Moment (2:11): Mary serves. Jack volleys the return ball at the net.

Rule: The ball has to bounce two times before it can be hit in the air without a bounce (volley)

1) Serve (bounce)
2) Return Serve (bounce)
Volley at any time.

Jack says that Mary did not serve the ball.
Mike and Kim agrees with Jack..
Mary goes along with the consensuses.

Sequim: High School Tennis Team Practice, Lessons, Doubles Tournment, Cardio Tennis

Keep a good weather eye.  We do not practice if the courts are wet, icy, or if we have high winds.  But, we will get in what we can.  If the weather forecast for the afternoons look good, I will frequently squeegee the courts in the morning and hope they will be dry by mid-afternoon.  I will try to advise of lesson cancellations well ahead of time in order to allow enough time for planning;  but, sometimes, I get it wrong.  I apologize for that. - Don Thomas

 

 

SHS Varsity Practice:  Varsity practice starts on Monday, August 24th.  The team will be using the courts from 3 to 5, this week, on Monday thru Thursday, and from 9 to 11 on Friday.  The courts will not be available to the public during those time periods. 

 

Additionally, school starts on the following Tuesday, September 1st.  Tennis lessons will be available during SHS school hours for home schoolers, OPA attendees, and private school children.  Further, the tennis courts will be used after school by the tennis team;  so, they will not be available for use -- except, from time to time, during away matches. 

 

The bottom line is:  except for this week and weekends thereafter, there will be very limited use of tennis courts for public school children for the next 6 to 8 weeks. 

 

 

Sequim Doubles Tournament:  Here's an opportunity to get some doubles experience.  There will be a doubles tournament held on the Sequim HS courts on Saturday, the 12th of September.  Contact Julien Berg at 681-3301 for more information.  All skill levels are welcomed -- that means you!!!!  This is a great opportunity for our juniors to get doubles experience.  The cost is $12.50 for non-members of the Peninsula Tennis Club -- $10 for members.  The tournament will be limited to 30 players; so, sign up early.  I highly recommend this tournament for all the juniors.  Proceeds go to the SHS Scholarship Fund -- someday, could be you.

 

 

Cardio Tennis:  Last weekend, I attended a Cardio Tennis registration conference in Portland, OR, put on by the Tennis Industry Association (TIA).  As a result of some classroom presentations and active oncourt participation and demonstrations, I am now a member of the TIA and a registered Cardio Tennis Authorized Provider.  I have already worked in some of the Cardio Tennis warm-ups, drills (called "games" in Cardio speak), and cool-downs.  So far, these lessons have gone very well with the older kids.  We will be making more Cardio Tennis available in the future. 

 

 

Reminder:  weekday lessons are private lessons and Saturday morning lessons are group lessons, depending upon the number of players signed up. 

Lesson: Watching The Ball In Tennis

Watching The Ball In Tennis:



How do you watch the ball in tennis? One often overlooked part is the first part of the trajectory from the contact of your opponent until the ball starts to drop. This can tell you almost everything about the eventual height and position of the ball.

Don't fixate on the bounce but do see it with a soft focus.

Once the ball comes closer try and get a "clear picture" at least for a split second.

Keep your head still at contact. Use simple drills at first to get the feel for it, then see if you can rally while watching the ball as recommended in this video. (Read More)

Lesson: How to Serve

Tennis: How to Serve - YouTube:

Modern Tennis Footwork... Learn how to move like Federer and Nadal - YouTube

Modern Tennis Footwork... Learn how to move like Federer and Nadal - YouTube: "Modern Tennis Footwork... Learn how to move like Federer and Nadal"

One of the things that makes Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal such good tennis players is their footwork. Their footwork doesn't just get them from A to B... it's actually a weapon!

FYB head coach Will Hamilton and Yann Auzoux (a 2008 and 2010 Washington Post coach of the year and former Davis Cup player for Cameroon) walk you through the footwork patterns that Federer, Nadal, and other top players use during a match... in other words, modern tennis footwork.

Will here... This is one of the best footwork videos online (granted, I'm biased). It's actually one of the best videos we've ever produced. Yann is a great coach and he shows you exactly how to move quickly, efficiently, and in a way that helps you prevent injuries.