Des Moines Metro Pickleball Club
15 hours 6 minutes ago
Final installment from The Dink on transitioning from tennis to pickleball.
Habits to Bring and Adjust
4. New Ready Position - A pickleball ready position is close to a tennis ready position. The major change Cincola suggests is to lower the paddle from chest height to waist level.
This is because the pickleball does not bounce nearly as high as a tennis ball. If a ball is up around your chest or shoulders it is probably going out or traveling slow enough for you to react in time.
Learn New Skills
5. Tip down - Having your paddle tip down strays from the common “racquet head up” philosophy in tennis. With low balls in the kitchen, hitting with the paddle tip down allows for a more relaxed grip and more shot options.
You can dink, speed up, or lob all from the same paddle position. This helps keep your opponent guessing.
6. Roll Volley - This shot is crucial in pickleball but almost unheard of in tennis. In pickleball, a lot of volleys are taken at or below net level. Topspin is required to get the ball up over the net, and then back down at your opponent’s feet.
Master these new skills and soon enough you won’t even miss the smell of a freshly opened can of tennis balls.
