Check out my answers to the top 3 questions that pickleball players most frequently ask me.
#1 - What's the main difference between a 4.0 and a 5.0 player?
Simply put - the transition game. At the 4.0 level you can get away with drives, and even imperfect drops, to create short balls. As you get closer to 5.0, your opponents will become better at keeping you back, putting more pressure on your drops.
5.0 players also are a little more ambitious in at least looking to crash a mediocre fourth shot. People often forget about the other side of this - keep working on your fourths (power and placement) to keep your opponents back. Let that ball bounce and get behind it if you need to! Obviously there’s more to get better at in the journey to 5.0, but you won’t be winning points at this level if you can’t get to the kitchen.
#2 - What footwork/fitness drills do you do to stay light on your feet?
From a speed perspective, I do a lot of jump rope and side to side shuttles on the pickle court. I also mix in a bunch of kangaroo jumps (raise knees to chest in air), and squat jumps too.
Ladder drills are good to do too but I think just consciously being aware of your footwork patterns during play is more beneficial. Make sure you’re sticking to the basics - don’t cross over your feet, split step before every single shot, and stay down through contact.
From a strength perspective, I do the classic squats, deadlifts, lunges a couple times a week, and I stretch for about an hour a day. I’m only talking lower body here!
"...keep working on your fourths (power and placement) to keep your opponents back." – James Ignatowich
#3 - What are your thoughts on slicing returns?
I usually advise against slicing returns, because oftentimes they float up in the air and fall short. I generally argue that topspin is better than slice on all shots.
That being said, if you can keep it hard and low, I think it’s only beneficial to give your opponents different looks. I’ve seen even experienced players trip up when they get a random slice return.
One important thing to note is that it’s borderline impossible to hit a good slice return off a really good serve, so it shouldn’t be your default.
Have a question that I didn't answer above?
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