Today I want to review the 3 most important keys to improving your accuracy on the pickleball court. Whether you are hitting a serve, a return of serve, a groundstroke, a volley or a dink…these keys remain the same.
Accuracy Key #1: Have a Small Target
We have discussed the first key before…that is, we must have a target. Often a student will lament, “But the game is too fast, I can’t have a target on every shot.” I disagree! Without a specific target, your mind does not have a clear intention. There is clearly a mind-body connection in all athletic pursuits. Without a clear intention, you are giving up 50% of your innate abilities.
Begin by using gameplay to ensure that you are choosing a target whenever you practice. Then take time before every point to choose a target as I suggest here. Remember, your targets are small areas of the court. It is not the entire NVZ, but rather the left foot of the player across the court from you.
Accuracy Key #2: Keep Your Eye on the Ball
We also discussed keeping your eye on the ball. I worked with a student recently that was having difficulty consistently and accurately returning serves. Frankly, her stroke technique was not that bad. Instead, I placed colored targets on the court and asked her to select aloud the color of her target before I served the ball. Then I asked her to follow the ball with her eyes from my hand all the way to her paddle. These two suggestions significantly improved her accuracy.
Accuracy Key #3: Hit Three Balls
The final key to hitting a ball solidly and accurately is to imagine hitting three balls. Your goal on every shot is to extend your arm forward so that your paddle is aiming directly at your target on every stroke. It doesn’t matter if it is a swing volley or a groundstroke. Notice in the sequence below my paddle extends, maintaining the same plane, for three balls. Also notice that my paddle extends toward the target, not across my body or over my left shoulder.
Next time you practice or play, I want you to commit to 3 things: choose a target, watch the ball and imagine you are hitting three balls. I promise you your shots will be more solid and your accuracy will improve.
