Stop Flipping Your Pickleball Paddle—Use Angle to Lift the Ball
Today, I want to talk about something I see all the time—players flipping their paddle to roll the ball, especially when it’s dropping below net height. I get it. I want to do it too. But here’s the deal: most of the time, that move gets you in trouble. What’s the Problem? When the ball […]
Why You Don’t Need to Stop to Hit the Ball
Let’s bust a myth that drives me a little bit crazy—this idea that you have to stop moving to hit the ball. It’s simply not true. What you really need is stability, not stillness. Stop Stopping—Start Stabilizing A lot of the time, players feel like they have to stop because they’re moving too fast. They’re […]
Reset Like a Pro: How to Block the Ball When It’s Coming at Your Body
Let’s talk about one of the toughest moments in a game: someone drives a ball right at your body. I hear this question all the time—“How do I manage this shot?” Today, I’m going to walk you through how to reset or block effectively, especially when you’re getting targeted with pace. Common Mistakes Players Make […]
How to Turn Defense Into Offense With Smart Footwork and Follow-Through
Today I want to break down a concept that’s super helpful no matter your skill level: how to turn a defensive shot into an offensive opportunity—just by using your legs, footwork, and paddle follow-through. Most players miss out on easy chances to attack because they treat mid-court or off-the-bounce shots as merely survival tools. But […]
Simple Adjustments for More Spin, Power, and Consistency in Your Pickleball Game
More Spin, Less Work In today’s lesson, I want to talk about something that often gets overlooked: keeping things simple. Pickleball players tend to overcomplicate their mechanics, especially when trying to generate spin or power. The truth is, with just a few small tweaks, you can create better consistency, more spin, and more control—without working […]
Simple Tip to Stop Hitting Into the Net
If you find yourself hitting into the net a lot—whether it’s on your volleys or during dink exchanges—this one simple tip can make a big difference across your entire game. Think about where your paddle finishes after you hit the ball. I want my paddle to finish above the net. That’s it. It’s a simple […]
How to Get More Power on Your Drives
Especially if you didn’t come from a racquet sport If you’re struggling to generate power on your drives, especially if you didn’t grow up playing tennis or another racquet sport, you’re not alone. The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Power is simple when you understand where it actually comes from. Power Starts […]
Where Does Power Come From in Pickleball?
Hint: It’s Not Your Arms. Let’s clear this up right away—power doesn’t come from your hands or arms. Swinging harder doesn’t automatically mean you’re hitting faster, stronger, or better. In fact, that mindset often does more harm than good. In pickleball, we separate power and control by the body:Power comes from your lower body.Control comes […]
Disguising Your Shot: The Power of Direction Change
Last week, we talked about cutting off the corners to create a more offensive dink. Now, let’s take that concept a step further—redirecting the ball to control the point. Why Does This Matter? The more I move my opponent, rather than moving myself, the more control I have. The goal is to dictate the point, […]
High Level Offensive Dinking: Mastering Positioning on the Court
Hey everyone, Sarah Ansboury here! Let’s talk about offensive dinking and how better positioning can help you take control at the net. One of the biggest mistakes I see players make is getting too square to the net, which leads to poor contact points and unnecessary movement. The Problem with Squaring Up When you’re too […]
