Pickleball has changed significantly over the past few years…it is faster, more athletic and more technical. This requires all of us to learn to play pickleball efficiently.
When You Aren’t the Biggest or Have Been Injured
I grew up playing tennis and benefitted from lots of professional instruction over the years. At the same time, I was never the biggest, strongest or fastest player. I learned early on that I had to learn good technique and utilize my body efficiently to be successful.
I also have had a few setbacks along the way. I have had three major surgeries on my left knee. I had fusion in my lower back and another surgery on my right shoulder. On long tournament days I need to be very efficient, i.e. I need to exert the least effort to get the maximum results possible. By being efficient, I conserve energy for the long week ahead. I have also learned that efficiency reduces the risk of injury or damage to my body.
Learn to Play Pickleball Efficiently
One of the great things about pickleball is that there is so much information available to help anyone get better. I typed “pickleball instruction” into the YouTube search box and found over 80,000 videos available for view. Unfortunately, this can also lead to confusing and perhaps conflicting information.
In fact, when I was first learning to play pickleball some people suggested positions or movements that I didn’t feel were safe for my body. Fortunately, I was able to rely on some lessons I learned as a junior playing tennis.
Tips for Learning Safely
I think there are just a few keys to learning to play pickleball safely and efficiently:
- Whenever you are looking to learn anything new, you want to make sure the advice or coaching makes sense to you. I had lots of coaches growing up. If they told me to do something without being able to explain why, or if they were unable to explain it in a way I could understand, I learned to discount the information.
- Listen to your body. You don’t want to do anything that might cause you injury (tennis elbow, tendonitis, etc). I realize there is a fine line between “good discomfort” and “pain”. (If you have ever had physical therapy you have probably heard the therapist tell you to push yourself, but stop when it is too painful.) It is important for you to be able to listen and understand what your body is telling you.
- Prepare your body to practice or play by stretching.
- Focus on balance. I focus on balance and using your body correctly so that you are not overusing any part of your body and you are not using your body in a way that causes too much strain.
- Analyze players like you. When you go to a tournament or watch people play, look for people like you. When you watch YouTube videos of tournament play, look for people with similar body types and playing style. Analyze why they do the things they do. Always consider is there something I can learn from them that will help me in my game.
I am not the 6′ plus player with a wingspan that covers 50% of the court. I know what works for some players may not work for me. We are all individuals, with different bodies and athletic abilities. So focus on your fundamentals, balance and playing strategically. These fundamentals are a great base for you to learn to play pickleball.
