PICKLEBACKCLUB

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Hey Net Warriors,

Are you ready to enhance your pickleball game and ensure you’re playing your best while safeguarding against injuries? Look no further! In this edition, we bring you essential tips and exercises tailored for all pickleball enthusiasts, from beginners to pros.

Ease into this issue with a warm-up, ensuring you’re geared up for this week’s Tip of the Week.

🚀 _{The Return of the Serve}

When returning a pickleball serve, your objective is to start the rally on a positive note. Here's what to do with the pickleball return of serve:

Stay behind the baseline: It's crucial to stand behind the baseline when returning the serve to avoid a foot fault.

Watch the server's paddle: Pay close attention to the server's paddle and body position to anticipate the direction and type of serve they are likely to make.

Start with the ready position: Be in the ready position with your knees slightly bent, weight on the balls of your feet, and paddle up and in front of you.

Communicate with your partner (if playing doubles): In doubles, coordinate with your partner to decide who will take the return and which side they should cover. Effective communication is key.

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Choose your return strategy: Depending on the serve, you have several options:

• A soft return: If the serve is fast or difficult to handle, a simple return that clears the net and lands in the opponent's court is a good choice.

• A deep return: You can aim for a deep return to push your opponents back and give your team more time to get into an offensive position.

• A cross-court return: This can create angles and put pressure on your opponents by making them move laterally.

• A dink or drop return: If the serve is high and you're skilled at dinking, you can return with a soft drop shot to place the ball close to the net and initiate a dinking rally.

Keep the return low: Generally, it's best to keep the return low over the net to make it more challenging for your opponents to attack the ball.

Avoid unforced errors: Concentrate on accuracy rather than trying to hit the ball too hard. Reducing unforced errors is essential in pickleball.

Be ready for the next shot: After your return, quickly transition to your ready position and be prepared for your opponents' response.

Remember that practice and experience will help you improve your return of serve. Adapt your strategy based on the specific circumstances of each match and your opponents' skill level.

🏋️ _{Tip-top Pickleball Condition}

Warming up before playing pickleball is crucial to prevent injuries and improve your performance. A good warm-up should consist of dynamic stretches and movements to increase blood flow, raise your heart rate, and prepare your muscles and joints for activity. Here are some stretches and warm-up exercises for pickleball:

Arm Swings:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and swing your arms in large circles in both forward and backward directions. This helps warm up your shoulder joints and upper body.

Leg Swings:

Stand next to a wall or support and swing one leg forward and backward like a pendulum. Do this for about 15-20 seconds on each leg to warm up your hip flexors and hamstrings.

Knee-to-Chest:

While standing, bring one knee up toward your chest and hold it with both hands. Hold for a few seconds, release, and switch to the other leg. This stretches your lower back and hip flexors.

High Knees:

While jogging in place, bring your knees up toward your chest with each step. This helps improve hip mobility and warm up your legs.

Remember to perform each of these warm-up exercises for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, gradually increasing the intensity. Once you've completed your warm-up, you'll be better prepared to play pickleball and reduce the risk of injuries.

@pickleballseattle

Nice drill: “This is one of my favorite drills because it translates super well to a real game scenario where you generally want to drop c... See more

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We encourage you to dive in, absorb these insights, and share them with a fellow pickleball pal. Elevate your game and play with confidence and health on your side.

Stay swift and safe on the courts,

PICKLEBACKCLUB

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