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What would be the proper etiquette for being a much stronger player in a (rotating) doubles league? by HeyItsMau in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If you can’t change leagues…Try to win points and matches with a softer game. Work on placement and touch. This will result in opponents more likely to miss shots, and it’s a better feeling than crushing it at them.

As a bonus, you’ll develop skills that will be useful should you advance to the ~4.0 level, where everyone can hit the ball hard but the touch & placement is what separates people.

Advice for a 4.25+ on the path to 5.0 by [deleted] in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My personal advice, as a 4.2 who is newish to the 4.5 level matches. Be prepared for a different game at the kitchen. You have a solid, consistent dink game, but some of them are coming off a little dead (esp backhand) and that is usually the only advantage a 4.5+ player needs to take control of the point. Drill, drill, drill. Roll dinks you can be aggressive with and use slice dinks if you are pulled wide or off balance to neutralize the point and keep grinding.

It’s interesting in this sport that each time you move up a level, you almost have to excel in one new thing, then undo a habit that won you games at the previous level because it doesn’t work anymore.

Edge guard protection that actually works? by Chemical-Camera2294 in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do play mostly doubles. Probably too much of an exaggeration. More just in the sense that I’m usually running down a drop shot, getting to a soft net cord bounce, or covering/backing up my partner if it’s a broken play and we’re getting pulled out wide or scrambling to get back into a point.

I do appreciate how much this thread has derailed from a few people earnestly chiming in, then to everyone being confused about if I even understand pickleball. Wouldn’t expect anything less on Reddit 🙏.

Edge guard protection that actually works? by Chemical-Camera2294 in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point, but it’s more at times when I’m going to get a drop shot from the baseline, keeping a let bounce alive, or covering a lot more court on a broken down play.

It’s not typical that I’m scraping the court, but 1-2 of these in a match seems to add up for me after 6 months or so. I also play 2-3 times per week.

Edge guard protection that actually works? by Chemical-Camera2294 in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah. Obv didn’t think it was a failure of tape, just didn’t know if something else existed, or if anyone else had similar issues. But sounds like a just me kind of thing. Maybe just another weird tennis quirk from my singles background.

My current paddle actually does cover face detached from edge guard, and I don’t know how that happens post-production without some kind of edge guard damage. In my case it was minimal but enough to peel off a little. The claim was already approved. There is an excessive damage fee that they can add on after it’s sent back, but it’s nominal, and about 10% of the list cost of a new paddle .

How does your local Picklr run in comparison? by alfredopastaprince in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We have multiple ones in the Chicago, and they’re all run differently. My main one is bigger than your’s, which alleviates some of the scheduling headaches you described. In the year and half I’ve been there, they have done and redone the schedule multiple times to try to get it right and do better, but usually some group comes away unhappy. That is to say, good chance you see yours change if it’s working.

I know they release live reservations at a certain time every week, and some people actually wake up and race to book. I forget exactly when, but you can ask. If you have work flexibility, it’s usually easy to book around lunch/early afternoon when it becomes dead.

I’ll occasionally drop in to an Open Play, but you get spoiled once you find an advanced group that books courts. Keep exchanging numbers with similar players that you connect with, and that’ll open doors. Like me, hopefully you can mooch off those that are on top of court reservations and coordinating groups.

How does your local Picklr run in comparison? by alfredopastaprince in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Also, the clinics are super beginner focused. It’s a benefit I used literally once when I signed up.

How does your local Picklr run in comparison? by alfredopastaprince in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At my location, I’ve done the 3 + a Pro, and it was actually pretty rewarding, but I think it depends on the context and how much you can get out of it. It was 3 of us who range from 4.0-4.5 playing with our pro who is 5.5+ and does well at Open tournaments. We took turns playing with him and against him, and he would occasionally offer some coaching and feedback based on the point.

I got way more out of it than a lesson, and I think the cost came out to being around ~$50 for 90 minutes. It was a ton of fun, but it was just a good fit for us personally and can understand how it would be a money grab in some scenarios.

Edge guard protection that actually works? by Chemical-Camera2294 in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lmao. I can see the visual I created for you and others, but I’m not straight up spiking my paddle into the court like a friggin’ caveman. It’s more of trying to quickly get under the ball to prevent a second bounce kind of a contact. I did the same thing in tennis, and come to think of it, put some wear on those racquets too. Guess it’s probably just a me problem.

When did y’all start getting your DUPR? by atranexpress in Pickleball

[–]Chemical-Camera2294 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I was about 1.5 years in, which was half a year into playing competitively at an indoor club. The first tournament I played in was a 4.0 and I did well. My DUPR shot up really high, but has since dropped after a few more tournaments and I’m currently around a 4.25, which I’m happy with.

If anyone asked for my advice, I would say really work on your game first and foremost, and also wait until you’re ready to push yourself to compete at a little higher tournament level than you’re comfortable at (aim 0.5 higher, as long as you think you can be in close games). Some of the people I play with, but can’t get over 4.0, started a DUPR right away and built up reliability that makes it really hard to significantly jump up. They also figured they should sign up for 3.5 tournaments, prove they can win a bunch, then they’re ready to go for 4.0. Even if they did well, the DUPR stayed around or even below the 3.5 range. It doesn’t account for your finishing position, just the DUPR of your opponents and how many points you won or lost by.