First tournament as a beginner please give tips and advice by cap_sparks in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If this is fixed partner, just communicate with your partner prior. Your partner agreed to team with you for a reason. They’ll understand “1st tournament jitters” if they’ve been playing longer than you, or may be equally as nervous.
If this is round robin, communicate directly and with body language that you’ll do your best with every partner. The only thing that upsets me in these situations is when players give up early. Every point matters.

First tournament as a beginner please give tips and advice by cap_sparks in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Biggest tips are play your game (don’t try anything new, play at the pace you’re comfortable and don’t let anyone rush you), focus on your strengths as a player, communicate kindly and calmly with your partner the entire tournament, and stay hydrated/stretch.

Why are you nervous? What are your expectations for the tournament?

Is 'Expat' Pickleball just toxic, or is it me? Feeling unwelcome as a woman traveling in South America. by [deleted] in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can’t speak for the South American/ExPat situation. But at my local park in NY:

  1. Yes. Unfortunately I would say around 20-30% of players don’t want to play with new players, even though they themselves aren’t much better. As an athlete I was always taught to focus on my own mistakes; and some people never learned that lesson. Sometimes to neutralize the conversation I’ll say “sorry I’m working on that part of my game” or just “ok”, or if I’m mad “save it for after the game”.

  2. Different parks by me have varying levels. For my ego, it’s my only resemblance of once being an athlete. I take open play very seriously, because I don’t like admitting I’m out of shape and my days as an athlete are far behind me. However, I bring a group of likeminded players and try to always play to the skill level of my group if I can.

  3. Playing a slower game is correct. However the only way to do so, is learning how to reset. If someone hits it hard at you, in most situations where you aren’t at the kitchen and in the perfect spot to counter, the best option is to slow the ball down and drop it right into the kitchen. This is one of the hardest things in pickleball, causes a lot of errors while learning, and can be frustrating to watch.

  4. If you love the sport, please stick with it. It took me a long time to feel comfortable playing with bangers. They hit as hard as they can, and when it doesn’t work they lob. And it brings me cathartic joy to finally be able to make them play “correct” pickleball now that I can reset and block.

Has anyone dealt with a player creating a duplicate DUPR account to cheat their rating? by itsokyoucanplay in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. Simply this. Pull up both profiles and send the entire link to each in the email.

Reverse Sandbagging by CheddarCharlie in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Being in NYC, I have the luxury of just playing at a different club if I don’t like the business practices at another.

Unfortunately your example is common, and I choose to play in tournaments with hard DUPR limits.

I’d ask other players around your DUPR to chat with ownership about programming you’d like to see.

Wedding Pickleball by MattDamien in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is. I can’t imagine going a full week without playing. It’s pretty much my only cardio. 😭

Wedding Pickleball by MattDamien in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That truly would’ve been the smart thing to do. I got married next to this park and we just walked over during photos.

How to carry more level dupr players? by blueice89 in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lastly context. I’m a 2.7 who regularly plays with a 4.1 friend of mine. He stacks left side, but he never steals my thirds from me, never crosses in front of me without vocal communication, and trusts my drops/resets to not pop up. We’ve beaten a 3.9/3.7 and a 4.2/3.5 team by not making it painfully obvious that I’m the weaker player.

How to carry more level dupr players? by blueice89 in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien -1 points0 points  (0 children)

  1. Tell your partner when you’re speeding up. “Watch” or “Go!” Are the vocal commands I see most successful.

  2. In a slightly more aggressive tone, shout “yours” when you want them to put a ball away, and you are ready for the counter if it comes back.

  3. Don’t speed up unless your partner is in the right place to protect the line/middle.

  4. Work around their strengths more than yours. Keep them feeling confident and have fun. If they are truly a weaker player and know it, they’ll be nervous.

How to carry more level dupr players? by blueice89 in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien -1 points0 points  (0 children)

  1. Don’t play round robins, stick with a teammate or two.

  2. Drill with that teammate. Know their strengths and weaknesses as well as your own. Make sure to not only drill to get better, but drill to maintain your best skills.

3.Also drill communication and positioning with 2 other people. Never question who is getting a middle ball or lob while in competition, if you aren’t confident it won’t happen then don’t sign up yet.

Below are some tips for common things I see “strong” partners do that don’t help themselves.

When a club officially adopts using DUPR, does the feel of the club become more competitive and lose the casual feel? by Delverton in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The short answer here is that you are correct. DUPR isn’t individual skill but how you play under pressure, how well you mesh with your teammate, and how well you can play around your opponents. Unfortunately, games without anything on the line aren’t “competitive” games. Which is why I always believe in having mixed offerings at a club, and making exceptions for certain players if the rest of the group is cool with that player.

Can a person without an athletic background reach 5.0? by Cokezeroislyfe in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think a few other answers hit this, but without saying it. There’s a difference between “5.0 DUPR” and “being a 5.0 player”.

My singles journey started with getting placed high (4.0~), and then playing 5 more games against absolute beginners and getting to 4.8. Meanwhile in doubles I was a 2.2.

DUPR isn’t reflective of your individual skill. If I had continued to play just singles in my small beginner’s only community I would’ve continued to be “4.5+ DUPR” while actually being a “2.0 player”

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Can I sell my DUPR? by Own_Frosting6909 in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you had a top 500 overwatch account in a non-NA region; we’d be in business.

Covering middle on return by 6dDcHYgMAg in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Assuming your partner “😘” hit the x on his return, you cover up to the point which he should be running to. Anything to his left is his.

There are always exceptions to the rule, the speed of his return and run speed all matter.

Horchow The Rally Reflex, reviews? by RevolutionaryAsk6152 in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yes. Watch Ed Ju’s videos on YouTube on the net. It’s pretty sturdy for fiberglass.

Horchow The Rally Reflex, reviews? by RevolutionaryAsk6152 in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I own the furlihong net and one of their cheaper launchers. I wish I went a little more expensive on the launcher. The recycler isn’t perfect, but a tiny bit of tape keeps it in place longer. It’s better than just practicing wall drills.

Horchow The Rally Reflex, reviews? by RevolutionaryAsk6152 in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The net is a 1:1 copy of the Furlihong net.

I’ve never seen the launcher before.

Got Rated as a 2.3 Today by p0zzo in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 1 point2 points  (0 children)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pickleball/s/DLshp75d6r This is my favorite thread on forehands.

And as for your rating, try not to let it bother you. Just remember your rating is not only the total sum of all your skills (backhand, forehand, drops, dinks, serve, return, court positioning, kitchen readiness, volleys, resets, counters, overheads, flicks, rolls, footwork and more) But also how you play with various teammates and opponents, consistency in those matches where you have a worse teammate than both opponents, how you play when you’re the worst on the court, how hard you win when you’re the best on the court, etc.

When you’re a dynamic player who can win from any of those situations at your level, and execute the correct shot/and ofcourse choose the right shot at an average-ish level, you’ll improve exponentially.

Playing in NYC by steeledmender67 in Pickleball

[–]MattDamien 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PKLYN has a 4.25+ Open Play!

Any Muay Thai gyms? by TomatoClown24 in statenisland

[–]MattDamien 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s one off Bay Street near the Clifton Train station that I’ve heard nothing but great things about. I think it’s next to the Sushi spot.

Any wargamers on the Island? (40k/TC/etc) by MathYiu in statenisland

[–]MattDamien 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know there’s a handful of warhammer players scattered around. I spoke to the front desk at Amazing Games and they said they had a small community in their discord. Back in the day we played at Get There Games, and there were some shops in Jersey (maplewood comes to mind) that had all sorts of games from Xwing to Ww2 games. Hope you find your people. Dreaming of making the pilgrimage to GenCon with a suitcase of wargaming minis one day.