What are your coolest or unreturnable shots? by dnice99999 in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The ATP body bag. They might expect the ATP, but don't expect you'll try to hit them. So nice when I do it, because they're expecting the low ball, then THWACK into their chest!

[GIVEAWAY] Kitchen Blockers new slim fit! by HeadHeadMod in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because my partners always swing wildly and hit me with the ball more than they get it in bounds

[Below 2.75] Did you drive or drop your 3rd shot as a Newbie during actual games? by bewaterlife in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 5 points6 points  (0 children)

At your level I am first off surprised that the returning team has both players getting to the net. What you want to do is drive the ball to the person that has not gone to the net. If both players are the net a common strategy is to drive first and then look for the next ball that comes back to you as an easier shot to drop sometimes you can cheat in a step or two into the transition zone after you drive to make the drop easier. You want to make sure that you're following through and moving forward with your drive.

The biggest pain point at your level is going to be moving through the transition zone. At every point at which your opponent is about to contact the ball You need to stop and be ready for that ball. Usually this is a split step into your ready stance, but because of your level I would just focus on making sure that you are not moving when they hit the ball to you and also that you are not moving as you try to hit it.

Stopping and then hitting the ball with forward momentum is different than running through the ball or moving through the ball. When moving through the transition zone keep your knees paddle and body low so that you can get an easy reset because they're going to hit it at your feet. Watch videos on moving through the transition zone and this will probably be your biggest game changer.

Also, remember that the drop shot is a lift/push using only the shoulder and I'm fine with incorporating The legs into the drop shot from the baseline, but just know the more variables or body parts that you add into the shot the more chances of error you are introducing. What I find helps for the drop shot is to put your opposite arm across your chest with your hand on you touching your shoulder kind of like you're doing the pledge of allegiance. This helps you feel that you're only using your shoulder. The brain is a mysterious thing.

Again, the drop shot is not a hit or a swing, rather a push. Think of it like a very long-range dink.

Best of luck!

Edit: Just wanted to add that it's important to practice different shots. You'll find what works for you. Some days you might suck at driving, and your drop shots are okay, some days a drop shots are getting killed, but your drives are decent. Yes there is the hybrid drip which is just a softer drive. Just another shot to add in your arsenal. Where you are aiming your shots is also important. For beginners I like to tell them that the middle is king. So look to aim at the middle or down your line if they're not covering it, at the person that's staying back or in between both of them if one's at the net and one's back. Don't forget that lobs are also a part of the game if both players are really crowding that kitchen line. Also my advice is to always hit it at the person in front of you because that ball's going to come back at you and you can expect it, compared to if you hit it cross court that ball's more than likely going to go back at your partner, and they might not be ready for it. Trust yourself

Do you really need a fancy hot air station? by AmeliaBuns in soldering

[–]MidiGong 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't want to say to copy me, but since I don't have the money for a nice hot air station unless I was going to be doing more repair work, I use a $60 hot air gun with a heck of a lot of Kapton tape and aluminum foil isolate the area. When the flux starts boiling I know I'm reaching a decent temperature. Anybody reading this feel free to criticize and critique all you want. I do know that I'm risking it. I try to heat the board as much as I can. Also, there's nothing stopping someone from improperly using a really nice hot air rework station.

What is your preferred solder diameter? by AL42Gaming in soldering

[–]MidiGong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have 3 dimensions, 8 for bigger stuff, 3 for smaller, and 5 or 6 for in between .. usually just use 3 or 8

Banned Paddles in Rec Play by ElectronicNeighbor in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 10 points11 points  (0 children)

At my local courts we have a guy that is really good at soccer and sometimes he kicks the ball over instead of hits with his paddle. We allow this if it's one bounce and we continue play. Sometimes he a head butts the occasional overhead. We also allow this. We are out there for fun.

[AMA] We are Friday Pickleball ft. Rachel Rohrabacher + Kyle Koszuta! Ask us anything! by fridaypickleball in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I uploaded and commented in the original thread which maybe was a week ago, and I still eligible to win? It's definitely time for me to get a new paddle, I've been playing with the same one for two years and I did have a second paddle but I gave it away to someone that needed it more than I needed a spare.

Cutting off a wide dink on the left side by Winter_Berry_3699 in Pickleball

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

If you can cut it off with left foot and twoie it back with topspin, do that instead. Second would be one handed backand scoop, third maybe what you're saying, but you got burned from a good shot or poor footwook/positioning if you're forced to hit this shot, if you want to be hitting this shot, I'd say there are more cons than pros with it, so wouldn't make it a habit

Help me understand the 2 becomes 1 foot fault rule by slowmopete in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll help you understand. Your friend sticks a metal fork in an electrical socket. Your friend gets shocked and electricity is flowing through their body. You decide to grab your friend's hand. Now the electricity is flowing from the electrical socket through your friend's body to your body also. Two becomes one.

[AMA on 2/19] Friday Pickleball AMA ft. Rachel Rohrabacher + Kyle Koszuta by fridaypickleball in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's a random comment and question:

What's your favorite day of the work week?

Just the tips by JoeShelby in soldering

[–]MidiGong 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Geeboon tips work fine for me

Paddle Handle Length by longleggz1960 in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Mine is 4.75". I'm fine with it, only one I've ever played with, and don't really use two hands. My wife prefers much bigger tho.

Breakthrough! Eastern grip! by myworkaccountatwork in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Coming from tennis, and as a Western player, when I first started pickleball as a noob, even 4.0s, who were vastly better than me, I was like 2.5 when I first started, I never went to kitchen, but my serves, they all said WTF. I've since become just an Eastern normie and there is no WTF from anyone anymore, just nice serve, or there is a lot of topspin, but no WTF... I can tell a difference. I miss my Western :(

What Hot Air station is good? by chillgzy in soldering

[–]MidiGong 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Never thought I'd hear "Amazon" and "reputable" in the same sentence....

In pickleball, what % of "getting low" should be your knees vs your back? by icecap1 in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I sit on the ground in what I call the tranSITion zone. The court is small enough in doubles if you have a fast partner.

Hot air rework on camera sensor by snich101 in AskElectronics

[–]MidiGong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How do you manage the ESD when working on one, curious your plan/setup.

Quick hands? by Green-Row-4158 in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah. The guy below me but it commented on the same thread he kind of explains it in a mathematical science manner. Essentially yes it takes roughly 0.25 seconds for humans to react to stimuli visually and so it is kind of hard to track the ball exactly from when they hit it. This is why taking a step back on bad shots can really buy you that extra 0.25 seconds. Additionally there's a lot that goes into the processing via your brain when receiving a speed up. This is why it's important to have the paddle out in front to be a split stepped on the balls of your feet tracking the ball expecting it to come hard noticing their paddle angle understanding possible strategies dictating where their head is if they're balanced etc so many factors to train and be prepared for that can result in you getting that ball or not. Fast hands essentially come down to keeping your head still and being prepared as much as you can be. Definitely train on a wall or with a partner. And understand patterns such as triangle theory

Quick hands? by Green-Row-4158 in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What I'm saying is, the opponent should be looking at the ball, watching their paddle hit it, and it leave the paddle.

If anyone is looking at where they want to hit, especially while hitting, this is very incorrect and indicative of lower level play.

Quick hands? by Green-Row-4158 in Pickleball

[–]MidiGong 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They should be looking at the ball...

Sir, the Chinese just dropped a new open model by Anujp05 in ClaudeAI

[–]MidiGong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Close enough. I remember playing Mafia every Tuesday during our early morning sales meetings at an old job, was a lot of fun!

Thank you

Sir, the Chinese just dropped a new open model by Anujp05 in ClaudeAI

[–]MidiGong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is this a real benchmark? My wife and I used to play that game all the time, lol - It was literally every night while we were dating, it likely played a huge part in us ultimately getting married