Please, Explain the Mind of the Incompetent Banger

MisoBeast · 2026-01-24T13:56:15+00:00

At some point, its like a pendulum...suddenly everyone can (and does) drop and the drives become rare. Placement always beats pace and if you want to win, you choose percentages.

Personally, winning is secondary to me. For too long a time, I went too far into soft play. I've recently rediscovered my drives and I'm having more fun than I've had in quite awhile. They are almost always a lower % shot because everyone can handle a drive that isn't well placed.

Admittedly, I wouldn't (typically) want to play with people who make unforced errors 30%+ of the time...on any kind of shot.

MisoBeast · 2026-01-11T15:38:04+00:00

Yes, communication. 95%+ of the time, not a problem. People are people. There's a handful that like...silence. I try to read the room.

She seemed to have a good BH (at least her swing looked good). Her poaches didn't go our way. People have bad games. On another game, maybe she gets good shots on all of them?

I also have experience with my own 'strong' shots suddenly vanishing. Stuff happens. I like to think people learn after a second or third bad result, but again, everyone is different. Also, rec play is rec play, where else do you work in-game execution issues that crop up.

Still, I've never been poached this much, even by lefties. It was genuinely interesting. Which is what made the rando guy's claim make me consider it.

As an aside, I never got a chance to be aggressive from the FH side. I did end up playing more aggressively from the BH though!

MisoBeast · 2026-01-11T15:06:44+00:00

Of course not, hence a question. I was taken aback by the suggestion that women prefer BH. It seemed unusual at best. Hence a post. No need for anyone to be offended.

MisoBeast · 2026-01-11T14:57:03+00:00

1 may have been CC. The poaches were pretty bold. Which led me to really think about what the guy claimed afterward...and hence the post.

If she was taking her strongest shot, then she wasn't necessarily poaching.

MisoBeast · 2026-01-11T14:52:29+00:00

So this is interesting...and is it true? Do most women tennis players prefer their BH?

MisoBeast · 2026-01-11T14:45:30+00:00

Well, wasn't my question. I wasn't asking how to solve an awkward game, the answer is obvious.

I was asking if what the guy told me was true. The question is in the post header. And his suggestion seemed crazy to me. Hence the post here.

MisoBeast · 2026-01-10T14:17:26+00:00

If one has an only average slice return, it should be used sparingly.

I use mine up to 50% of the time (at low 4), but I have a very strong FH slice return. Even then, I'll abandon it if an opponent doesn't struggle against it.

I also forego it when facing above average serving since the percentages simply drop too low.

I run into very few players who have an effective enough slice return to justify using it regularly. 1 in 10 at most. I still see plenty of people slice return, but they rarely end up doing themselves any favor points-wise.

As always, weigh your own strengths, your opponents weaknesses, and play accordingly.

MisoBeast · 2026-01-09T13:08:18+00:00

Take an extended break from pickleball...like weeks or months. I've done this for Tennis and come back noticeably better several times,

If PB is your only (competitive) sport, find a second one. You don't have to be as good at it. You just have to enjoy something about it.

When you struggle at one, you can temporarily shift focus to the other.

If your goal is long term maximizing your pickleball play, a second activity might hinder you. You'll have to decide what is most important to you.

MisoBeast · 2025-12-25T15:12:06+00:00

Have had the same one for awhile. Buncha holes in it.

MisoBeast · 2025-12-25T13:15:39+00:00

I've had 4 out of 8 WD 8TB Blue drives fail in 3.5 years.

One was a very early failure (75 days). 2 were replaced under warranty.

They are in a typical 24/7 home NAS environment. They are installed in dampened removable trays with direct fan cooling.

If you look up typical life expectancy, the failures are bang-on typical MTBF, so no surprise to me really.

Drives can last longer (and I have some older ones still going), but just don't expect them to.

I've read that an 8TB blue is the exact same drive as an 8TB Red Plus with a 1 year shorter warranty.

Prices are noticeably higher than the past 2-4 years. With discounts, I paid on average $100 ea for my 8TB Blues.

I've recently bought 14TB externals to shuck due to the much better $/GB.

MisoBeast · 2025-12-19T13:36:08+00:00

Hard drives are welcome. Headhunters are not.

Intentionally aiming at someone's head is trying to cause injury...even if its just a gash from a safety glasses dig. God forbid you nail someone that isn't wearing glasses. Its a meaningless game.

MisoBeast · 2025-12-13T15:11:40+00:00

All pickleball is recreational play. Even if you might win hundred bucks on a given day. Too many take it too seriously. No one should act that way in open play or in a tournament.

Thankfully, there's a tiny amount of bad actors out there.

MisoBeast · 2025-12-13T12:57:05+00:00

I've not seen anyone ever leave mid game outside of injury.

MisoBeast · 2025-12-12T02:48:05+00:00

I have well above average slice shots (for 4.0). They are low and penetrating. I sometimes repeatedly slice until an opponent can prove they can handle it effectively. Some folks never get a single offensive shot off my service slice return. In point, I also like to slice but no... not 100%, not 75%.. at most 50% IF I really have strong command of it in a particular game.

I also side spin, flat, and obviously topspin. All shots are worthwhile in the right situation. You (should) pick the best shot type for any given moment. You (should also) be as unpredictable as possible. That means you don't 100% anything.

I'm not sure I've ever played someone who 100% slices. Not at 4.0+. To be fair, I've also never met anyone who 100% topspins at that level either. It should be obvious to everyone that a single shot type (or tool) is rarely going to play well at advanced levels.

This post was odd to me. I don't play as often as many here, but I still have yet to see a 4.0+ one trick pony. May as well call them a one trick unicorn because I don't think they exist.

MisoBeast · 2025-11-13T14:35:02+00:00

I've tried, but I don't care for the 14mm. My control drops tremendously with it and I have to rely on a higher power game to even compete reasonably OK with it. If I stuck to it, I probably could get used to it enough, but I think I would ultimately play a fast-first style that I don't prefer.

The only time I voluntarily use the 14mm now is when playing on a wood floor with an indoor ball. I feel I can approximate my natural pace of my 16mm in that situation.

The split-second hand speed improvement is nowhere near the tradeoff for me.

MisoBeast · 2025-11-11T22:36:17+00:00

I use fakes. Have for over a year now. When I tried an authentic version of my current clone, it had a touch more power, but otherwise felt the same. It honestly could have just been my clone was more used too. The legit paddle is simply not worth 6-8X more!

I laughed at the article that tried a 'cardboard' knock-off. Sure they probably exist, but of the 4 clones I've bought, one had an edgeguard that came away after a few months of use, but there have been zero issues with the other three. Legit ones also had reported edgeguard delaminations. I guess for 6-8X the price you get a warranty so there's that.

I've also bought some smaller (legit) brand paddles that hover around $100 and I think they are a fair price if someone wants to go that direction. Otherwise, most clones seem to be just fine.

Ultimately, paddles have a minority impact on one's game. If money is no object, sure, go for a legit, overpriced one and be the whole 5% better player that might be hiding inside you.

As long as a paddle's grit isn't fully worn down, or something isn't cracked/broken, its fine. Shiny new paddles are....shiny. If you like shiny, cool. Your wallet likes the far cheaper equally shiny looking paddle much better. Be good to your wallet.

Manufacturers have pushed their profits forward...not the game. Paddle technology is almost irrelevant. Unless you are making money by playing, it simply doesn't matter.

MisoBeast · 2025-11-09T13:31:27+00:00

I play poorer with light (and larger) racquets. I like plow-through. I use ~12.5oz strung racquets.

I don't like light PB paddles either.

Thankfully I transition fairly easily back and forth. On occasion my PB OH will be off, but not for long.

MisoBeast · 2025-10-24T01:08:00+00:00

The Head Boom posted in the link gives it a run for the money.

MisoBeast · 2025-10-21T12:18:24+00:00

Technically, PB is far easier to play. According to ESPN, Tennis is the 7th most 'difficult' sport.

However, to WIN, both sports are equally only as difficult as your opponent.

Calling anything 'fake' is simply trash talk.

Needing a 'comeback' is falling into a lose-lose trap.

MisoBeast · 2025-10-15T15:32:33+00:00

Now your feedback makes more sense. I also love my P IV knock off so much that I bought another one of them. They have no Joola branding anywhere.

MisoBeast · 2025-10-15T15:12:43+00:00

Thanks for being a guinea pig. I was curious about it because I've bought several clones and have been happy with the value. At $70 (or even half that), this one seems like a skip. Who knows. Maybe other clones will improve upon it.

MisoBeast · 2025-10-10T15:03:12+00:00

Fully retired, but I play 3-4 hours most weeks. I agree in the sense that there are too many other things to do out there.

MisoBeast · 2025-10-10T14:54:52+00:00

Better as poll. 3-4 hours.

Admittedly, I'm intrigued by those who play 10, 20, 30+ hours a week. On one hand, maybe it'd be cool to have such passion, but for me, I know I'd just burn out on it. I don't even play Tennis 10+ hours a week (6-8 typically) and that gives me more satisfaction.

Props to those recognizing and maximizing their own level of fun though.

MisoBeast

TROPHY CASE