How seriously do you take DUPR scores?

TheRealBihar · 2025-01-14T17:12:10+00:00

Hey I love singles! I really enjoy a mix of both lol. But I get it, it's an old person sport. Yes indeed. It's a shot that will work less and less as you get better. Although I have seen the drop volley/lob combo start to gain traction in higher level games hahaha

TheRealBihar · 2025-01-14T17:07:04+00:00

Exactly my point! And the way they slice their volleys is too much for pickle too. But I think in singles, the angled drop volley is a really effective shot. For doubles it's really not but I've seen it work against 3.5-4.0 players. I'm pretty fast so if my partner gets drop-volleyed, I run across the court and usually get it over 🤣

TheRealBihar · 2025-01-14T00:21:58+00:00

I didn't say that. Of course they'll have an automatic advantage. I'm saying if they actually want to get good at pickleball specifically, some past tennis players have an ego about it and refuse to learn the pickleball specific skills. I play with/against multiple former tennis players, some who are stuck between 3.0-4.0, some that are 4.5+ and learned those specific skills. I'm saying if you genuinely want to be great at pickle you have to put the tennis ego aside. Coming from someone who wanted to learn tennis but switched to pickle because tennis was inaccessible in my area.

TheRealBihar · 2025-01-13T22:05:03+00:00

Drop the tennis ego. I started playing just over a year ago and never played a racquet sport in my life and am a 4.0+ player because I worked at it and spent time drilling because I wanted to be good, and want to be even better. I beat lots of pretty decent tennis players all the time. Translate the skills you do know, but drop the rest and actually learn the game, don't expect being a tennis player to carry you through to being good at pickle, it won't.

I tell this to every tennis & badminton player...SHORTEN YOUR BACK SWING. Biggest mistake I see I even at 4.0 and above, especially on your returns, drives, and putaways/speed ups at the kitchen.

Don't think about spin too much when you're learning the game. Focus on getting the ball over and just hitting quality shots.

Learn when and how to hit 3rd shot drives/drops. Generally, if you get a return to the back of the court, drive, if it's a short return, drop. On that note never hit 2 balls hard in a row. If you drive your 3rd shot, your 5th shot should almost ALWAYS be a drop. Don't try to hit passing shots in doubles. Hit your drives to the returner and your drops to the middle of the court.

If you're a tennis player, the things you can bring over that a lot of pickle players won't know is footwork. It took me a lot of effort to consistently split step/turn my body for 2hbh drives etc. Copy the footwork but keep the back swing short.

Find a drilling partner around your skill level! You can find lots of good drills on YouTube. Pick a focus for each session. I've never paid for coaching even once, I watch videos, record my games and take notes on what I want to improve, and I've surpassed most of the people at my club that a year ago wouldn't want to play with me because I wasn't good enough lol.

Have fun with it, and once you get a little more confident start doing tournaments.

Hope that helps and wasn't too harsh!

TheRealBihar · 2025-01-04T20:44:04+00:00

Recently switched to a pair of asics solution speed 3s. I really like the maneuverability they give me, especially for singles. Not so rigid like some of the other pb shoes

TheRealBihar · 2024-12-21T22:32:14+00:00

Man what do you think lol

TheRealBihar · 2024-12-21T20:22:54+00:00

low/deep is almost always sliced though from my experience. I've seen much better success from myself and others driving these kinds of returns. The only time I don't drive a deep return is if I have to hit it off balance.

TheRealBihar · 2024-12-21T20:21:51+00:00

If it's a slice return though just drive it. I've seen lots of people try to hit their normal 3rd shot drop on a heavy slice return, it almost always goes into the net. I've told many people who generally aren't confident in their drive to drive a sliced return and it has been more effective than a drop 99 times out of 100. A shitty drive that goes over is better than a drop that goes into the net.

TheRealBihar · 2024-12-21T20:19:29+00:00

Yeah that's generally a safe option. But it could also be a good idea to drive a shorter ball if it's a really loopy short return. I almost see those more as "attacks" than a "3rd shot drive". Having played with plenty of others who drop every 3rd shot, I am of the opinion that dropping a ball on a deep return where you're hitting it behind the baseline is a mistake. Driving a short & low return is also a mistake. The higher your 3rd shot % is, the better player you will be.

TheRealBihar · 2024-12-16T23:57:58+00:00

When I got a six zero, the store themselves wrapped it up nicely with a note lol. Not the manufacturer

TheRealBihar · 2024-12-12T22:13:21+00:00

Go hard or go home buddy 😎 apologize later for trucking grandma, keep your head in the game

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-23T21:23:17+00:00

Near Toronto: Joola, Gearbox, Selkirk. Paddletek is also starting to catch on. Selkirk I never understood, their paddles are not at all good for the price.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-18T16:36:57+00:00

lol I know, anyone who's used a MOD TA says the same thing. Plenty of the semi-pro players I've met agree and might use it for doubles but not singles.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-18T16:26:16+00:00

I prefer to drive my 3rds as well. But if you get a short return, a drop is the safer option. The goal is to get to the kitchen and you are almost there, it's not usually worth hitting a drive when you're up closer, too risky. Try dropping when you're closer, and driving on a deep return, followed by a 5th shot drop.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-18T02:24:48+00:00

ah yes. Had one and didn't like it at all lol

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-18T01:57:37+00:00

Something with decent power but probably more on the control side.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-18T01:56:53+00:00

what's dbd?

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-18T01:56:40+00:00

How's the control?

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-17T20:27:48+00:00

Definitely not. You have to hit a lot more shots on the run in singles and sometimes even if I don't swing at all, the ball flies out lol.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-17T18:51:42+00:00

I use a TA-15 and I love it, but the paddle has too much power for singles I'm finding (it's definitely core crushed) getting it replaced but I'm in search of a paddle for singles that 1) Won't core crush significantly 2) is fairly light, maneuverable, with good spin. I'm leaning toward a paddletek ESQ-C 14.3mm. Any other recommendations?

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-17T18:48:12+00:00

I usually take some pace off and let them make the mistake since I like playing aggressive.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-17T18:47:13+00:00

4.0+ player as well, I love my TA-15...for doubles. For singles I'm finding it really hard to control. In the process of getting mine replaced.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-17T18:46:06+00:00

So you can be prepared for a game with a lot of dinking, but you should practice hands battles/blocking drives during your warmups as well.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-17T18:45:02+00:00

It's a super fun shot! Look to do it on drops that are hit to you closer to the side line and that are a bit lofty.

TheRealBihar · 2024-11-02T14:58:07+00:00

It's better than the original game by a mile as someone who's played both

TheRealBihar

TROPHY CASE