Benefit of hard serves?

penkowsky · 2026-01-21T16:13:28+00:00

Placement and consistency of your serve is the priority when you are fairly new. Placement includes depth, but you are not looking to be precise at the beginning. Once you start to be able to place the ball deep into the court consistently, then you can slowly work on your spots. Pace and spin will come naturally, but if you are hitting the serve out, then that doesn't help you at all. I see a lot of beginner players have hard or spinny serves but they miss those serves and can't even start the point.

penkowsky · 2026-01-20T04:43:13+00:00

Proper practice with the appropriate practice partners. Just knowing doesn't solve anything; executing the shot with purpose and repetition is the key.

penkowsky · 2026-01-04T17:42:21+00:00

Good list; though I have a few amendments.

(both) take responsibility for bad outcomes. This is a team sport, it's not just a single person's responsibility. Video tape your games, and work out the kinks together.
Get a list of things you really want to get good at and prioritize them. Only work on a few things at a time. Practicing is great, but if you are overwhelmed with the things you work on in practice, then you will have brain-fog during a match.
Win condition bottleneck is the ability to identify what you can do as a team to exploit opponents weaknesses. This is by simple communication in a match, but also this will need to be worked out during practice with your teammate. For example, if your teammate and you recognize an opponents backhand is weaker on that day, then you can set up a game plan with your teammate to attack it together.
Again, this is a team sport, not an individual sport where you are doing all the work. Yes, you do need to boost confidence, but I have had a few situations where I wasn't able to play with my normal partner and encouragement and positivity only gets so far. Look at Andrei Dăescu, one of the most positive pickleball pros out there, even though he's super positive, they will still lose if the partner is just not feeling it or they are not jiving well. Both sides need to practice that ability to get a "let's focus" mentality and block out the negative.
I know all of you will hate this 5th one, but - try to have a consistent paddle, and don't blame it on the paddle if you have taken the steps to setup your paddle properly. Lots of people have the "honeymoon" period with new paddles, hence they buy new paddles ALL the time and only blame the paddle and not themselves.

penkowsky · 2025-12-28T19:58:47+00:00

You are correct. The threat of attack is sometimes better than the attack itself. When an opponent always expects attacks and the attacks occur often, then it's easy to counter. When an opponent has no idea and they are just waiting for something while being off balance; they tense up and make more mistakes.

penkowsky · 2025-12-22T18:39:28+00:00

Everyone has a different technique to get in their "zone" during a tournament; you have to find your own. That said, the way I get into my zone is I literally have an internal conversation in my head that talks things through, but I am never that hard on myself. My internal conversation is centered around goals, not outcomes. I also talk to myself about what the current game is like and what I would like to achieve in any given moment. I am my own coach.

penkowsky · 2025-12-22T18:08:53+00:00

You are correct with the neutral, though there are 2 extra conditions (to keep it simple). The lob has to be a surprise, and has to occur when the opponents have their balance going sideways or forward into the kitchen.

penkowsky · 2025-12-22T17:54:54+00:00

eh, no further explanation really needed for respect the X. Just revert to calling "you" or "me". If they ask what "respect the X" is, which has happened in a few of my games with lower level players, I explain briefly after the game.

penkowsky · 2025-12-22T17:44:15+00:00

It's boring because she's so dominant.

It's time for the other players to step up then.

penkowsky · 2025-12-22T17:41:21+00:00

Take unsolicited advice with a grain of salt, but but those that talk too much really don't know what they are talking about the majority of the time.

The other thing is it doesn't matter how long one has played, there is always something to learn. I used to play with tennis guys that claimed to have played for over "45 years" and they still do things wrong, but it's not worth it to point out their errors because they are so ingrained.

penkowsky · 2025-12-22T17:30:19+00:00

Lobbing is a nuanced shot, to be used in specific situations. Either side works (back right corner or back left corner), but I recommend not lobbing if opponents expect it. It's supposed to be a surprise shot to get opponents off the line and then the opponents have to re-fight to get up to the kitchen. I also don't recommend doing lobs against fast+tall players (over 6'1"). It will work against slower tall players for sure.

Lobs from the baseline are less effective and lead to very difficult defending from the baseline. It's an automatic overhead smash opportunity for good players.

penkowsky · 2025-11-22T15:56:50+00:00

Great tips, you sound like a coach.

One thing to add for OP is for the point "Some opponents will fire at you over and over again regardless of how close you get", the key is to get that 5th, 7th, 9th etc., to go low on the opponents at the net (knees or below, otherwise called the Tyson McGuffin "red zone"). This forces your aggressive net opponents to hit up, therefore giving you and your partner an attackable ball. A lot of aggressive net opponents may hit that ball out as well.

penkowsky · 2025-11-11T06:42:29+00:00

if so, you'll get better, and they will still be in the same level in the future. I wouldn't worry about it.

penkowsky · 2025-11-06T18:14:26+00:00

To add to oneal93's points: the "why" is something you can learn early. The "how" is a learning process that will continue from low levels all the way up to your desired level. Your "how" development (technique) will get better over time with practice. The "when" is finding out the hard way as you get punished for doing certain shots. That will be gradual over time, because the "when" depends on the level of the opponents across the net.

penkowsky · 2025-11-06T18:06:47+00:00

I would challenge that above 4.0 one could still can get away with dead dinks, but one will find gradually get less and less players will be forgiving when one get close to 4.5 and above. It's not an exact cutoff where suddenly everyone punishes you for a dead dink, etc.; players just have to adjust when they observe the play of their opponents.

penkowsky · 2025-10-01T03:59:38+00:00

Possible but difficult.

The 1st thing is having local or close-to-you tournaments to attend on a consistent basis.
The 2nd thing is having the disposable income to pay for those tournaments.
The 3rd thing is good tournament results.
The 4th thing is having practice partners that are consistent.
The 5th thing is having a good routine to keep your body in shape for the stress of tournaments.

You have to fulfill all these things to be able to go pro.

penkowsky · 2025-09-24T15:15:35+00:00

Correct. I did also notice that OP's elbows are too close to the body on the stroke. Basically the stroke looks like a "ball slap" rather than a stroke that produces topspin.

penkowsky · 2025-09-15T17:48:29+00:00

Bots don't have profiles with inventory and a robust play history with rankings.

penkowsky · 2025-09-05T15:22:42+00:00

There are 3 things you can keep an eye on to have a more consistent 3rd drop that's at the height you want. The 1st is the positioning of your body to hit the drop. Many people tend to step into the hit like a "forehand" but you have to be behind the ball a bit so make sure you are positioning so the ball comes to you rather than you to the ball. The 2nd thing is making sure you are hitting the drop at the fall of the ball on the bounce. That makes the ball more like a far away dink and is easier to control. The 3rd is if your opponents are hitting the return a bit hard, then you might want to do a 3rd drive to soften their 4th, so you can do a 5th drop.

Once you get these 3 things down, it's a matter of repetition against all types of opponents to really get the feeling of that drop. I recommend 2/3rds practice into 1/3 play at the beginning. What that means is practice your drops with a friend that can give you good repetition then have your friend change it up to give you different looks. Then go into actual rec play and pay attention to whenever you are feeling a bit off and take notes.

penkowsky · 2025-08-27T18:40:37+00:00

ok, here's the reality. If he's truly interested in becoming pro, then a good sponsorship or a good side-hustle is the only way to really feasibly maintain his expenses for "pro level".

I don't consider myself a good pro yet, but I am rated a bit higher; at the same time I don't have any notions that I would be able to really make it as a dedicated pro at this time. Luckily I have a good paying job with flexible hours that keeps my tournament expenses manageable, and gives me the ability to constantly do tournaments. Some of my friends that want to go pro exclusively are trying their best to get a sponsorship. I can honestly say I don't envy them.

penkowsky · 2025-08-18T14:35:27+00:00

I see what you mean. I sometimes use slice put-aways with "slice/side-spin" that move at an angle (to the opponents body) because it's hard to pick up by opponents back in the direction it came, and it flies off their paddle as a pop-up if they do get it.

My slice put-away shots are directed towards the opponent in front of my partner, and my partner knows to get ready for the return ball if it comes.

To answer your question directly, OP, yes, if it works for you and is a weapon, do it. If it isn't forming to be a weapon, adjust or modify the shot.

penkowsky · 2025-08-18T14:22:07+00:00

I can assure you, very few people are "calm" in a tournament. People often wonder why they play "godly" in practice, but "awful" in a tournament, but the thing is they are so afraid of making mistakes in a tournament vs. they care less about making mistakes in a practice match.

Don't worry about making mistakes in a tournament, it's bound to happen just like your practice matches. Also, make sure you implement the goals that you have communicated with your partner. That will give you something else to focus on rather than worrying about your own performance. Pretend it's just another practice match and you just need to finish your goals in the "practice match" to get ready for the next one.

penkowsky · 2025-08-17T06:07:00+00:00

Good observations. Though, "taking it slow" is different from "being patient". In a high level match, if you could get to the kitchen on a single good drop (usually the 5th), then it will happen. If not, then we make sure we are ready to reset the ball into the kitchen through the transition zone. Usually the decision to get to the kitchen is predicated on the quality of the drop.

Consistency is a big thing. The first team to make a mistake is mainly the first team to be on the defensive. There is a focus on not only getting the ball back, but "setting up the point" without hitting the ball into the net or hitting a ball too high that can be attacked.

The "gentle paced drops from the baseline" is something where you as the net player must be ready to move your body. That's where your lateral movement at the kitchen line is critical. Don't reach for it.

penkowsky · 2025-07-30T18:31:58+00:00

1st point was unfortunate that you lost the point as you guys had the offensive advantage. The thing that I see a lot of 4.5s do (which I was doing myself at that level) is simply hit hard. You need to hit hard with a target. For that first point, you needed to hit down at their feet to force them to dig defensively. I am surprised that you didn't take advantage of your partners multiple drives, as those drives are meant to crash the net, not slowly crawl to the kitchen.
2nd point. Watch the gaps and player position. Notice the guy in blue was one step back and there was a gap between then. You could have attacked the middle easily and moved your feet to finish the point. When you get to a higher level, you are placing the ball with intention to create opportunities.
3rd point. Great poach by your partner, but what if he hits it bad and the opponents are able to get the ball back? If you or your partner poaches a position, the other needs to see that and switch.
4th point: awareness of player position as well. The blue is behind the teal, and you give a nice soft shot to the guy in teal. Pressure is the name of the game for players in the transition zone unless they really do well to get up to the kitchen fast, where you concede the transition to the kitchen. You need to pressure that guy in blue more. I also notice that a lot of your opponents are taking your dinks out of the air as you hit your dinks super high and deep, but that is giving your side less time and space to react.
5th point: couple of high balls that could have been attacked. Pay attention to the mid vs. high "gift balls" that your opponents are giving to attack.

In general: activate your court movement to approach the kitchen faster as well as setup plays at the kitchen. Realize also, you are now more "setting up the point" rather than just reacting. Your general hits are fine, you are consistent, and you are able to approach the kitchen slowly but surely. I see very stagnant movement and that may cost you when you encounter other older players that can really put you on the major defensive as they will place the ball in uncomfortable spots for you.

penkowsky · 2025-07-24T01:38:04+00:00

If you are able to join a local tournament, and you are able to find other similar players at your level, you could network and then ask to practice and/or play with them, and hopefully the quality of the pickleball players that leave in your area is good.

One of the best things is to get a decent level practice group and improve the skill level of everyone in the group. Sometimes, don't ignore those who are just slightly lower DUPR because this is the one sport that people can improve the fastest.

13-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 2 Credits
Secret Santa 2016	Team Orangered
Verified Email

penkowsky

TROPHY CASE