CUP OF
JOE
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?
DO YOU AIM AT
YOUR OPPONENT?
Have you ever been hit by a pickleball? If not, you probably
haven’t played in many tournaments. Like it or not, some
pickleball players get so competitive, they’ll do anything to win.
However, if you’re like most, you want to win but not
enough to risk being disliked or getting a bad reputation.
While you wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone, there are
good reasons to aim “at” your opponent instead of away
from him/her. The questions are why, when and where.
WHY?
Think about it. Hitting a
ball that’s coming right
at you isn’t easy. Often
there’s too little time to
get out of the way.
WHEN?
The best time to hit
“at” your opponent is
when you’re both at the
net. This is when your
opponent has the least
amount of time to react.
WHERE?
If you can hit down on
the ball, by all means
aim at your opponent’s
feet. If that’s not
possible, aim at his
or her body.
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CONCLUSION:
Remember, you’re not aiming at someone to cause harm.
This type of play is simply part of the game. If you’re reluctant
to use this tactic, remember one thing—your opponent may
not be so kind.
THE PICKLEBALL SUPERSTORE
888-854-0163
Joe Dinoffer is a USPTA and PTR master professional, has written seven
books and 22 DVDs, and has appeared on the Tennis Channel. His company
OnCourtOffCourt.com manufactures training aids for pickleball and tennis,
and is the exclusive distributor for the Pickleball Tutor in the United States.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 |
MAGAZINE
57