Defensive vs offensive dinking: How to successfully neutralize your opponent
A lot of newer players, particularly those coming from tennis, like to hit the ball hard. While this might be a successful strategy among newer players, you won’t be able to advance to higher levels of play by only executing strong drives. In fact, much of high-level pickleball games are won not by power but by using strategically placed dinks to set up putaway...
Common pickleball shoulder injuries and how to prevent them
Shoulder injuries are extremely common with athletes participating in paddle and racket sports. This is because of many factors, including overuse, improper movement when hitting overhead shots, and even falls on outstretched arms. Common pickleball shoulder injuries include dislocated shoulders, collarbone fractures, rotator cuff tears, humeral fractures, and scapular fractures. Unfortunately, many of these orthopedic injuries to the shoulder joint cannot be managed with...
Overcoming the ‘service yips’ in pickleball
Experiencing the "service yips," a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to serve accurately in pickleball, can be distressing for any player. This phenomenon, often marked by a loss of control and confidence in one's serving ability, can emerge unexpectedly and persist, leading players to question their competency and ability. However, with the right mindset, players can overcome the yips and begin acing the...
