Balance and Posture

Being able to apply proper fundamentals in the execution of our strokes directly effects the level of self-confidence, (or lack) of self-confidence, in our game. Along with that, the overall balance of our body enhances, (or de-enhances), our abilities to properly execute a shot.

To fully understand the importance and necessity of balance, let's start by stealing an old school teaching phrase from tennis referred to as the ready position. In pickleball, I refer to it as the pre and the post dink positions.

I often see beginner and even veteran intermediate players not keeping themselves in a properly balanced stance, (aka, ready position), when executing a dink.

Many players tend to stand with their feet too close together. This stance creates an overall body balance which is excessively upright or at attention, as I refer to it.

Standing straight up tends to make us top heavy and off balance. It also encourages us to bend from the back, instead of using our legs to get down to the level of a low bouncing ball.

With all of that understood, let’s review the fundamentals of a proper ready position when standing at the no volley zone/kitchen line.

1. You should have your feet spaced in a position which will create a proper distribution of your weight so that the balance of your upper and lower body is equally distributed.

2. Your knees should be slightly bent, and you should be on the balls of your feet, not flat footed on your heels.

3. Your head and shoulders should be held upright with proper posture. 

4. Your paddle should be held slightly out in front of the position of your feet and be waist to chest high, ready for a possible low volley or spike put away shot.

5. As you step into and back out of the kitchen to execute a dink, make sure you maintain proper posture and bend with legs not with your back.

Applying these fundamentals to your position at the NVZ/kitchen line will improve your ability to execute confident and effective dink’s, which will win you more points!

Wayne Clark is a professional tennis instructor with over 25 years’ experience coaching players on all levels of the game. Wayne is also qualified in pickleball instruction and is on staff as an instructor with The Naples Pickleball Center and Training Academy at East Naples Community Park. Contact Coach Wayne by email at coachwayneclark@aol.com, or by or by phone or text at 239-450-6161.