Practice Makes Perfect

One of the great things about the sport of pickleball is that (if you choose to), you can compete just for the social camaraderie and healthy exercise you get when playing. However, if you are on a mission to improve your skills and take your game to the next level you must commit to a regiment of training and practice.

In every team sport I ever participated in, my coaches would hold a team practice. As a team player, attendance to these practices was a required responsibility. These practices were held on a specific time schedule and would normally take place at the end of the school day. During these practices we would work on fundamentals of whatever the sport we were participating in, as well as on specific plays and strategies that were going to be applied and executed during competition.

The difference we have here is that like tennis and golf, pickleball is an individual sport and you are not playing on a team, which has specifically scheduled practices that you are required to attend. Therefore, it is your personal responsibility to set your own practice schedule.

So as an individual participant, how do we arrange to get in an appropriate amount of practice time?

My first suggestion is to find a qualified instructor who can take a look at the status of your current pre-existing abilities.

Secondly, find yourself a practice partner who wants to accomplish the same goals as you.

If you are flying solo and feel you need help on a specific stroke, schedule a private lesson to assure that you are utilizing proper and sound fundamentals.

If you feel you need help with specific strategic issues which you may be encountering during daily rotational play, put together a foursome and schedule a private group lesson.

One of the more popular lesson options I offer to players is called “Three and Me.” This format allows me to play in with the group and challenge the players in specific strategical point play scenarios.

In addition to private lesson options, signing up for drill clinics is an affordable and fun way to improve your game and meet new players.

So, as a pickleball player, even though you are not required to attend a team practice, there are plenty of options available to help you improve your skills and knowledge of the strategies of the game.

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.