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How to Return a Lob in Pickleball (and Beat It)

Winning a pickleball match requires a strategy that encompasses its rules and borrows from badminton and tennis. Both tennis and pickleball feature the lob shot. In a lob, the ball travels quite high and lands near the baseline at the court’s rear. Learn the C-shape run and proper set up of a lob return. Getting …

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How to Improve Reaction Time for Pickleball

Fast reaction time is important, at every skill level, when you play pickleball. The thought of reaction time likely seems easy, right? Do you believe that getting to the ball and hitting it over the net is all that there is to improving your reaction time? Some people play pickleball for years, yet never seem …

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How Many Lets Can You Have in Pickleball?

When playing pickleball, I like to perform a let from time to time–even though it is not allowed. What does this mean? Perhaps I am a rebellious pickleball player from the old school. Either way, you technically can not do a let when playing pickleball. Then what gives–why do they have the move called a …

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How to Properly Hold a Pickleball Paddle

To properly hold a pickleball paddle, (1) choose where its comfortable for you to grip (2) properly hold with the Continental/Standard grip (3), Western/Semi-western grip (4) or Eastern/Hammer grip. While I now know how to properly hold a pickleball paddle, that wasn’t always the case. I remember how, when I first saw one, I thought …

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How Many Times Can You Hit Pickleball to Get It Over the Net?

While pickleball might seem like a simple enough game, there are certain nuances to the rules that you can’t ignore. Just because pickleball combines the best parts of table tennis, regular tennis, and badminton does not mean you can take your individual rules around those games into the pickleball court. When you’re playing ping pong …

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Does Pickleball Have a No Man’s Land?

Do you think that learning to play pickleball presents new and exciting opportunities for you if only you knew all the terms related to pickleball? You want to know how to maximize winning points and winning pickleball games. You look forward to making new friends and enjoying the sport while benefiting from the exercise involved …

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Where Does the Receiver Stand in Pickleball?

Typically, the receiver stands diagonal to the server in pickleball. This can change in singles, but not in doubles. In singles matches, only two individuals play, and they stand diagonal to each other with any even score. They stand across from one another during an odd score. If that sounds odd, let me explain. In …

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Can You Switch Hands in Pickleball?

Whether you’ve watched professional pickleball players on the courts in your area or on television, you’ve probably seen them bust out the old switcheroo at some point. If a highly skilled pickleball player switches hands for certain shots, you might be tempted to follow their example and do the same for various reasons. When you …

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How to Keep the Pickleball Low Over the Net

We’ve talked before about my childhood games of badminton and baseball. Kids don’t need to play professional-quality games in their own backyards. They just hit the ball back and forth until mom calls lunch. It’s much the same in gym class at school, except for lunch. It’s said in pickleball that keeping the ball low …

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How to Defend the Middle in Pickleball

To defend the Middle, (1) position yourself/(ves) (2) synchronize your movements, (3) constantly communicate (4) play smart, not hard (5) maintain control of the court, and (6) read/watch and learn from the pros. Interestingly enough, while I now know what the Middle in pickleball is and how to defend it, that wasn’t always the case. …

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How to Drive the Ball in Pickleball

Pickleball is a fast-paced sport that resembles the elements of badminton, tennis, and ping pong. It’s extremely popular because it’s super easy to learn and play, and it doesn’t require a lot of equipment to play. All players need is a pickleball court, paddles, and a pickleball. Whether you’re playing singles or doubles, learning how …

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Can You Put a Spin on a Pickleball Serve? If So, How?

When pickleball first began in the 1960s, the rules forbade putting spin on a pickleball serve. The rules made service as straightforward as possible to ensure the game remained accessible to all. Today, you can legally put a spin on a pickleball serve. Many rules received updates and by 2022, the sport’s governing body allows top spin, …

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Do You Have to Let the Ball Bounce in Pickleball?

I’m just learning pickleball along with you. I found out when the ball should and shouldn’t bounce. It may seem complicated at first, but you’ll get it right soon enough. When the Ball Should Bounce? The ball should bounce after the serve and when it has hit the opponent’s court. After that, the receiving team …

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When to Switch Sides in Pickleball? Is It Mandatory?

In pickleball, you do change sides, but not from one side of the net to the other. The sport of pickleball does things a bit differently than, say, baseball, changing from outfield to batting. If you serve from the wrong side of the court, you commit a fault and lose the point. That means the …

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Can You Touch the Net in Pickleball? If Not, What’s the Penalty?

There are several rules regarding the pickleball net and a major one is not to touch it, as that is considered a fault. The pickleball player who is at fault will end up facing a rally loss. Therefore, it’s vital not to let your body, paddle, or clothing come in contact with the net or …

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Can You Carry the Ball in Pickleball?

I’ve dug deep into some pickleball rules lately after a desire to learn more about this sport. It taught me what carrying the ball means and if it’s appropriate in this game. What is “carrying the ball” in pickleball? “Carrying the ball” means that you make contact with the ball by pushing it with the …

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How to Find Tournaments in Pickleball

I have just started playing pickleball and there are plenty of places to play–starting with tournaments. Along with pickleball games and tournaments, there are also championship tournaments where players play for money. Yes, that’s right, you can play pickleball for a job where your sole income comes from pickleball tournament winnings. Of course, you have …

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How to Hit a Cut Shot in Pickleball

You may have heard that pickleball has many similar rules to tennis and racquetball. Not only are the rules similar, but so are many of the techniques you might see on the court! If you’re new to pickleball, expect to see lots of topspin and cut shots, among other techniques. Those with a tennis background …

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How to Build a Practice Wall in Pickleball

Imagine standing for hours with your earpods in, listening to your favorite tunes and practicing pickleball. It could even be raining outside, or in the dark. You can do this with a pickleball practice wall. They are quite easy to make and are affordable. A pickleball practice wall (or picklewall) can change your game entirely. …

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Can You Use Two-Handed Strokes in Pickleball?

I didn’t think you were allowed to use two hands on a pickleball paddle. However, I stand corrected by Pickleball Magazine. Introducing the Two-Handed Pickleball Backhand Pickleball Magazine expert Christine McGrath tells the world how a two-handed backhand is done. “Of course, you still see the one-handed backhand that has been used since the creation …

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How to Hit a Pickleball?

“With a pickleball paddle, of course, daddy!!” shouted my daughter,  Lil Lilly, much to everyone’s amusement. In case you are just joining us, Lil Lilly’s answer was in response to my asking, “How do you hit a pickleball?” After Wifey and I had undergone an expensive pickleball crash course with a professional trainer, I had …

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6 Different Types of Hats for Pickleball (Men)

It’s the beginning of the summer, and I’ve been unsuccessfully attempting to dodge the spring rain for the past few months. I’m chomping at the bit to get out of the house and enjoy some pickleball before the mid-summer temperatures and humidity go through the roof. The weekly weather forecast is perfect for getting outside …

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7 Different Types of Pickleball Shorts for Men

According to USA Pickleball, around 4.8 million players existed in 2021. I must admit, up until a few years ago, I had never heard of pickleball. That changed when I walked by a small court and watched a few people play. I did some research and now better understand the game and the appeal! If you’re …

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7 Different Types of Pickleball Shoes for Women

Many take the importance of shoes and protecting your feet and ankles for granted. I certainly did until I rolled my ankle while walking the dog one day. When I went to the foot doctor, she said the shoes I was wearing were terrible for any exercise type since they lacked ankle and arch support, …

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7 Different Types of Pickleball Shoes for Men

Whether you’re an avid pickleball player or new to the sport, it’s essential to wear the proper sports apparel for your next match. The most important item you must have to be high performing yet avoid injury is a good old pair of shoes. However, not every shoe is up to the challenge in this …

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Can You Drop Serve in Pickleball? If So, How?

Anyone who plays badminton or tennis knows that tossing the ball or shuttlecock into the air so you can strike it on the way down is how to serve. There might be rules governing just how the ball or shuttlecock is tossed, dropped, or otherwise set up for a proper serve. Pickleball is a little …

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Can You Hit a Pickleball with Your Hand?

We all know that pickleball is played similarly to tennis or ping pong by striking the ball back and forth with the paddle. But can you hit a pickleball with your hand, or must it always come into contact with the paddle itself? In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about how …

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Can You Play Pickleball on a Tennis Court?

As pickleball grows in popularity, more people across the world want to learn to play it. Alas, some areas don’t yet have pickleball courts. You might have a tennis court nearby though, and in those cases, you could modify the tennis court. So, yes, in a pinch, you can play a pickleball match on a tennis court. You …

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Can You Side Serve in Pickleball? How?

Yes, you can side serve in pickleball so long as the serve is underhand. The most important rule in pickleball when it comes to serving is that every serve must be underhand. For your serve, the official rules for the USA Pickleball Association is that the serve must come from below the waist. This is …

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7 Different Types of Pickleball Skirts for Women

I’ve never worn a skirt to play tennis, badminton, or any other racquet sport. My thing is baseball, and for that, you don’t need a skirt. I can see the benefits of tennis skirts with shorts underneath, though. Today’s pickleball skirts have pockets for your phone or your asthma inhaler, for instance, which is a …

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5 Different Types of Pickleball Shirts for Men

After Wifey was all kitted out with a whole new wardrobe of pickleball shorts, shirts, skirts, and shoes, she finally and happily announced she was so ready to go and play pickleball with me. That is, of course, until she looked at me and saw me sulking. “And just what is the matter with you …

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If Pickleball Hits the Line Is That In or Out?

In 2022, you can make ball “in or out” calls by rewinding video footage of a pickleball game. What if you don’t record the game though? It’s a matter of point of view, which can be wrong. Related To: How Pickleball Tournaments Work? | How to Keep Score in Pickleball | Switching Court Sides in …

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