Low Intermediate lessons (2.5)
Pickelball Club Members Only! You must be a club member to attend these lessons!
Tuesday, Friday 11am, Courts 1-4 ( 6 weeks). Watch the Calendar for starting dates of each session.
OBJECTIVES –
Skill level should also possess all 2.0 skills
• Learns more advanced rules, line calls
• Keeps serves in most of the time
• Moves forward to NVZ after return of serve
• Understands fine points of line calls
• Working on consistency with forehand & backhand groundstrokes
• Working on consistency while dinking cross court
• Attempts a backhand block shot (punch volley) at the net
• Attempts 3rd shot drop by long dinking from the transition area
• Beginning to demonstrate control on variety of forehand groundstrokes
• Uses a backhand ground stroke
• Keeps ball in play during short rallies
Serve ‘in’ more regularly, working on deeper returns of serve, understands groundstroke mechanics, advances quickly to kitchen line, attempts a third shot drop, attempts dink game, attempting backhand shots, keeps the ball in play longer.
Participants graduate when basic objectives are consistently demonstrated.
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Lesson 4 – At the Net
Warn-up drill: Backhand Dink Volley Drill, paddle control
Both players are at the kitchen line
Good ready position, paddle in front navel high (always in the backhand position)
Keep ball in the air (x10 volleys) with soft grip and volleys straight to your partner
Very short block stroke – always use a backhand, then quickly return to ready position after each shot
Gradually increase speed as players get comfortable with this drill.
Beginner video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grlf63FNRl0
Intermediate video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeFvoYrqXTA
Both: good block mechanics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBQ3PV_Q9bM
Beginners – This block position is good protection while at the net. If you’re not at the net, look for an opportunity to advance towards the kitchen line. This is a power position that gives you a lot of options for your next shot. If you can’t make it all the way to the kitchen line, stop where you are and assume a stable ready position mid court. This no-man’s land is not the ideal place to be. Move forward as soon as you can to the kitchen line.
Intermediates -You learned to consistently ‘Return and Rush’ to the net after the ‘return of serve’ in the last lesson. Now what? You might become a target for hard balls coming at you. Many players at the net shy away when a hard ball is hit at them. Easy point the opponent right? Not really. Let’s give you the technique to deal with the situation.
- At the net, first assume an exaggerated ready position
- Make sure that your feet are slightly wider than shoulder width (this is called a split step). Using the split step allows you to reach much farther to each side than the standard ready position. In many cases you will not need to move from this position.
- Place you paddle in a backhand position at chest level.
Beginners – Ready position with the paddle UP in front and use it for protection to block those hard balls. If the incoming ball is a softer shot, you have the opportunity to dink a return.