Today's edition is brought to you by Tifosi Optics — offering a wide selection of eyewear designed for clarity and comfort on pickleball courts.

How to Use Your Wrist to Generate More Power— From James Ignatowich

Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich and I’m going to cover the wrist snap. So when you play tennis, you know that when you serve, you’re always snapping your wrist. Same thing with the overhead, but in pickleball, a lot of these players are arming the overhead, so they’re not getting all the way up and they’re not extending.

The drill to fix this is to actually exaggerate the wrist snap, and only snap your wrist. If you want to do it right, take a basket, go out there and drill. Stand in an open stance and just all wrist snap. Don’t do anything else, totally focus on the snapping of the wrist, going from high to low, being loose with it.

For more tips.

My Take on Tifosi Optics Rivet Glasses— From Mike Branon

If you have ever been hit in the eye with a pickleball, you know it can be pretty scary. Getting hit anywhere else on the body can be momentarily painful (or embarrassing, when your buddy is gloating after whacking you with a disguised speed-up shot). However, the eye is uniquely susceptible to injury. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way a couple of years ago when a ball ricocheted off my paddle and hit me squarely in my unprotected eye, tearing my iris apart and causing my pupil to be permanently dilated. The loss of vision and drastically increased light sensitivity hasn’t been much fun. It’s a good thing my other eye has taken over and done the heavy lifting ever since.

So now that I might have scared you into always playing with protective eyewear, what are your options. In sunny climates, good old sunglasses usually do the trick. I use lightly tinted ones on partly cloudy days and darker lenses for bright days. 

The main issue I have had is finding good clear lensed glasses for cloudy days or at twilight (when I had just removed my sunglasses before getting hit because I couldn’t see the ball well enough). I have had trouble with distortion from the lenses, distraction and discomfort from the bulky frames, and fogging due to humidity and sweat. After trying a multitude of models, I was pleased to find Tifosi Rivet glasses from Tifosi Optics.

They are lightweight, distortion free and didn’t fog up during my three hour match yesterday. As opposed to my usual experience, I almost forgot I was wearing them. And I think that’s the highest compliment you can pay to a pair of glasses. The Rivet model is frameless on the sides and bottom, so you don’t lose sight of the ball when it comes in low or from the side. The contact points at the nose and temples are soft and comfortable.

I don’t know how durable this model will be, but it does come with a hard case and seems sturdy enough. At a $50 price point, this model is midrange for some of the other brands I have tried. The Rivet is also available with a variety of tinted lenses. I’m pleased with my current sunglasses but would definitely consider looking into that option as well if the clear lens model I’m trying continues to perform over time.

No matter what brand you choose, please make sure to keep your precious eyes protected when you play. And the Tifosi Rivet model is a solid choice to help you play your best and safest pickleball.

Why Early Preparation Leads to Big Results— From Mike Branon

The Importance of Early Preparation

In pickleball, every shot you make hinges on being in the right position and fully prepared as quickly as possible. Imagine you’re about to give a speech in front of hundreds of people, but you haven’t practiced. The mere thought of it can make anyone tense. The same tension can creep into your game if you’re unprepared or not in the correct position on the court. Instead of confidently executing a smooth stroke, you may find yourself scrambling to manufacture a shot on the fly, as shown in the photo below, which can be less effective and more stressful.

Key Steps for Early Preparation

Positioning on the Court

The first key to early preparation is positioning. When receiving a serve, avoid standing right on the baseline, especially if you’re up against an opponent with a strong, deep serve. Instead, take a few steps back to give yourself space to move into the ball. This approach allows you to shift your weight forward, making it easier to advance to the kitchen line. If you stand too close to the baseline, you risk having the ball get too close to your feet, forcing you to backpedal, which might lead to a popped-up shot.

Additionally, if your forehand is stronger than your backhand, adjust your positioning slightly to cover more of the court with your forehand. Even if the ball comes down the line (Figure 1), you can step around it and use your forehand to return the shot.

Serving and Returning

After serving, hold your position near the baseline to prevent your opponents from attacking your feet. Serve and stay, then advance only after executing a solid third shot drop in the kitchen. When returning a serve, quickly move to the kitchen line, positioning yourself to attack a high third shot. Remember the rule: “Return and run.” However, avoid running while your opponent is about to hit. Instead, stop in a balanced, low, ready position before playing your next shot and continue moving to the non-volley zone.

If you struggle to reach the kitchen quickly enough, consider hitting your return high and deep to buy more time. Since your opponent must let the ball bounce (two-bounce rule), you can take your time to approach the net.

Dinking at the Kitchen

When you’re at the kitchen line and need to move sideways or back off the line, quickly re-establish your position instead of lingering. Watching professional players, you’ll notice how early they prepare their bodies and paddles. This early readiness gives them the luxury of time to survey the court and pick the best spot for their shot. This is a prime example of the phrase, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

Fundamentals for Staying Prepared

Playing Low

One fundamental tip is to play low. Keep a bend in your knees and stay on the balls of your feet. When dinking, position your paddle below the ball, aiming to contact it below the equator. If you anticipate a shot aimed at your feet, get down low to short hop it or reset the ball as needed.

Understanding Your Happy Zone

Stand tall and extend your arms in front of you, fanning them out at a 45-degree angle. This area is your “happy zone,” where you want to make contact with every ball. All your positioning and preparation should be geared towards making contact in front of your body, where you can clearly see the ball. If you maintain contact within this zone, you’ll have a better chance of executing successful shots than if you are not ready and forced to reach out to the side.

The Role of a Prepared Mind

A prepared body works best when guided by a prepared mind. Once you’ve developed your shots, shot selection becomes crucial, and it all starts with intention. Practice committing early to the type of shot you want to hit. This early commitment signals your body to start positioning itself for the intended shot. Use your experience to choose the right shot based on factors like the ball’s height, your position on the court, and the positions of your opponents. Fully commit to your decision and practice developing this early intention as much as you practice your strokes. This approach gives you a head start in getting to the right spot, allowing you more time to execute your shot.

To Wrap Things Up

Early preparation enhances every stroke, leading to better shot selection because you have those extra moments to make the right decision. When your body and mind work together in sync, you position yourself for success, giving yourself more time to play consistently and intentionally. This results in a more conscious, controlled, and relaxed style of pickleball.

See you guys next time!