Nobody likes balls landing near their feet. But one of the reasons you see this so much less often from the pros, is that they don't allow themselves to get in that predicament. 

 

Here's a question we were asked earlier this week on our Pickleball Instructor Forum...

What do you do with an elderly beginner, with absolutely no coordination, very slow, doesn't track the ball well...just basically has no athletic aptitude whatsoever? 

At one of the places that I play [are] the kindest, most fun people ever and this lady is equally nice. They all look to me for advice or tips, they send new people in my direction to get started, and I don't mind at all, except....

Nobody wants to play with her [because she is such a poor player], in spite my reminders that we are there for fun. I feel obligated to take her on for the full 3 or 4 hours I am there....I've been the one left out before, in my youth, so I don't like anyone feeling that way around me, especially where pickleball is concerned. How would you handle this?

Classic Video: Truck & Bus
By Mark Renneson

One of the things that great players do is take advantage of opportunities to finish the point. And this is infinitely easier if you are adept at making smart decisions.

In this video (featuring a baby toy or four) I show how a particular kind of court awareness can be the difference between hitting a winner and letting your opponents back in the point. Perhaps it is time to rethink that old mantra "if you've got 'em back, keep 'em back".