* when weaker, return serve down the line and follow the ball down the outside 25%, leaving the rest to your partner * when stronger, return serve crosscourt and follow the ball into the middle, taking 75% When your partner's backhand covers the middle, you probably want to factor your partner's ability to make a strong backhand response at range, before deciding on the 3:1 split.

Finally a video that makes sense which is less than 20 minutes. GREAT!!

Great video now how do I convince my partner I am the stronger player and they need to stop taking all the balls from me lol

Great video. I was told this early when eager to improve and it has always stuck with me. Also hitting to the stronger opposing player get reciprocated if you are the stronger player on your side. Besides who wants to play a game of easy winners and short points. When hitting to the weaker player aim for the exact spot that is "easiest" for the weaker player to return it. You are still practicing your aim and everyone will enjoy the longer rallies.

Wise words, but in reality very few people do this. They mostly target the weak player.

5th reason: targeting weak player - in rec play - is LAME. Points rarely go past 3-4 shots, score is lopsided, game ends quickly, no fun, no learning...LAME!

What you failed to mention is that most players are very shallow and simply want to win at any cost. They always Target the weaker players, always. When they screw up and hit to me, I make them pay for it dearly.

So, I am a tennis player turned to pickleball for various reasons including injuries that prevent me from playing tennis. So, starting out I played with the beginners just to get a feel of the game, learn how to judge the ball and ball bounce (which is different than tennis), and learn the rules. I did notice that my strokes were more mature than a real beginner player. I served harder, etc... So, if I know I am playing someone who obviously is learning and has less skills than I do (no matter what level I am), I still hit to them and I still hit to the stronger player. But, I don't hit as hard and I hit to the lesser player. I give them a chance to hit it back and learn from their mistakes. In other words, I don't take advantage of their weaker skills and humiliate them.

HItting to the strong player is not as easy as it sounds. It's pretty deeply ingrained to hit it to the player who is caught up the court farther away from the NVL. That's usually the weaker player. A lot of your normal shot selection involves exploiting small gaps. If the weaker player doesn't come to the net, you don't have the normal gaps to pick apart. When I was learning the 3rd shot drop, I often had a partner who didn't understand how to support me when my shot was mediocre. Hitting a second rate 3rd shot to the stronger player teaches you nothing if your partner isn't on the same page as you are. What I did start doing lately, when the weak player on the other side gives me an unearned pop up, is dropping the ball right on the toes of the stronger opponent, rather than smashing a kill shot. This at least sets the group up for a few shots of kitchen play, so we don't spend an entire hour practicing the first three shots of every rally.

Good job..excellent advice..keep up the good work!

Good vid. I might have called it "If I'm gonna drive my 3rd shot hit it to the returner" Actually a 3rd shot drop to the returner is also good. Subscribed to your channel.

Great tip! I appreciate the theory of not trying to target too close to the net and just error high coming from tennis, this skill is difficult. I am definitely transitioning from all power to more control as i try to progress please keep posting these helpful quick tips

I get no satisfaction from hitting to the weaker player all the time. It's no fun for me or them.

Thanks. I’m still learning. My volleys and serves are improving. The scoring details are coming too, but much more slowly. Caveat: Please, please, please don’t chop off the top of your head. Cheers.

I like the aha moment of watch the player NOT the shot. The result is the shot of good form and play.

Watch someone your age or someone older, who is also better.

I very new ..and I found most strong players at least in my area will work with you .. they often will Practice their shot with you or work on something they need to work on ...and I always thank the stronger player for their time and energy as I'm the one really learning

Thanks for the video, this happened to me once, I booked 2 hours inside courts to play with 2 I never met, and I had a newbie partner. I could not believe how they picked on her and I heard them plan it. They probably thought don’t hit it to me being the good player, what jerks this is recreational pickle ball. We could not win a single game, but after an hour of warmup I decided to practice my killer serve, very hard, and to the line alternating with my softer serve close. I aced them 8 or 9 in a row, not fun, but after humiliating them and winning I felt better. I have been humbled many times by better players and also humbled by weaker players requesting I be easier on them. Now I am more diplomatic player. And I have fun. And I will never play those women again!

Amen! As a PPR Pro I'm often in mis-matched games. I absolutely hate it when the opposing team simply targets my partner. It's not good for anyone. It's not fun for me, my partner is humiliated, and the opposing team gets nothing out of it. Appreciate the video!

My thoughts exactly. When I am getting iced, I check out of the game - stand at the baseline and wait for the game to end. If there is a culture of icing at a particular location, then I make notes and avoid going there for a few months to a few years, then will try again to see if anything has changed. When I play against a stronger player I try to hit to them so they can get some practice in too, I hit speed-ups to 4.0+ players so they can work on counters and resets. I will also hit to the weaker player, but I try to hit appropriate shots that will be near their comfort zones.

Hey Ed!! Good job on your videos. Glenn Bell

Will you make a video for beginners going over the rules? If you haven’t already. Thank you!

Ditto!

Boo hoo

It works...when I do it!

Great tip! “Hit it at the feet” is what most people will say. True, that works great! But most players should be tracking the pop up ball all the way to contact to ensure a solid overhead, not thinking about where your opponent’s feet are. The amount of missed overheads out here is stunning. Up the middle overhead is a consistent spot to master no matter what the other side is doing.

Great tips as usual, thanks! It’s funny because I noticed in the background that the players stayed back at the baseline after returning the serve - they should watch your quick tip about returning and running up to the kitchen! 😂

Good to see you Ed.

I try to look for the holes in the ball, super focused!

You are the best ❤

Huge no. Hit at the feet, or knees, of the closest player. You should already know this.

100% agree, that is one way to learn / improve your Pickleball skills. It have happened to me , the other team always hit my partner (the weak or learner of the team (my wife)) and most of the time they win the point.

Ugh, in rec play I see SO many kitchen foot faults.

I've been giving my students this advice for years now. It's about time somebody else's sharing the same information with others.

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks

If only they would play to the stronger player. Although don't force a shot to the stronger player.

Another benefit to watching the serve is to make sure your partner doesnt hit a bad shot and hit you with it. Ive seen that happen heh.

I tell my random pb partners this tip in rec play, and they think I'm nuts. I tell them to watch the serve and not stand looking straight ahead like a soldier.

I think that keeping your eyes on the ball is more challenging while running and taking your eyes off the ball results in more unforced errors.

Great:). I’ve been playing six months now. I liked the “Hey kid, keep your eye on the ball” video. Sounds too simple, but eye contact is hugely important. Thanks!

If you don’t understand why players stand off to the side while their partner returns serve, then maybe you shouldn’t make a video about it until you do understand. Maybe ask players that do this WHY they do it. When you say there is no advantage to standing off to the side, you are incorrect. Calling balls in or out is just one of the functions. And being off to the side does not inhibit someone’s ability to poach the 4th shot. You said poaching is out of the question. No, it’s not. This guy has a really good video on the topic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooureZqQg71-jrM

🫤

Thanks, your quick tips are very helpful. Appreciate the focus on one tip at a time.

I like that! I'll work on that! Thanks for the tip.

Great tip...watch Roger Federer...head always down after the ball leaves his racket. Yes...I know it's tennis..same principle applies.

Good tip about hat, that will work for me, thanks

great job! Subbed!