Pickleball! Ex Collegiate Tennis Players Battle 4.0 Pickleball Players! Who Wins? Watch & Find Out!

In this video ex collegiate tennis players take on pickleball players. Can the tennis players use their tennis skills to get the win, or, are the pickleball players just too skilled at pickleball? Watch and find out.
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[@SP-qv9rt]

How long have those tennis players been playing pickleball? I would think not too long. It would be interesting to see a rematch after the tennis players have played pickleball for about 3 months. They seem to have better technique and athleticism. It was amazing how many points the tennis players won and how many shots they made the pickleball players hit despite playing from the baseline.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They hit the ball hard. No doubt. I just think it took Jackie and his partner a little while to figure out what was happening. Jackie also missed quite a few third shot drops. More than I've seen him Miss.

[@ShihtzuPilot]

I think Rory's point was clear. The tennis players were very good at what they do and had 2 gears, drive and lob(not great). Other side had multiple tools. Pretty much like watching a boxer vs a mix martial artist. Boxers are best at punching but clueless when faced with a kick, judo, or jiu-jitsu /wrestling. Spin on everything works for lower levels but not for those who evolve with the game. Pickleball is now a game by those from different sports backgrounds, new things will be tried and new things will be discovered.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That's a very good analogy! Thanks for pointing it out.

[@okayest_amateur]

Slice spin is very effective on the return of serve. Maybe not the way they are hitting it but it is a strategy to force the opponent to hit a very difficult 3rd shot. I'm not sure why you are saying that shot does not work in pickleball?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Professional players no longer hit a slice return. That is, because when putting slice spin on the ball, it is easier for the player returning it to put more topspin on it. 3.0 players who put slice spin, hit a lot of balls into the net or out of the court. So, we're just going to have to disagree. And, that's okay. Thanks for watching.

[@juansoria4086]

I think at the professional level is different than at an amateur level. A low-to-the-net, fast, deep, with a lot of under spin return always seems hard to return by 4.0+ players where I play. Not saying it’s a winner shot but it makes their 3rd shot more complicated. At a professional level it’s probably different since players excel on most if not all skills.

[@AnnMitt]

​@pickleballpick-apart9787 I've heard pb pros say the exact same as Rory regarding the slice return. Zane Navratil stated on KZbin not to use a slice spin for the return.

[@SP-qv9rt]

​@juansoria4086 could not agree more. At rec level people already struggle to get to the nvz after hitting the return. Hitting the ball harder on return makes it even more challenging. I believe Zane acknowledges that himself.

[@mooremathewj]

I would agree and say slice and lobs are dated tactics. Primarily due to improved manufacturing processes with paddles. Most paddle bands are marketing it as “technology”. The strategy in pickleball has not changed…don’t loose. The tactics to support the strategy have. I often notice people mistake tactics for strategy.

[@jeffdarcy6786]

The first lesson I take from this is that there are multiple ways to win. This could easily have gone the other way, despite the tennis players' banger tendencies, because of pure power and athleticism. In the long term they could be even more successful with some more pickleball knowledge, but there's a time to practice new skills and there's a time to play to your strengths. In the context of this one game, playing to their strength might have been the right choice even though it ultimately did not allow them to prevail. The other thing I notice is how rarely Jack and Kirby took advantage of angles. I'm nowhere near as good as *any* of these players, but I saw many cases where the opponents hanging back left a very obvious opportunity for a sharp cross-court that even I could have made. On the few occasions that J&K did hit one of those, it was indeed very effective. Seems odd that they didn't do it more.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Tennis players hit more cross court shots than pickleball players do. I'm not sure why pickleball players don't hit more cross court shots, but in general, they do not. Thanks for watching.

[@CWK090]

A 4.0 player would return the ball at the banger's feet not, over and over again, returning the ball well in front of the banger. Just watch how many times in a row these 4.0s??? setup the banger's next bang of the ball.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I'll give it another look. Thanks for watching.

[@gongloui]

Tennis players are good pickle ball players. But the problem is if they do not learn the soft game, they will forever stuck in the 4.0 level at best. I think i have making the same mistake. when i play pickleball, i like to bang, and won a lots of rec games against 3.5 players, and think i am good enough. And when i play higher level players i fail miserable. I think i have learned from this video that i need to take a step back and work on my sofe game when play with the other 3.5 players, even it means that i will lost some games against them. That way i can better prepared myself to move up for the next level

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Very true. Next week I will post a game between true 4.5 to 5.0 players. Very little banging. All exceptional players. Keep an eye out for it.

[@929mmr]

I thought they were legit 4.0's. Agile and powerful on the tennis side and same along with resetting skills on the PB side. If they played another game I think the results would be the same. There is a little adjusting period when playing power tennis players. You have to get used to the speed and the top spin on the drives but more importantly you have to adjust to what drives to let go that will go long. Yes, 4.0's do mess up overhead smash opportunities occasionally also. Yes, back spin can be effective. I don't know how they do it exactly but I see power shots with back spin on serve returns that take getting used to because just hitting them regularly will go into the net.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks for responding and thanks for watching.

[@keithchasteen8593]

Great play evaluation, Rory! Glad the PB players won!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It took them awhile to figure it out, but, they got it. Thanks for watching.

[@elliottfletcher4830]

Green shirt lobber must have gotten killed once they came up against a competent team that could put those away with ease. (They weren't even deep lobs, just absolute muffins!)

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Muffins! I like that!

[@mountaintop0616]

At this level and as you mentioned several times Rory, the skill of the pickleball players did win out but it was a close and exciting game to watch. When I go to my club (three times a week) I try to watch the 4.0 and above players and they all seem to be bangers. It's fun to watch but after a while a bit tiresome. Anyway another good and enjoyable game along with your commentary.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks! I really appreciate you watching!

[@judyliang55]

i don't think those lobs are typical tennis style. both pickleball and tennis players don't lob to near net position where the play will be killed easily . the far side players are far lower than college level but more like casual tennis players.

[@scotttolliver5847]

There are lots of levels to college tennis. I wouldn't doubt these guys played at a D3 or D2 school somewhere. Not everyone is the #1 player at a major D1 school.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I have no idea where they played tennis or at what level. Thanks for watching.

[@Vanessa-pe2xs]

The pickleball players won because they became more aggressive...the first half, they were just blocking the ball and also a lot of unforced errors.. They decided to fight power with power and immediately has sucess. They became more offensive, hit more drives of their own, and better hands battles at the net.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks, Vanessa!

[@LearnAtMyExpense]

Did you watch the same video? They won because they were able to block, drop and reset. Only reason the score was so close was because they were struggling with the power but over time what they did will win...and it did.

[@Vanessa-pe2xs]

@LearnAtMyExpense in the first half, the picklers were trying to block...second half (after discussing strategy) instead of just blocking, they started to counter, they also started to engage in hands battles at the net...they became more agressive overall and also they cut down on unforced errors. The tennis guys only knew how to drive and lob, at the net they were neutralized.

[@SP-qv9rt]

@learnatmyexpense, watch at around 11:35 when the commentator says "great drive" and he is referring to a drive from the transition zone by one of the pickleball players!

[@LearnAtMyExpense]

@@SP-qv9rt Right, but watch the entire video and you see the pickleball players are staying with the strategy to slow the game down and get to the kitchen for the advantage or even allow the tennis players to get to the kitchen, where they are at a disadvantage due to a lack of soft game skill. That is the reason the pickleball players won.

[@AnnMitt]

Rory, What paddle are you currently using and why? How long have you been using your current paddle? I'm curious about the paddles experience players are using.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I use a Six Zero Double Black Diamond. When I hit it, I'm very confident it's going to go where I want it to go. I have tried more powerful paddles including the Gearbox Pro Series. I had a very difficult time controlling it and had to think too much when hitting it. Thanks for asking.

[@juansoria4086]

Those guys tried to play tennis on a pickleball court. That was not pickleball. If they can get rid of their tennis strategy, learn to play at the NVZ, they can easily become advance players. But using that strategy will make them struggle to beat 3.5 players, let alone 4.0+

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I totally agree and that's what I pointed out. Most of time, if pickleball players get out to a 6-0 lead, they will win the game. The tennis players couldn't finish it because the pickleball players figured out what was happening, adjusted and outscored them 8-1.

[@caryt59]

The tennis players are "bangers"! No clue about dinking to get setup for an attack!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That's what I pointed out. Thanks for watching.

[@blackbeardgoatjr2434]

Not only does a slice return allow you to add more spin on your return hit, the back spin causes the ball to pop up more on the bounce, giving you a fraction of a second longer to get under the ball and hit a stronger drive.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks for agreeing with me. A lot of players think it gives them an advantage.

[@vicneo1]

The problem is when one of a team is a banger and insists on banging. Would love to see a game - two bangers vs a pb 4.0/ 4.5 and second banger

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I'll see if I can find one. Thanks for watching.

[@tome4285]

Based soley on the critique, one would expect a blowout. The tennis players’ approach didn’t put them at much of a disadvantage.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I think that's maybe because Jackie and his partner may have been playing them for the first time. It took them a little while to figure out how to beat them. I think if they played another game, the score would not be as close. Thanks for your opinion.

[@jimh.4027]

@@pickleballpick-apart9787 I would agree with this assessment. Game 2 would not be nearly as close.

[@Bangbros-tn7wb]

hello i was wondering if you could review one of our games.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I'll be happy to. The only way I can do it is if you have a KZbin channel and you send me a link. Thanks.

[@jonk6137]

Can’t play base line but I’m a terrible 3s dropper and an even worse lobber lol thanks for you synopses

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@okayest_amateur]

You have other options. 3rd shot drive or 3rd shot hybrid.

[@elliottfletcher4830]

Not 4.0 players, that is all I got. 🤷‍♂

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks for your opinion. The game was played in Medford, Massachusetts.

[@ricday9296]

High Rory, these guys do not seem to be 4.0 players on either end of the court. 3.5 at best...I would have expected 4.0 to incorporate better court position and use of a soft game...3.0-3.5 is my thought...what do you think?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Well. I think the rating system is flawed. You are only as good as the players you play against. This game was played in Medford, Massachusetts. Perhaps 4.0 players there are not as good as 4.0 players where you play. I don't think the ex tennis players are anywhere near 4.0. Just because players can hit a ball hard and put slice spin on it does not mean they are 4.0 players. Thanks for watching.

[@SP-qv9rt]

Based on the score both teams appear to be at the same level, whether 3.5 or 4 or 4.5. When you look at match through the lense of "Tennis players", "bangers" you see things differently but the scores say it all. If you feed the match results into a computerized system, I am pretty sure it will rank the players pretty close to each other. The game was so close that if they played 3 game match, the result may have been different. Just because a player can do the third shot drop doesn't make them a 4.0 player.