Top Strategies to Enhance Mobility for Senior Pickleball Players

[@BetterPickleball]

Register here to get your FREE Ticket: www.pickleballsummit.com/?_gl.. Check out these tips to warm up before the game: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWrHnJevZdqYmMksi=6grBL... Want to find out your pickleball level? Take the Quiz. betterpickleball.com/quiz/

[@annahunter2192]

Great helpful video. THANK YOU for your great content.

[@BetterPickleball]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevenkraslen6649]

Here is my take on it. If both players are having some sort of mobility issue and they get to the kitchen they are then easy targets for the dreaded Lob to the baseline.

[@smokefx1]

I’m 70+ and a good solution for a deep lob is to communicate with your partner. Tell them before the game, that if the lob is deep, have them go get it and you will trade spots. And you will retrieve the deep lobs over their head. This doesn’t ALWAYS work but it’s a more efficient play, and it keep you from getting all twisted up, trying to return. I see a lot of falls, with senior players, getting all twisted up trying to return that deep lob. Depend on your partner to help get you out of trouble.

[@BetterPickleball]

You are correct that will happen, but not every player is an amazing baseline lobber. The best practice is to get to the NVZ to control the game and to cut off the angles and amount of court a less mobile player has to cover. If you have a person who lobs, you can either hit to their partner or don't hit them the type of shot they like to lob from. If they are a baseline lobber this might be an instance where you want to bring them closer to the net so they have more difficulty hitting the shot and less court to work with.

[@maryhurst4663]

I agree. I seldom am able to get from the NVZ back to the baseline in time to hit a lob.

[@philgrassi7150]

I do a high lob serve to bangers which puts them back a couple feet on their return. Good for a couple points a game as their trajectory has changed . Throw in a 45 degree with top spin and you start destroying their continuity. Back hand side. Never give a consistent serve. We are old and must be devious.

[@BetterPickleball]

Sounds like you found something that works

[@samscasa1]

Deep, soft returns of serve are very effective to buy time and get to the kitchen.

[@natehendricksen3338]

Excellent instruction as always. Consider adding in the time advantage of hitting the return with a forward weight shift as opposed to the rearward weight shift from the folks that receive standing too close to the line.

[@BetterPickleball]

Yup that's a big one.

[@johncrowley7780]

Great job,love the content! Thank you CJ & Tony

[@BetterPickleball]

Thank you!

[@francesw.5919]

Thank You!

[@BetterPickleball]

You're welcome!

[@bethechange4726]

Awesome, instructions given!!

[@BetterPickleball]

Thank you! Appreciate it!

[@FrankRollberg]

Great advice! Thank you.

[@BetterPickleball]

You're Welcome!

[@jimh.4027]

For those of you commenting about lobs: if you're playing a team that likes to lob, having the non-returning member of the receiving team stay back about mid court on the serve/return will deter lobbers as that person will be in a good position to take that lob as an overhead. So you will get fewer lobs in the first place, and if they do lob, it's a good opportunity to smash it with an overhead. If the serving team chooses not to lob, that person can quite easily move to the NVZ in no time.

[@BetterPickleball]

There are times to back off the line to deter the lob but as a practice I wouldn't recommend the non returner stand here.

[@jimh.4027]

@@BetterPickleball As I stated, you would only do this against a team that likes to lob.

[@tomwharton9800]

Whenever I hit a slow high return my opponents almost always hit a 3rd-shot lob. I can usually see it coming so I end up stopping in the transition zone anyway ready to smash it if I can. How come you did not cover this eventuality in the video?

[@BetterPickleball]

It's hard to cover all the what if scenarios that can happen during a game. But, if you have a player who like to lob from the baseline hit them the top of shot they don't typically lob from such as a drive or even a short return where they have to move up or hit it to their partner. :)

[@ylana4444]

I’m fine moving when things are “slow”. Once the pace or quick volleys pick up I start reacting instead of responding. I’ve had glute and hamstring injury for over a year due to jolting,lunging, and quick movements. How do you rectify this problem? I’m trying to see the ball sooner off my opponents paddle face and anticipate better. This is easier said than done however. It’s really hard to play pickleball without lunging. Any advice?

[@BetterPickleball]

It sounds like your feet might not be in the right place so you are having to lunge to get to the ball. Here's one of my favorite footwork drills. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYfag4xmqKmpj68

[@PurpleFrogHigh5]

One thing you didn't mention is WHEN to stop/split. I think that is the key to have a good foundation.

[@BetterPickleball]

We talked about stopping so that you can hit the shot. If you want to try to time it with your opponent hitting the shot that's ideal but will take practice.

[@sherylmartin5175]

Typically, if I am running up to the kitchen line the opponent will aim for my feet - what is the best strategy for the shot at the feet when you are not at the kitchen line?

[@BetterPickleball]

The split step that we cover in the video should help you

[@Bergarita]

That lofty return is gonna get lobbed by good players. If they start lobbing the returns I suggest dont return to the lobber and or lower the loft. Remember: Serve and Stay and Return and RUN. Move your legs you old fogeys! (me included)

[@BetterPickleball]

If it's over 45 degrees you are likely correct and the return will be attacked, either with a lob or a hard drive but below that a higher return will buy you time. But yes, if you know that one of the players is a lobber don't hit them the kind of shot they'd like to lob :)

[@marilynjackson5752]

My problem is side to side movement. Players hit to the side line when I'm in the middle of my side, and I can't get there!

[@BetterPickleball]

Hey Marilyn it's hard for me to know exactly what is happening based on what was said but it might help for you to think about following the ball. If you are in the middle and they hit to your side that might indicate that you need to take a step toward that side when the ball is hit too them to anticipate hitting a shot that will likely come down the line.

[@marilynjackson5752]

@@BetterPickleball Thanks so much for your reply. Age is a factor😅

[@JJ-pc3fh]

⁠@@marilynjackson5752Another issue when you move to the side to get the shot, your partner needs to move to cover the middle for the return. Most don’t, unless they’re higher level. Also keeping your paddle up in a ready position gives you a better chance of returning the ball.

[@ljc9337]

NVZ? Why not the kitchen?

[@maryhurst4663]

Same thing

[@BetterPickleball]

They are same. NVZ is the Non Volley Zone, the slang term is kitchen.

[@jimh.4027]

Returning straight ahead (down the line) will allow the non-returning member of the receiving team to play big in the middle and handle more 4th shots, giving the returning member more time to complete their journey to the NVZ.

[@BetterPickleball]

A return to the middle typically allows the non returner to cover even more space and bottle up the angles.

[@jimh.4027]

@@BetterPickleball No, the non-returner can get burned if he crowds the middle on a middle return. Returning straight ahead makes it very unlikely that the serving team will be able to hit behind that player.