Pickleball influence on tennis technique

[Injured Again]

I saw a couple of members of our tennis club today that have played a lot more pickleball than tennis the last couple of years. They were pretty decent tennis players with good technique, but when I saw them today they have taken a big step backwards with their volley technique.

Many times, they now stand facing square to the net and swipe at the ball like they have their toes on the kitchen line. Kind of sad to see in a way, but they might just be volleying better than ever because they’ve had so much practice with volleys in pball.

Anyone else seeing this technique transition?

 

[sureshs]

Certainly one has to be careful about extensive use of open-stance creeping its way from pickleball into tennis.

 

[user92626]

Not me. I suddenly found myself play great at PB last weekend.
Back in tennis it took minutes for adjustment. PB is a good warm-up for tennis. It's not heavy and super demanding.

 

[sureshs]

Not me. I suddenly found myself play great at PB last weekend.
Back in tennis it took minutes for adjustment. PB is a good warm-up for tennis. It's not heavy and super demanding.

Isn't it a better tennis warmup to play mini tennis instead of pickleball?

 

[user92626]

Isn't it a better tennis warmup to play mini tennis instead of pickleball?

Any light activities are good, but the question is what is available and fun that draws you on top of providing what you need. PB meets this requirement.

 

[Airspun]

Agassi definitely better now because of pickleball

 

[sureshs]

Any light activities are good, but the question is what is available and fun that draws you on top of providing what you need. PB meets this requirement.

I would think that for a tennis warmup, it would be easier to do a mini-tennis warmup than find a pickleball court first.

 

[user92626]

I would think that for a tennis warmup, it would be easier to do a mini-tennis warmup than find a pickleball court first.

Are you good at PB? How is it compared to tennis?

 

[sureshs]

Are you good at PB? How is it compared to tennis?

I play 2 games once a week, dubs only. It is just to keep in touch. It has its own challenges to master.

 

[Roforot]

Certainly one has to be careful about extensive use of open-stance creeping its way from pickleball into tennis.

for those rapid fire exchanges, open stance is what you need.
But probably the worst habit would be to tiptoe around an imaginary kitchen line.
A lot of people already don't close on volleys and let the ball drop way too much.

 

[10sbeast888]

tennis is difficult enough by itself without interference from other stuff.

 

[user92626]

I play 2 games once a week, dubs only. It is just to keep in touch. It has its own challenges to master.

keep in touch with what?

Do you bowl once a week also? To keep in touch with bowlers?

 

[sureshs]

keep in touch with what?

Do you bowl once a week also? To keep in touch with bowlers?

Pickleball is my insurance when my tennis partners will get too old like @ByeByePoly and switch to Pickleball

 

[ByeByePoly]

keep in touch with what?

Do you bowl once a week also? To keep in touch with bowlers?

hey hey hey … who are we to judge his “touchings”?

 

[ByeByePoly]

Pickleball is my insurance when my tennis partners will get too old like @ByeByePoly and switch to Pickleball

So you run tennis partners off to pickleball only for you to show up again?

 

[sureshs]

So you run tennis partners off to pickleball only for you to show up again?

I am probably the only person in the world who uses the table tennis shakehand grip in pickleball. For me, table tennis has crept into pickleball.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I don't think it is an issue, or it is highly individualized. I play both and it's more I can't volley as well in PB because I am too used to a more bouncy string bed and ball, where in PB I tend to drop shot a foot in front of me on my side with that.

 

[sureshs]

I get back pain after playing Pickleball due to low bounce.

 

[ByeByePoly]

I am probably the only person in the world who uses the table tennis shakehand grip in pickleball. For me, table tennis has crept into pickleball.

Callan Dawson beat you to it on the pro tour. Now with newer power paddles … more and more pros are choking up about an inch. On 2hbh almost everyone puts their top hand index finger on paddle face … which was weird for me at first but now I prefer it. You end up hitting more 2hbh drops and dinks than drives (doubles), and the finger behind paddle face adds stability on those touch 2hbhs. I now choke up about one inch on my forehand as soon as I move forward off the baseline for faster hands at kitchen. Recently … even have started experimenting with choking up an inch from the baseline. It actually makes some sense because even with smaller court dimensions you are never going to be as precise/consistent with a wiffle. Of course … I am playing with 5.5” grip … less would end up being cramped.

 

[ByeByePoly]

I get back pain after playing Pickleball due to low bounce.

Only play the Lifetime ball … so much better and more fun.

Slant boards … calf stretches once in the morning, once at night. Start morning with yoga child pose. Massage calves … single leg Romanian lifts for hamstring. Body weight squats. If you get ambitious stretchy band around legs above the knee … crab walk. My Achilles and back issues have disappeared … and as you point out on occasion … I’m an “oldie”.

I figure duct tape is around the corner. BTW … I have heard of players improving back pain with lots of walking.

 

[ByeByePoly]

I don't think it is an issue, or it is highly individualized. I play both and it's more I can't volley as well in PB because I am too used to a more bouncy string bed and ball, where in PB I tend to drop shot a foot in front of me on my side with that.

Everything in pickleball is “a hit”. Might be a small one on blocks off hard drives, but still a hit. All tennis players have to learn this … usually on first backhand volley.

 

[ByeByePoly]

I saw a couple of members of our tennis club today that have played a lot more pickleball than tennis the last couple of years. They were pretty decent tennis players with good technique, but when I saw them today they have taken a big step backwards with their volley technique.

Many times, they now stand facing square to the net and swipe at the ball like they have their toes on the kitchen line. Kind of sad to see in a way, but they might just be volleying better than ever because they’ve had so much practice with volleys in pball.

Anyone else seeing this technique transition?

We rotate our body for proper tennis volley … most of that (particularly feet) has to be abandoned for lack of time at kitchen in firefights. You still see high level players often have time to include shoulder rotation (really impressive with 2hbh) … but toes tend to stay pretty square to kitchen line. That said … if I played tennis again … no chance I wouldn’t revert right back to tennis rotation/footwork/closing the net (omg I miss closing the net).

 

[sureshs]

Pickleball is a stupid sport. Switch to:

Introducing TYPTI, a new racquet sport played on pickleball courts

It debuts with professional, amateur, collegiate, and high school competitions, major partnerships, and a growing national infrastructure.

pickleball.com

 

[sureshs]

Equipment here: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/TYPTI_Warehouse/catpage-TYPTI.html

 

[ey039524]

Pickleball is a stupid sport. Switch to:

Introducing TYPTI, a new racquet sport played on pickleball courts

It debuts with professional, amateur, collegiate, and high school competitions, major partnerships, and a growing national infrastructure.

pickleball.com

That looks really fun. I, for one, would love to play this on my local pickleball courts, and get yelled at to leave by the picklers.

 

[sureshs]

That looks really fun. I, for one, would love to play this on my local pickleball courts, and get yelled at to leave by the picklers.

I emailed them asking for 2 free strung rackets and a few balls to try it out with some local folks. Let me see if they send them.

 

[ey039524]

I emailed them asking for 2 free strung rackets and a few balls to try it out with some local folks. Let me see if they send them.

@$200 for a kid's racquet, they'll probably point you to TW's page. Looks like the balls aren't available online, yet.

It looks similar to touch tennis. I like that you can still spin the ball w regular tennis strokes.

 

[sureshs]

@$200 for a kid's racquet, they'll probably point you to TW's page. Looks like the balls aren't available online, yet.

It looks similar to touch tennis. I like that you can still spin the ball w regular tennis strokes.

LOL I am not going to pay for this myself till it is an established thing here.

But interesting that the length is 22 inches. Notice that there is NO junior tennis racket of this length. Very clever move, to ensure the premium pricing of these frames. 23-inch frames are available for less than $30. But no 22s.

Brilliant!

 

[ey039524]

LOL I am not going to pay for this myself till it is an established thing here.

But interesting that the length is 22 inches. Notice that there is NO junior tennis racket of this length. Very clever move, to ensure the premium pricing of these frames. 23-inch frames are available for less than $30. But no 22s.

Brilliant!

I'll cut an inch off the handle of a 23" racquet for $150, and someone can save $20!

 

[sureshs]

I'll cut an inch off the handle of a 23" racquet for $150, and someone can save $20!

That is a good business model

 

[user92626]

I emailed them asking for 2 free strung rackets and a few balls to try it out with some local folks. Let me see if they send them.

It's been almost a week. I guess they blew you off.

Interestingly throughout my life I never ask for free stuff. Even when I get gifts I feel uncomfortable and find way to reciprocate.

Hey lately I've been playing PB pretty well. I think I've dialed in how PB stuff moves and feels. That's about it. The rest comes from tennis technique. 100% transferrable.

 

[sureshs]

It's been almost a week. I guess they blew you off.

Interestingly throughout my life I never ask for free stuff. Even when I get gifts I feel uncomfortable and find way to reciprocate.

Hey lately I've been playing PB pretty well. I think I've dialed in how PB stuff moves and feels. That's about it. The rest comes from tennis technique. 100% transferrable.

I love free stuff

 

[user92626]

I love free stuff

Your house must fill with junks like they give out for free at the fairs. You collect them all.
They give out free foods but they tend to be lower quality and soon to be rotten.
You probably love & consume free tips given on TT.

I just realized why I never like or ask for free stuff.

 

[sureshs]

Your house must fill with junks like they give out for free at the fairs. You collect them all.
They give out free foods but they tend to be lower quality and soon to be rotten.
You probably love & consume free tips given on TT.

I just realized why I never like or ask for free stuff.

I steal balls left around after USTA league matches.

Sometimes I steal from the lost-and-found bin at the club if something has been there for a long time.

I get things from the local Facebook free stuff giveaway group.

I think of myself as an environmentalist trying to prolong the useful time of products in order to protect the planet.

 

[10sbeast888]

Your house must fill with junks like they give out for free at the fairs. You collect them all.
They give out free foods but they tend to be lower quality and soon to be rotten.
You probably love & consume free tips given on TT.

I just realized why I never like or ask for free stuff.

this guy is indeed condescending.

 

[user92626]

this guy is indeed condescending.

I give up talking to an idiot.
Back to ignorant list you go. LOL.

 

[10sbeast888]

and you're an idiot.
Back to ignorant list you go. LOL.

so lame... if you ignore me, who's gonna defend the captain?

 

[sureshs]

Your house must fill with junks like they give out for free at the fairs. You collect them all.
They give out free foods but they tend to be lower quality and soon to be rotten.
You probably love & consume free tips given on TT.

I just realized why I never like or ask for free stuff.

I stole 3 balls after pickup doubles today

 

[user92626]

I stole 3 balls after pickup doubles today

Were they slightly used? Not abandoned?
I played with a bunch of good, used balls today. Like 6, 7. Afterwards the guy insisted that I take them.

Used balls are plenty around.

What else is interesting at your site?

Im chilling after 3 hrs of singles games. Rehydrating with diet coke.

 

[graycrait]

why do many people use a two handed backhand in pickleball?

 

[sureshs]

why do many people use a two handed backhand in pickleball?

Almost always by pros, male and female. For attacking open-stance returns and shots.

I use 1 hand and a table tennis shakehand grip, but as some of you may know, I am not a pro player.

 

[sureshs]

Were they slightly used? Not abandoned?
I played with a bunch of good, used balls today. Like 6, 7. Afterwards the guy insisted that I take them.

Used balls are plenty around.

What else is interesting at your site?

Im chilling after 3 hrs of singles games. Rehydrating with diet coke.

Slightly used

 

[user92626]

Slightly used

Fascinating conversation

 

[ballmachineguy]

why do many people use a two handed backhand in pickleball?

Because it is a LH forehand with right arm stabilization. Don’t have to take the time to turn like on bh. Plus it is whiffle tennis after all. Why are we even talking about Pickleball?

 

[Injured Again]

Why are we even talking about Pickleball?

Uhhh,…., uhhhh…. Because this is a thread about pickleball?

 

[ballmachineguy]

Uhhh,…., uhhhh…. Because this is a thread about pickleball?

That is not a good enough reason.

 

[nyta2]

I saw a couple of members of our tennis club today that have played a lot more pickleball than tennis the last couple of years. They were pretty decent tennis players with good technique, but when I saw them today they have taken a big step backwards with their volley technique.

Many times, they now stand facing square to the net and swipe at the ball like they have their toes on the kitchen line. Kind of sad to see in a way, but they might just be volleying better than ever because they’ve had so much practice with volleys in pball.

Anyone else seeing this technique transition?

happened to me when i was playing alot more pb than tennis (eg. when back was hurt and couldn't serve)... but now i'm doing about 50/50, and the transition back and forth hasn't been an issue (as long as i'm reminding myself during the tennis volley warmup, to keep moving through my volley after contact)...

that said, these days, my pb "volley" is more like a table tennis swing (eg. push block, flick, roll) than it is a tennis volley... if i'm hitting a tennis volley in pb, it's usally because i'm already on the defensive (which nowaadays is really a reset, and not a tennis volley)...