Before I get to my tip for the week, here's an update on the Demuth Court construction project.
According to Michael J. Finland, who is on the Parks and Recreation Commission for the City of Palm Springs, the official Grand Opening event for the expanded Demuth Pickleball Complex will be held on Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. The gathering will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony, open play and demonstrations, giveaways and prizes, and an opportunity to meet, play and mingle with other local Pickleball players. Refreshments will be served, and there will be music.
Prior to the grand opening, there will be a “soft” opening on Oct. 14-15, with ambassadors available to guide players through the new site and rotation systems.
After years in the planning and making,
it is finally happening! Many thanks to all who contributed to this project!
Coach Mary’s Tip for the Week
Online pickleball instructor Tanner Tomassi shares the following: “I took a Private Lesson with Simone Jardim – 3 days of intensity in Nashville”.
Tanner has been a pro for three years, yet he states that this was world class, and by far, it has been the most productive thing he has done to up his game.
I have attached the video to the online version at desertsun.com and it's also on YouTube. It is long, but worth it. Look for it on YouTube
I have highlighted the main points that Tanner and Simone focus on during the groundstroke drilling.
- 1. The first insight from Simone was that Tanner needs to connect the parts. She says he needs to start with his legs, then his core, then his upper body.
- 2. For his two -hander, she says he needs to think about his right arm as the power, with a longer follow-through. (Tanner is left-handed.) Tanner “short arms his follow-through.
- 3. On his follow-through, Tanner brings his back leg around, but not towards the net. He needs to step forward with his back leg after he contacts through the ball.
- 4. She tells him to stay with the ball longer, keeping his hips closed longer, and use his core longer through the shot. Hold the shot longer! Accelerate through the shot!
- 5. For breathing, you should not hear anything, until you contact and follow-through. Then, you should hear your exhale. This is why we hear tennis players grunt!
- 6. When your opponent gives you more pace, take back sooner, and shorter. Prepare quicker, but you still load on your legs.
- 7. Tanner does not feel that his backhand is as powerful as his forehand, so in the next segment, Simone feeds to him on the same side of the net, and stresses that he should feel like his legs are working very hard, and his core is tight. His arms should feel super relaxed. She asks him to just let his arm hang loose and hit every ball out. He needs to point his paddle at the back wall, which gets his shoulders turned more.
- 8. Go earlier! Go get the ball as it bounces up!
- 9. On the forehand, he needs to take the ball out in front of him, earlier. Not too close to his body. If his backswing is too long, he will have less power. She uses the tennis phrase “Ready at the Bounce”. Your paddle should be coming forward when the ball bounces, not when it arrives at your body!
- 10. Really interesting note: Simone says people do not practice their groundstrokes enough, unless they play singles. This is why playing skinny singles is good drilling. Practicing your groundstrokes will transfer to your thirds and your net game!
- 11. Simone’s husband Chad makes a good point about using less is better in Pickleball.
- 12. “Shoot the ground” with his loose, linear backhand paddle position. Scrape the ground. Point your paddle down.
- 13. You must line up the feet first, then core, then arms. Brush the ball, loose arms. Wrists are not cocked; arm is not stiff.
I liked the way Simone ran the drills, feeding to Tanner right next to him, so she could give immediate feedback and cues.
- Coach tosses to FH, tosses to BH. She is close, so she can give quick feedback.
- Inside out: Tanner must “run around” the ball to position to hit an inside out forehand.
- Coach feeds from other side of the net and gives you targets to aim for.
I find that when I use ball machines and stations, my students get plenty of reps, but not enough specific feedback right next to them that they can see and hear. I am going to remedy this in my future group drill classes.
DON'T FORGET!: FIRST OUTDOOR ROUND ROBIN IS OCT. 18 at Paradise Pickleball Club. Email me to register: mgbarsaleau@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Pickleball tip of the Week: Learn from how a pro takes a lesson
