However, if you asked your body, it might tell you something different. Your knees ache, your shoulders feel tight, and no matter how competitive you are, it sounds like a visit to the physio is more likely for you at this point than another three-hour base war.
This is completely normal and it happens to everyone.
The point is, you want to stay sharp and keep your reflexes fast during this time, so you try to find ways to do that. And Pickleball is one of them.
Yes. Pickleball. You know, the plastic ball, the funny name.
That pickle ball. It’s a smaller field and the rallies are faster at the net. The rhythm forces you to think differently, so while it won’t replace your tennis training, it can make you a better tennis player if you know when to give it a try.
Signs that the time is right to add Pickleball
So how do you know when it’s time to pick up the paddle?
During a technical plateau
Do you ever feel like you’re in the same rhythm?
Baseline, cross track, baseline, cross track. Your principles are solid, there is no argument. But what about the grid? Well, this feels a bit like foreign territory. If this is what you are experiencing, you need to know that it has a name. This is what is called a technical plateau, and that’s exactly what Pickleball can help you with.
The court is smaller, so the ball comes fast and close, leaving no time for a big swing. You react, you block, you drink.
You will learn to soften your hands, which will make your tennis volleys feel easier.
Off-season or between tournaments
No one can go full throttle all year long, except maybe the Terminator.
But that doesn’t mean you have to lounge on the couch during the off-season; you still have to stay in shape. Pickleball can help you here too. There is no 3 set grind and no need to sprint from corner to corner.
Minor overuse fatigue
Do you suffer from a cranky elbow? Are your hips a bit stiff? What’s really going on here is that you’re not exactly what you’d call “hurt,” but you don’t exactly feel like you’re at 100% of your best either.
That’s what overuse fatigue does, and it’s a sign to back off. Don’t shut down, mind you, just slow down for a while.
Again, pickleball is the answer here. Your steps are monitored and the rallies are easier. And at the same time you still move enough to stay loose.
A win-win situation.
To improve double consciousness
Good doubles play is usually an instinct, but if you grew up playing singles, it will take some time to build that instinct. Pickleball speeds things up. It’s all about position and timing at the net, especially around the non-volley line. And as you play more and more – especially against the same players – you start to learn to read the other team’s moves (and gaps) before they open up. A kind of sixth sense.
If you want to take your game to the next level, it’s also not a bad thing to check out websites like Pickleball Nationwhere you can find tons of useful tips and tricks.
And even if at some point you start to feel confident enough that you’re ready to go, you can find all kinds of pickleball items as well.
Fit pickleball into your tennis training week
Pickleball was never designed to compete with tennis. Although they share similarities, they are both completely different places. That would be a bit like saying that Nascar is the same as Formula 1. What pickleball CAN do is support your tennis game.
In tennis, your goal is balance, which means you want the benefits without burnout.
If you are in the middle of the season, one session per week is fine.
60-90 minutes of controlled doubles or reaction exercises will keep your hands sharp without straining your legs. You could say this is a kind of maintenance, where you’re not really trying to be a better pickleball player; you only borrow what it gives you.
During the off season or during the lighter months you can fit in 2 sessions.
Make sure one is all about playing cross-course and resetting from difficult positions, and the other should be more competitive. Don’t let it replace your tennis reps, though!
Intensity should ALWAYS remain moderate, no matter what you do.
Pickleball should feel easier, so you’re missing the point if you kill yourself every time you play. Sweating through your shirt is supposed to happen on the tennis court. And one more thing: don’t plan a brawl the night before a big tournament.
That’s a bad idea, and your legs will surely remind you of it.
Conclusion
Pickleball isn’t here to save your tennis game, because you don’t need it. You’ve made it this far without it, right?
But maybe you’re just… stuck. Your body may need a break, or you just want to earn more points without selling your soul to a double clinic. THAT’s where a plastic ball and a funny looking paddle works wonders. Use it when you need a reset or when the calendar looks a bit emptier than usual.
Then walk away and go back to work.
Readers can also check out these stories
From https://worldtennismagazine.com/what-tennis-coaches-can-do-to-reduce-overuse-injuries-in-juniors/27140
From https://worldtennismagazine.com/adjustments-you-need-to-make-when-transitioning-from-singles-to-doubles-in-tennis/27053
#Add #Pickleball #CrossTraining #Routine