I know everyone is itching to get back on the courts and play pickleball! (Even though I’ve been enjoying my extra time with the kiddos, I’ve been missing time with my local pickleball buddies, too!)

We’ll get through this! And when we do, pickleball will be there for us, like an old friend!

For the time that we are stuck at home, this month’s newsletter is how to easily build a simple practice net (with the bonus of doubling as a training tool!).

Tools That You Will Need

A hacksaw.

That’s the only tool that you will need! (Okay, that’s technically the only tool that you need – you’ll probably also need a tape measure and a marker!)

Material

Some one-inch diameter PVC pipe, a bunch of connectors; specifically:

• 3 sections of pipe cut to 31 inches long
• 2 sections of pipe cut to 24 inches long
• 4 sections of pipe cut to 8 inches long
• 2 sections of pipe cut to 12 inches long
• 2 elbow connectors
• 4 3×1 elbow connectors
• 6 caps

Here’s a pic of all the different parts:

All these materials should be available at your hardware store (to stay safe, you may want to check if they have curbside pickup if you feel uncomfortable going into the store!). The pipe will probably come in 10 foot lengths (hence the need for the hacksaw).

Assembly

Assembly is really easy! Insert the 12 inch sections into both sides of the 3×1 elbows – this is your base. Into the last hole, insert the 31 inch length of pipe, and top that with the elbow. Into that elbow, insert the 24 inch section of pipe for both sides, and connect them together with the 3×1 elbow.

And you’re done! When finished, it should look something like this:

Now Get to Dinking!

Your brand new practice net should be somewhere between 34 and 35 inches high. If you have a basement, garage, or a driveway, you can tape off some Kitchen lines and practice your dinking!

As I’m sure you noticed, assembly (and disassembly for that matter!) is pretty quick! At some courts, there may be extra space for you to set it up so you and another player can practice dinking until it’s time to play! (This may also be the case at tournaments where practice courts may be nonexistent!) 

You can also set up this little practice court near a fence to try some drills that I mentioned in my most recent podcast!

Don’t Be Afraid of the Scarecrow!

After you put together your net, you may be asking, “Prem, what about these extra pieces?” Those are there to convert your net into what Randy refers to as the scarecrow. 

You add those pieces to the center 3×1 connector so it looks like this:

The scarecrow is for when you’re on the court practicing your drop shot. My recommendation for a good drop shot is for the ball’s apex to be about five to six feet above your Kitchen line. 

Place the scarecrow right on top of your Kitchen line, and when practicing your drop, try to just clear the top of the scarecrow (which is between five and six feet high) so that the ball drops into your opponents’ Kitchen!

Getting Creative

Want some netting? Drape a couple of towels over it (makes a fine towel rack if you bring it with you to the courts!) Plus if you take the scarecrow with you to the courts and set it over to the side, you can turn it into a windsock with the aforementioned towels!

Hope this helps pass the time while we’re all safe and stuck at home!

And When We Do Finally Get Back on the Courts…

Consider coming out to one of my bootcamps or clinics! My 2020 schedule is set, as well as some for early 2021!

Prevention is better than cure.
     -Erasmus

Yes! I want you to keep playing pickleball for many more years to come!

And I know you can do it! I’ve personally seen players in their 80s and 90s still on the courts, passionately playing the sport we love so much!

So this month’s newsletter article is all about increasing your longevity on the courts (not the most exciting topic I’ve written about, but maybe the most important!).

And I promise, it won’t just be about stretching before your games!

Even More Important than Stretching

Yes, stretching those muscles and tendons is important (and here’s a short video on some recommended stretches), but lately there’s something even more important!

A simple warm-up!

As I mentioned, the warm-up may be even more important than stretching, and should be done before stretching so that your muscles are, you guessed it, warmed up!

Take a few jogs around the court to get your muscles warmed up and your heart rate up a bit – it doesn’t have to be extensive (no dreaded burpees, nasty wind sprints, or anything severe like that!) – just enough exercise to get that blood flowing a little better!

Once you’re warmed up, that’s when you can begin your stretching exercises so that you’re loose and ready to play pickleball!

Stay Hydrated

Remember to bring plenty of liquids with you to stay hydrated on the courts, even when it’s cold outside (I know for a fact there’s plenty of you out there that will even risk the increase in cracked balls and play in the 30s!).

Water is good, but if you need to replenish those electrolytes, there’s certainly a number of sports drinks available to you. If you’re not into sports drinks (I’m personally not a fan), there’s a number of homemade sports drinks that you can make yourself! 

You Don’t Have to Go for Every Shot

I’ve written before on how to defend the dreaded lob, and I’m here to tell you now that you don’t have to try to get every shot!

I’ve seen players (even recently!) dive for balls and fly into fences trying to make a play!

In some gymnasiums, where space is at a premium, I’ve seen players fall onto the bleachers, run into curtains or nearby tables and chairs trying to make a play on a lob!

I know you want to win and not let your partner down, but there’s going to be another point and another game. Trust me on this, it’s not worth risking an injury that can put you out of (pickleball) commission for weeks or months!

If it’s a good shot, just say, Good shot!” and move on to the next point (or game!). Trust me again on this, I do this often!

Shoes

It’s not a good idea to wear proper shoes, it’s a great idea! 

Court shoes are specifically designed for lateral side-to-side movements, while other shoes, especially running shoes, are designed for cushioning that up and down action. 

Cushioning is important, but not as important on the courts – it’s that lateral support that is important when playing pickleball.

And if your feet need more cushioning or arch support (e.g., you’ve got fallen arches or flat feet), there’s a number of over-the-counter orthotics available, or you can look into custom orthotics. 

Prevention really is more important than the cure! And prevention of injuries will keep you playing pickleball for many years to come!   

At clinics, I start off with “How to win the point on the first three shots!”

During the first session of bootcamp, which is live play, I get an idea of participants’ style of play, including what’s going on during those first three shots.

After a couple of games, I’ll give everyone FOUR LETTERS to quickly improve their games. (Yes! Just four letters to quickly improve their games!)

I pull everyone together, and recommend RR and SS.

RR stands for RETURN & RUSH – when you’re returning the serve, you should rush to the line to join your partner at the Kitchen!

Points are won and lost at the line, and you want to do everything you can to be the only team at the line and put pressure on the serving team!

RR is the easy one – most players do whatever they can (typically a deep return) so they can easily join his or her partner at the Kitchen!

SS is a bit more complicated – it stands for SERVE & STAY.

You probably already know you have to wait for the bounce before taking the third shot, but I’m NOT talking about serving and then staying behind the baseline!

I’m referring to serving and staying with YOUR PARTNER!

Often, a player will see his or her partner take the third shot, and then rush to the line!

Sometimes this works! But most of the time, not so much…

Imagine that your partner hits a bad drop – he or she is probably still near the baseline, you’re at the Kitchen, and your opponents have a lot of options!

There’s that huge gap between you and your partner; there’s the option to keep your partner pinned back at the baseline; there’s a lot of empty space next to you that your opponents can exploit! 

That’s why I recommend when your side is SERVING, it’s a good idea to STAY with your partner, and move up to the line together.

And how do you determine how to move up to the Kitchen together?

If your partner is taking the third shot, he or she has the point, and your partner determines how much to advance to the line; if you take the third shot, you have the point, and your partner should follow your lead.

So SERVE STAY wasn’t just about the third shot! It’s actually the fifth, or seventh, or maybe even the ninth shot!