Pickleball Is All Blog Joe Palmere, Pickleball Coach, Rating Specialist & Ambassador

COACH SUPERVISED DRILLING FOR INTERMEDIATE LEVEL PLAYERS INTEREST SURVEY Would any advancing Intermediate (3.0 and above) member or League players have an interest in doing a "Monday Evening 5:30-7pm, [Coach Supervised],  Skill Specific Drilling," i.e. serve, drop shots from baseline, windshield wiper dinks, lobs,  overhead spot specific put-away,  6 players & 3 balls focus drill at NVZ line, and "OFFENSE AND DEFENSE GRID/ZONE DRILLS.  GRID DRILLS are not intended for "fun and exercise" partner play games. These drills are for serious players who want to improve their game.  Each player will be working on a specific shot placement that may occur during a game. Each player is assigned a specific grid to cover on the court.  This drill improves shot placement skills and shot specific skills. It also teaches players to concentrate and focus.   Example: 3 player grid drill; player A hits ball deep to B's baseline, B returns a...

As a "Professional Pickleball Coach" I have a practice of providing free "coaching" to most any of my pickleball friends with a problem in their play.  However this protocol of generosity has its critics from within the pickleball community.   I have found many new friends among a vast variety of public funded pickleball programs and private pay for play pickleball providers. I am always ready to help any friend in need of my services, without payment or recourse. Possibly I have become over protective of my "pickleball buddies."   I encourage every player  to seek "Professional Coaching" when the need arises. Players should choose whatever Coach they feel most confident in to solve their problems, Players should not choose a coach based solely on a friendship. Nor should they choose a coach solely on name recognition and reputation. It is good to get different coaching perspectives on your game even for the same problem, and adapt the so...

I just emailed my PROGRESSIVE PICKLEBALL BEGINNERS INSTRUCTION PROGRAM proposal off to the International Organization for review. This programs teaches new inexperienced player to develop the skill sets and game knowledge of a 2.0 player in preparation to enter Open Play Pickleball. Regardless of what the Federation decides, I am seriously contemplating implementing the program here. The program is a structured fee based format of eight weeks, one 2 hour class per weeks, 16 hours total, student attendance standards, on-court 2.0 skill performance testing, rules and scoring written exams, 80% pass rate, Certificate of Completion upon graduation. I am also planning to do a Progressive Pickleball Intermediate Instruction Program for 2.0/2.5 players to advance to 3.0 players, and another program for 3.0 to advance to 3.5 players, using the same structured format for learning the skill sets and game knowledge of 3.0, and 3.5 level players. Students would commit to minimum attenda...

GOOD PICKLEBALL, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD PLACE & GOOD ADVICE Friday I played at Edgewood SRCT I can say honestly I played "smart winning pickleball." A good mixed crowd of 15 players had signed in and they all came with game. Barb was invited but didn't show....what's new! Average over 55 player skill levls ran from 3.0 to 4.0. Most any game you played, with most any partner was an all out slug fest, down to the very last point, often win by two, finesse pickleball game. No one stayed back at the base line to practice their forehand drive stroke. The net was where the action began and ended. Damn fine pickleball. Even the bangers played the short court game. One high end friend had just selected his female partner for the HA/CO/SR/Games. The exact same lady that I was going to ask but waited too long. When she heard I too was after her she signaled a sympathetic sorry sign my way. She is 3,5+ and he is 4.0, together they are going to be strong cont...

ARE YOU EXECUTING A LEGAL SERVE MOTION? A popular pickleball coaching service that I provide is the On-Court Player Performance Assessment (PPA). I observe the individual from various vantage points, during an 11 point doubles game. A 42 point check off skills performance sheet is used to identify and record stroke development flaws that contribute to unforced errors. Rule violation faults, foot faults, poor shot selection, poor strategy, and inconsistent shot execution or placement are also highlighted in this assessment. A copy of the PPA is emailed to the player. The purpose of the PPA is to provide a player written blueprint for a player to independently correct specific flaws in their game. SORRY I DIGRESS, AS YOU WELL KNOW! SERVING! One of the heathenistical mortal sins in pickleball is "serving out of bounds.{ "One "OUT" serve a game, is one too many, especially when it occurs during a tightly contested game. The look on your partner's fa...

PICKLEBALL BEGINNERS SENIORS CLASS TURNED AWAY FROM TAX P[AYER FUNDEDCOUNTY REC CENTER GYMNASIUM The incident in question involved six (6) Senior Center registered members, and students in the Beginners Pickleball Instruction Class, I, the undersigned, was the sixth member, and “Certified Pickleball Coaching Instructor” for that class. It should be noted that the Community Center Indoor Gymnasium was open and occupied at the time of my arrival at approximately 11am, but the “staff offices” were closed for the Holiday. I entered the building and I was greeted by the Staff Member on duty, The Staff Member informed me that he had received a phone call from his supervisor, informing him that “he” cannot allow any members of the Pickleball Beginners Class to use the gym for their normal Monday Instruction Class, scheduled for 11am to 12:30pm. The Staff Member said that he was informed by his supervisor , that the Senior Center“ had not renewed the date and time usage permit fo...

THIRD SHOT DROP, FACT OR FICTION ? Readers Note: I was chatting with friends, Bonnie, Daria, and Mike after practice today about various defenses to use at NVZ against bangers. The conversation got around to discussing the feasibility, success percentage and practicality of the Third Shot Drop. One of the first things we bantered back and fourth was, is the TSD "old-shool" or "new-school" pickleball. Another very interesting discussion point was what was "old school pick leball" and "what was "new school" pickleball. The participants were all within the Intermediate Advancing Skill Level. The gist of our discussion lead to profound futuristic observations on where our sport of pickleball has been and where it is heading. NO! PICKLEs & BALLs are not intending to take a well deserved vacation to some luxury resort in the Caribbean. However it was a group consensus that our sport is going to see some major changes in strategy and s...

SHOES LOVE 'EM, HATE 'EM When it comes to pickleball shoes the choice is very limited. YES, there are a few Picklball specific court shoes on the market. Do they really work as advertised? I don't know! You tell me. What I do know is what my good friend and fellow pickleball junkie "Rick" told me. Rick worked as a shoe salesman for Holabird Sports 9220 Pulaski Hwy, Chase MD. As a big fan of the New Balance 806 Tennis Shoe, I was somewhat taken back when good friend Rick, informed that the New Balance 806 shoe was designed more so for outdoor synthetic Tennis Court surfaces rather than the indoor wood gymnasium floor surfaces. WHY, I asked ? My friend responded, "the sole material for the outdoor court surface is a little harder and a little stiffer, so they last a little longer. OK! So what type sole on what shoe should I be using to play this "mad-cap" game of pickleball on an indoor hard wood gym floor. "Ah-Ha" SAYS ...

018 IFP/USPA REVISED OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULEBOOK SERVICE 2016 Section 4 Service Rules 4.A.1 Underhand Defined. The arm must be moving in an upward arc and the paddle head shall be below the wrist when it strikes the ball. The highest point of the paddle head cannot be above any part of lined formed where the wrist joint bends. 2018 Section 3 Definations 3.A.36. Underhand – The player’s arm must be moving in a forward and upward arc with the palm turned upward or downward. 2018Section 4 Service Rules 4.A.2. The service motion begins with the server’s arm movement initiating the swing, backward or forward, to contact the ball. 4.A.5. The serve must be made with an underhand stroke whereby the server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc (see Figure 4-1). 4.A.6. The paddle head must be below the server’s wrist when it strikes the ball. The highest point of the paddle head cannot be above the highest part of the wrist (where the wrist joint bends) (see Figure 4-1)....

SKILL ASSESSMENT PRO AND CON OPEN PLAY OUT OF POCKET PAY FOR PLAY COURT TIME Vs COURT COST LIMITED COURT AVAILABILITY CCPBC MEMBERS MOSTLY YOUNG ADULTS TO MIDDLE AGE 9-5 M-F WORKING PLAYERS WITH FAMILIES OR PROVIDING ELDER CARE TO LOVED ONES. SOME RETIREES, AND ONE OR TWO OLD GEISERS Great meeting today. Good communication and discussion of view points, shared opinions, uninhibited frank open forum regarding CCPB Leadership Organization, Financial format for member participation and cost expenditures, Committee/Task Force style groups to address specific issues and concerns, Liaison with BA/CO Recs & Parks, and Open Play skill limitations. Much was said about beginners (new, inexperienced, unskilled, no game knowledge participants). Since I am currently developing a new "Progressive Structured Beginners Pickleball Instruction Program," to address the shortcomings in most current beginner programs, I am not going to comment pro or con regarding this issue. ...

BEN JOHNS CLINIC Who is in besides me? Do you want skill specific or skill advancing? How many to a group, no more than 8. Over 8 would require another session. You will need to know your skill level. Don't over rate yourself. If you sign up for a 3.5 to 4.0 and your skill sets are 2.5 to 3.5 you are going to waste your money Remember we are talking "skill sets," the ability to perform specific skills and demonstrate knowledge of rules, scoring and doubles strategy required for that skill assessment. Check out the IPTPA Skill Assessments and see if you can perform each of the required skills, correct form and ball placement 8 out of 10 times under the scrutiny of a Certified Rating Specialist? Its not about your scores and who you can beat. Its all about how well you can consistently perform the individual required skill sets, knowledge and strategy. When you go for a Certified Skill Assessment, you play in one or two match games with player...