SO, you want
MEMBER FEATURE
to be a BANGER? Kelly Marshall is a USPTA Texas Division Vice President with over 30 years of coaching experience. She is currently the Director of Racket Sports at the Onion Creek Club in Austin, Texas. Kelly is also the USPTA Pickleball Coach Developer for Texas.
T
"I think of it like a hammer – a lightweight hammer is easy to swing, but I end up doing most of the work. While a heavier hammer may be harder to move, it does a lot of the driving and absorbing the blunt force of hitting."
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ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE
he explosive growth of pickleball is changing game. Professional tennis players are looking at pro pickleball to extend their racquet careers. Collegiate athletes, football players, and even NBA players are picking up paddles and loving it. The uptick of elite athletes is elevating the speed and ability of play, and everyone is watching. I am seeing more players attempting to “bang” the ball over the net in an effort to overpower their opponents… and it is not good. The first thing to remember is that the hard drive wins only 30% of the time! If you still just cannot help yourself then it is time to learn when and how to pull off the big bang.
When to hit big
• Hit big when your opponents are still deep in the court. Otherwise, you set them up for an easy block volley. The ball must be deep with pace – keeping your opponent as deep in the court as possible allows you to control the point! • Hit big only when your opponent MAY 2023