What’s not to love about tennis? The grind, the footwork, that satisfaction you get when you strike the ball perfectly.
If you were to ask your body, though, it might tell you something different. Your knees ache, your shoulders feel tight, and no matter how competitive you are, it sounds like a trip to physio is more likely for you right now than another 3-hour baseline war.
This is completely normal, and it happens to everyone.
The thing is, you want to stay sharp and keep your reflexes quick during this time, so you try to find ways to do that. And pickleball is one of them.
Yep. Pickleball. You know, the plastic ball, the funny name.
That pickleball. It’s a smaller court, and the rallies are faster at the net. The rhythm forces you to think differently, so even though it won’t replace your tennis training, it can make you a better tennis player if you know when to give it a go.
Signs the Time Is Right to Add Pickleball
So how do you know when the time is right to pick up the paddle?
During a Technical Plateau
Does it ever feel like you’re stuck in the same rhythm?
Baseline, crosscourt, baseline, crosscourt. Your groundstrokes are solid, no argument there. But what about the net? Well, this tends to feel a bit like foreign territory. If this is what you experience, you should know that it has a name. This is what’s called a technical plateau, and it’s exactly what pickleball can help you with.
The court is smaller, so the ball comes at you fast and close, meaning there’s no time to take a big swing. You react, you block, you drink.
You learn to make your hands softer, and that’s what makes your tennis volleys feel easier.
In the Off-Season Or Between Tournaments
Nobody can be full throttle all year except maybe the Terminator.
But that doesn’t mean that off-season is for lounging on the couch; you still need to stay in shape. Pickleball can help you here, too. There’s no 3-set grind, and you don’t have to sprint corner to corner.
Minor Overuse Fatigue
Are you suffering from a cranky elbow? Are your hips a bit stiff? What’s really going on here is that you aren’t exactly what you’d refer to as ‘hurt’, but also, you don’t exactly feel like you’re at 100%.
That’s what overuse fatigue does, and it’s a sign to back off. Not shut down, mind you, just take it easier for a little while.
Once again, pickleball is the answer here. Your steps are controlled, and the rallies are easier. And at the same time, you’re still moving enough to stay loose.
A win-win.
To Improve Doubles Awareness
Good doubles is mostly instinct, but if you grew up playing singles, it’ll take some time to build that instinct. Pickleball speeds things up. It’s all about position and timing at the net, especially around that non-volley line. And as you play more and more – especially if you’re playing the same players – you’ll start to learn to read the other team’s movements (and gaps) before they open. Sort of a (pickleball) sixth sense.
If you want to take your game to the next level, it’s also not bad to browse websites like Pickleball Nation, where you can find tons of useful tips and tricks.
And even if, at one point, you start feeling confident enough that you’re good to go, you can also find all sorts of pickleball items.
Fitting Pickleball into Your Tennis Training Week
Pickleball was never designed to compete with tennis. While they share similarities, they’re both completely different spots. That would be a bit like saying 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 the burnout.
If you’re in the middle of the season, one session a week is perfectly fine.
60-90 minutes of controlled doubles or reaction drills will keep your hands sharp without loading up your legs. You could say this is a kind of maintenance, where you’re not really trying to be a better pickleball player; you’re only borrowing what it gives you.
During the off-season or lighter months, fit in 2 sessions.
Make one all about dinking crosscourt and resetting from tough positions, and the other should be more competitive. Don’t let it replace your tennis reps, though!
The intensity should ALWAYS stay moderate, regardless of what you’re doing.
Pickleball is supposed to feel easier, so you’ll miss the point if you’re killing yourself every time you play. Sweating through your shirt should happen on the tennis court. And one more thing – don’t schedule a slugfest match the night before a big tournament.
That’s a bad idea, and your legs will be sure to remind you of it.
Conclusion
Pickleball isn’t here to save your tennis game because you don’t need that. You got this far without it, right?
But maybe you’re just… Stuck. Your body might need a break, or you simply want to win more points without selling your soul to a doubles clinic. Now, THAT is where a plastic ball and a funny-looking paddle do wonders. Use it when you need a reset or when the calendar is looking a bit emptier than usual.
Then walk away and get back to work.
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From https://worldtennismagazine.com/what-tennis-coaches-can-do-to-reduce-overuse-injuries-in-juniors/27140
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