Jilly B Says Five Common Pickleball Rules Need Retiring
- Pro coach Jilly B names five pieces of common pickleball advice she says players should stop following, according to The Dink.
- Her replacements: judge a ball by its pace, target the middle, and move your lower body before your paddle.
- The Dink closes its report by urging players to practice one change at a time until it becomes habit.
Five Pieces Of Pickleball Advice Jilly B Wants You To Drop
Pro coach Jilly B says five common pieces of pickleball advice no longer hold up. Alex E. Weaver laid out her list in The Dink on October 19, drawing on her video.
Here are the five pieces of advice she wants players to leave behind, and what she suggests in their place.
Attack Only Green Balls
The first rule says to attack only green balls, meaning balls above net height. Jilly B says players should judge a ball by its pace instead of its height. Modern paddles let you attack a dead ball, one with no pace or dip, when your body can move forward into it.
Hit It High, You Die
The second rule says that a high hit means a lost point. Jilly B tells players to step back, get the paddle up, and keep the body moving forward to counter. She points out that most recreational players hit hard and straight, and that makes counters manageable if you are ready for them.
Dink Crosscourt When You Are In Trouble
The third rule sends every shaky dink to the crosscourt corner. Jilly B argues that the middle is the lowest part of the net and the part opponents protect least. When you are under pressure, she says to go to the middle or just off the middle.
She adds a second step. After any crosscourt dink, close the middle on your side of the court.
Track The Ball With Your Paddle
The fourth rule tells players to follow the ball with the paddle. Jilly B advises moving the lower body first and keeping the paddle centered in front of your body, in what she calls the cone of power.
Aim For The Lines On Putaways
The fifth rule says to aim for the lines when you finish a point. Jilly B says overhitting wide causes many unforced errors, and she names the middle as the better target. Corners still have a job in her plan. Use them to open the middle.
The Middle Shows Up Twice
Two of the five items point the same way. The third rule and the fifth both send players to the middle of the court. Jilly B points to it as the target under pressure and the target on putaways, with the corners used to open it.
Make One Change At A Time
The Dink closes the report with a note on how to use the list. Pick one change and practice it until it becomes habit.
Image: Depositphotos
