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7 Techniques To Win At The Net In Doubles
Pickleball Tested My Marriage, The Full PB Super Bowl Ad, PB on the U.S. Quarter?, Finding Motivation in a Slump, PB Equipment Research Lab, & More
FIT PICKLER
February 06, 2025
Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages
What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:
7 Techniques To Win At The Net In Doubles
Fitness Expert Brianna Dawson: Release Back Pain with 2 Breathing Techniques
Playing Pickleball Tested My Marriage
Announcements: GAMECHANGEHER Pickleball Event
How To Find Motivation When Pickleball Feels Like A Grind
Pickleball Could Be Featured On U.S. Quarters
Humor: The Full Pickleball Super Bowl Ad And It’s Hysterical!
The Psychology Of Pickleball
Major League Pickleball Looks To Add Teams, Reach Profitability This Year
Can The Picklr Crack the Pickleball Club Code in Canada
India's First-Ever Pickleball Equipment Research Lab
Rally Rundown: Local Highlights
Coach Mary: The Backhand Flick
🥷SKILLS
7 Techniques to Win at the Net In Doubles
It Takes Two To Tango
In pickleball doubles, the team that controls the net often controls the match. Strong net play allows you to apply pressure, dictate the pace, and force your opponents into errors. However, even skilled players can leave gaps at the net, giving opponents easy opportunities to exploit weaknesses.
Winning at the net requires more than quick hands—it’s about smart positioning, seamless teamwork, and precise execution. This article will break down seven key techniques to erase gaps, improve court coverage, and dominate at the kitchen line.
Plus, we’ll explore the mental game, adaptability, and common mistakes that can make or break your net play.
Close the Middle with Proper Positioning
One of the biggest vulnerabilities in doubles is the middle gap—that space between partners where easy shots sneak through. Teams that don’t shift effectively leave themselves open to well-placed drives, dinks, and putaways.How to Close the Gap:
• Move as a unit: Imagine an invisible tether between you and your partner. If one player shifts left, the other moves accordingly.
• Use a staggered stance: One player slightly behind the other creates better coverage, especially when anticipating lobs or counterattacks.
• Watch for pattern shifts: If your opponent frequently targets the middle, adjust your positioning to narrow the gap.
🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA
Release Back Pain with
2 Breathing Techniques
🫶RELATIONSHIPS
Playing Pickleball Tested My Marriage
Till Death Do Us Pickle!
Pickleball isn’t just testing your skills—it might be testing your marriage, too. Many couples find that what starts as a fun doubles match quickly turns into frustration, finger-pointing, and heated post-game discussions.
But what if the key to playing well together isn’t strategy or skill, but emotional intelligence?
Discover how improving your “Pickleball EQ” can strengthen both your game and your relationship here.
📜 ANNOUNCEMENT
Spots Still Available! SAVE $100
When You Use Code RPPA100
Gamechangeher Events is dedicated to empowering and teaching women through the dynamic sport of pickleball. Their mission is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where women can learn, grow, and excel in their pickleball skills.
9 hours of instruction with max of 4 players per court. Two groups: 3.0-3.4 and 3.5+
Learn more here…
🧠 MENTAL HEALTH
How to Find Motivation When Pickleball
Feels Like A Grind
Getting Past The Grind
Even the most passionate pickleball players hit a slump. Whether it’s burnout, frustration with progress, or the pressure to keep winning, the game can start to feel like a grind. But before you hang up your paddle, there are simple ways to reignite your love for pickleball, reset your mindset, and find the fun again.
Discover how to break out of a pickleball rut and get back to enjoying the game, Click here…
🪙 MONEY NEWS
Pickleball Could Be Featured
on U.S. Quarters
Quarter For Your Thoughts
Pickleball’s rise to mainstream fame just hit a new milestone—it could soon be featured on U.S. currency. As part of a new 'Youth Sports' quarter series launching in 2027, the sport is in the running to be immortalized in American money. With its explosive growth and passionate community, could pickleball secure a spot alongside other iconic sports?
Find out how pickleball could make history on U.S. currency, click here…
🤣HUMOR
The New Pickleball Super Bowl
Ad In Full
🧠 MENTAL HEALTH
The Psychology Of Pickleball
Dink Along If You Know What Happiness Is To You!
Pickleball isn’t just shaping your fitness—it might be shaping your relationships, too. The way couples navigate the court, handle mistakes, and communicate during a match mirrors the dynamics of a healthy (or struggling) relationship.
Could your doubles game be revealing more than you think about your partnership?
See what psychology says about the link between pickleball and relationship success, click here…
🏓 PRO NEWS
MLB Looks To Add Teams &
Reach Profitability This Year
More Teams, More Money
Major League Pickleball is on the verge of profitability and ready to expand. With new franchise opportunities on the table and investor interest surging, the league is positioning itself as the next big thing in pro sports. But can it sustain this rapid growth, or will financial challenges slow its momentum?
Find out how MLP’s expansion could reshape the future of professional pickleball here…
💼 BUSINESS NEWS
Can The Picklr Crack the Club
Code In Canada?
From Sea to Sea!
As demand for pickleball courts soars across Canada, one U.S.-based franchise sees a golden opportunity—but breaking into the market won’t be easy. With space at a premium and zoning hurdles to navigate, The Picklr is betting big on expanding north of the border. Will the franchise model thrive in Canada, or will the challenges prove too steep?
Find out how pickleball's commercial future is shaping up in Canada, click here…
🇮🇳 GLOBAL NEWS
India’s First Ever Pickleball
Equipment Research Lab
Finding The Sweet Spot
India is making a bold move to shape the future of pickleball with the launch of its first-ever equipment research lab. This cutting-edge facility will set new standards for paddle and ball quality, ensuring Indian players compete at the highest level—without relying on foreign certifications. With this milestone, India is positioning itself as a global leader in the sport.
See how this new lab could impact the future of pickleball in India and beyond, click here…
🧭 COMMUNITY NEWS
RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS
SAN LOUIS OBISPO, CA: Longtime SLO Resident Celebrates 90th Birthday At The Pickleball Court
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Game Day: Pickleball Will Take Center Stage During NBA All-Star Weekend (video)
SANDY, UT: Pickleball Heroes: Sandy City Honors Bystanders Who Saved Man's Life (video)
LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL: 2nd Annual Casey Cares Serve Up Smiles Pickleball Tournament (video)
ASHWAUBENON, WI: New Pickleball Location Opens With The Help Of Former Packers Player
WICHITA FALLS, TX: 50+ Players Needed In Pickleball Tournament To Combat Trafficking
FARGO, ND: "Paddle For Life" Pickleball Tournament Raises Money For Organ Donation (video)
DO YOU HAVE LOCAL NEWS TO SHARE? REACH OUT TO US AT
[email protected] and send us a link to your story!
HOLDING COURT with
COACH MARY
💪 The Backhand Flick &
How It Differs from the
Backhand Roll
THE BACKHAND FLICK and HOW IT DIFFERS FROM A BACKHAND ROLL
Net play is one of the skills that my students say they do not feel comfortable with in game play. Sure, if the return from your opponent is high and slow and attackable, no problem. But what if the return is low and possibly hard?
Forehand seems to be easier. Drop your paddle down to 6 o’clock (pointed towards the ground). Brush up over the ball out in front of you to attack from below the net. Quick hint: if the balls goes low, your paddle must go low below the ball.
Now, how about the backhand? Watch the attached videos on the backhand flick and the backhand roll. This is a ball that is chest high or lower, with the backhand roll being low. Hint: If the ball is lower, your paddle must move to a lower contact position.
I have attached quite a few videos, because they are all short, and they are good!
· Jordan explains that the flick is not a roll with topspin. This is a power shot, with your forearm extended, popping your wrist out. Incorporating your shoulders with a punching motion. This is power rather than placement.
· Zane is hilarious with the dogs. He shows the difference between a roll and a flick. He demonstrates a great drill, where he imitates a ping pong serve, contacting and bouncing the ball on his side of the net, before it bounces on the other side. Be sure to watch this several times! Watch his paddle position!
· The Nicholas Wade video is excellent. He demonstrates the execution on the flick and roll off a feed – CLICK HERE TO WATCH
· The Mari Humberg video is short and sweet, and the camera angle behind her really shows how to use your hips, shoulders to create power on the backhand side!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH
· The Tanner video shows him executing the flick out in front, being prepared after a dink with his paddle in front, ready to attack. CLICK HERE TO WATCH
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