Really solid stuff here. The comments about this being more about 3.5 - 4.0 are ridiculous. It's not that 5.0's hit wildly better shots than 4.0's do. It's that they do it with way more intentionality. Almost every shot is hit with a goal or strategy or outcome in mind, rather than just hitting a nice looking shot. I've seen plenty of 3.5 - 4.0's who hit awesome shots. But in the whole of the game, they are playing checkers, and 5.0's are playing chess.
Appreciate it! PIckleball IQ is the biggest difference in higher ratings and that's what we're trying to teach at the end of the day. Thanks for the comment :)
Love these types of videos guys! Not only are you very thorough and explaining the whys but I also feel your videos aim to increase our game IQ which a lot of other channels don’t do so well, especially when someone is starting out and there’s so much to soak in 🙌🏼
Thank you for your material. Its very helpful. One Big QUESTION I have which I feel like is never addressed....is exact grip at the kitchen. If you come from Tennis like me; you change the grip for forehand volleys vs backhand volleys. Sometimes I feel like a continental grip is the way to go escpecally if I favor the backhand side and i'm able to block speed ups best on backhand sides. But the downside is the forehand speed up or heavy topspin volley is not going to work with that grip unless one cups the wrist quickly and aggressively but that will cause injuries. It looks like you and Shea have different grids at the net. PLEASE HELP @us
I like to combine serving/returning drill with 7/11. Server serves cross court, and then slides over and is now the deep player for 7/11 (same side as the receiver). The receiver returns it and practices moving forward into the net player for 7/11.
Good info for sure, but seriously, you are not 4.0 level if you aren't already doing or trying to do these things. 4.0/4.5 to 5.0 difference is the consistent execution and precision of these shots and strategies.
This video seems more like for 3.5s breaking into 4.0s? There's a lot of stuff in this video that's helpful to me, but I'm nowhere near the 4.0 level. I played my ever first tournament which was 3.5 and while the execution wasn't there, no one was going for little push, dead dinks. Everyone was attempting to put spin on the ball. Were the rallies usually < 15-20 shots? Yes. So consistency wasn't there. People's shot tolerance is also no there. I think there was a lot less mind games though. I had a lot of success as a left sided player when I accidentally popped the ball up high in the middle when getting dragged wide and immediately expecting the speed up to go through the gap in the middle with a forehand counter.
First! One other thing is that 5.0s will often aim for the STRIPEs on the side of the court when doing a drive. Often times shot placement is more important than just the pure speed of the ball on the 3rd shot.
No pro is slicing a return of serve any more. It's all top spin. The reason is the opponent can really shape (dropping) their third shot drop/drive/drip right over the net.
Agreed. I'm not sure where the "spin continuation" comes from in pb. In both tennis and tt you counter topspin with topspin and slice with slice. At high levels of play in both sports "spin continuation" just leads to a more unpredictable shot. In tennis the main reason to counter a high loop for and with slice is if you can't brush up on it (usually if it's high to your backhand) so you're forced to hit a slice. I love it when tennis players return my topspin serve with slice. Means I can hit my 3rd drive as hard as I want cuz it'll go in. This is why the pros topspin return everything now....
This is true, pros tend to hit topspin returns now rather than backspin returns. But it’s literally a direct result of spin continuation. A backspin return gives an opportunity for heavy topspin on the third, which they don’t want to deal with. But it’s a fact that hitting topspin returns off of topspin serves will produce significantly less spin than hitting backspin returns off of topspin serves. This is where spin continuation comes from.
I agree as well. I find that receiving top spin, you can certainly return with top spin as well. If someone does slice return, I find that you can simply hit the ball without trying to impart any spin and you'll still get top spin off the paddleface. My experience has taught me that if I try to top spin a slice, the shot becomes much more unpredictable and I am much more likely to mishit the ball. There's still a lot of room for slice dinks, but I don't think it's generally a great idea to return slice just because your opponent is putting top spin on their serve. Just my 2cents (not nearly a 5.0 for that matter).
Guys this is really good stuff. I think I'm at about a 4 level. These are really good examples. I need to work on 3rd shot drive. I can drop fairly consistently but I get in trouble with my drives at times. I do vary my serves and my goal with the returns is to loft it up deep near the baseline while I'm heading toward the kitchen.
Aloha! Great teaching video. I have been a member of three different clubs in Washington, Hawaii, and now Oregon. What constitutes a 4.0 in one area may be considered a 3.5 in another. Naturally, tournament play will vet out the correct skill level. At the new club I'm now in, I am not at all in agreement with how they rate players. For example, when people are being tested for 3.5, all they have to be able to do is a third shot drop, come in after the return of serve, and not bang every ball. The 4.0 test is not much different. Your examples show that there are many more factors/skills at play when being rated. For example, do you run right up to the net when your partner serves? Or do you "leak" onto the court when you partner serves? And more. I am going to suggest to our coach that he watch your excellent video. Better players will be created with your suggestions and insights.< Thanks again!
Almost all of these examples are closer to describing 3.5s than 4.0s. I'd type them all out but it'd be a waste. But 4.0s don't do the large majority of the bad things mentioned, 3.5s do
I think it’s quite difficult to prove that something is a 3.5 tendency rather than a 4.0 tendency. The line between is blurry. There is a much clearer distinction between 4.0 vs 5.0.
@@Jason-zt1rjI assume the point he tried to make isn't that knowing & applying these tips is typical of 3.5 play but that not knowing or at least not regularly applying the tips is typical of 3.5 play. A lot of people in the 4.0 to 4.5 range have had a lot of coaching and they know what they should be doing, it's just the execution and/or athleticism is still lacking. But that said it's also true than many young, athletic 4.0s are pretty oblivious and are getting by on hand-eye coordination, reflexes, foot speed, instinct, and one or two big weapons but could do so much better if they were tactically sound. So, both the comment and the video are imo realistic.
See that’s the thing. The decision making might seem like common sense watching it now, but the reason people aren’t 5.0’s is because the decision making in game is much harder. Common sense isn’t there yet
@@chrishough5834 well that too. I’m just saying that in game a lot of people don’t have the common sense to understand good decision making in game. Hell I’m right at 4.0. Whenever I play a 4.5, 5.0 player it’s usually the same thing. It’s not that i can’t hit the same shots as them… it’s the consistency in which I make good decisions/take advantage of an opponent mistake in positioning
@@jmeib Not to be argumentative but that's stupid. What constitutes unchivalrous? Anything that makes you move? A good shot is whatever works in the situation.
@@drkjhnsn I just mean it's a silly shot that people use when they know they can't out dink you or beat you in a hands battle. Especially when most of the time they're lobbing at you so when you look up you're looking into the sun. At least for the rec players we play with that's what they do.
@@jmeib still disagree. It's only effective in certain circumstances but it's a legit shot to have. You only limit yourself by thinking it's somehow unsportsmanlike. Having to look up.onto the sun for a lob is frustrating but smart use of the environment. Do the same to them when you switch side. Do you not target your ops weaknesses? That's could be considered unsportsmanlike.
Really solid stuff here. The comments about this being more about 3.5 - 4.0 are ridiculous. It's not that 5.0's hit wildly better shots than 4.0's do. It's that they do it with way more intentionality. Almost every shot is hit with a goal or strategy or outcome in mind, rather than just hitting a nice looking shot. I've seen plenty of 3.5 - 4.0's who hit awesome shots. But in the whole of the game, they are playing checkers, and 5.0's are playing chess.
Appreciate it! PIckleball IQ is the biggest difference in higher ratings and that's what we're trying to teach at the end of the day. Thanks for the comment :)
Love these types of videos guys! Not only are you very thorough and explaining the whys but I also feel your videos aim to increase our game IQ which a lot of other channels don’t do so well, especially when someone is starting out and there’s so much to soak in 🙌🏼
So glad it helped!
Thank you for your material. Its very helpful. One Big QUESTION I have which I feel like is never addressed....is exact grip at the kitchen. If you come from Tennis like me; you change the grip for forehand volleys vs backhand volleys. Sometimes I feel like a continental grip is the way to go escpecally if I favor the backhand side and i'm able to block speed ups best on backhand sides. But the downside is the forehand speed up or heavy topspin volley is not going to work with that grip unless one cups the wrist quickly and aggressively but that will cause injuries. It looks like you and Shea have different grids at the net. PLEASE HELP @us
Excellent Shea! Doing most of this but probably not as intentional or often as I should. Love the reasoning and demos!
Thanks
I like to combine serving/returning drill with 7/11. Server serves cross court, and then slides over and is now the deep player for 7/11 (same side as the receiver). The receiver returns it and practices moving forward into the net player for 7/11.
Slice converts into top spin after the ball hits the ground - so the ball is flat (rarely) or has top spin
Excellent presentation and review of the fundamentals, just what I need to review. My DUPR is 4.33 and hopefully climbing when I apply your lessons.
Wondering if this video is the difference between people who think they are 4.0s and actually 4.0s....
Good info for sure, but seriously, you are not 4.0 level if you aren't already doing or trying to do these things. 4.0/4.5 to 5.0 difference is the consistent execution and precision of these shots and strategies.
This video seems more like for 3.5s breaking into 4.0s? There's a lot of stuff in this video that's helpful to me, but I'm nowhere near the 4.0 level. I played my ever first tournament which was 3.5 and while the execution wasn't there, no one was going for little push, dead dinks. Everyone was attempting to put spin on the ball. Were the rallies usually < 15-20 shots? Yes. So consistency wasn't there. People's shot tolerance is also no there. I think there was a lot less mind games though. I had a lot of success as a left sided player when I accidentally popped the ball up high in the middle when getting dragged wide and immediately expecting the speed up to go through the gap in the middle with a forehand counter.
I’m not sure about that. But this is some great information. The physics of spin and paddle angles is really useful. I like these guys.
4.0 definitely move people around on dinks and target weaknesses
First! One other thing is that 5.0s will often aim for the STRIPEs on the side of the court when doing a drive. Often times shot placement is more important than just the pure speed of the ball on the 3rd shot.
I see whatcha did there
No pro is slicing a return of serve any more. It's all top spin. The reason is the opponent can really shape (dropping) their third shot drop/drive/drip right over the net.
Agreed. I'm not sure where the "spin continuation" comes from in pb. In both tennis and tt you counter topspin with topspin and slice with slice. At high levels of play in both sports "spin continuation" just leads to a more unpredictable shot. In tennis the main reason to counter a high loop for and with slice is if you can't brush up on it (usually if it's high to your backhand) so you're forced to hit a slice. I love it when tennis players return my topspin serve with slice. Means I can hit my 3rd drive as hard as I want cuz it'll go in. This is why the pros topspin return everything now....
This is true, pros tend to hit topspin returns now rather than backspin returns. But it’s literally a direct result of spin continuation. A backspin return gives an opportunity for heavy topspin on the third, which they don’t want to deal with.
But it’s a fact that hitting topspin returns off of topspin serves will produce significantly less spin than hitting backspin returns off of topspin serves.
This is where spin continuation comes from.
I agree as well. I find that receiving top spin, you can certainly return with top spin as well. If someone does slice return, I find that you can simply hit the ball without trying to impart any spin and you'll still get top spin off the paddleface. My experience has taught me that if I try to top spin a slice, the shot becomes much more unpredictable and I am much more likely to mishit the ball.
There's still a lot of room for slice dinks, but I don't think it's generally a great idea to return slice just because your opponent is putting top spin on their serve. Just my 2cents (not nearly a 5.0 for that matter).
look at tyson
Guys this is really good stuff. I think I'm at about a 4 level. These are really good examples. I need to work on 3rd shot drive. I can drop fairly consistently but I get in trouble with my drives at times. I do vary my serves and my goal with the returns is to loft it up deep near the baseline while I'm heading toward the kitchen.
Awesome! With a little work you'll get there!
That's a lot of excellent content. Great job! Subscribed.
Great video. Just what i was looking for.
Solid video. Thank you!
5.0s also play in sandals
😂 I accidentally forgot my shoes when we were filming the last part 🤦🏻
Aloha! Great teaching video. I have been a member of three different clubs in Washington, Hawaii, and now Oregon. What constitutes a 4.0 in one area may be considered a 3.5 in another. Naturally, tournament play will vet out the correct skill level. At the new club I'm now in, I am not at all in agreement with how they rate players. For example, when people are being tested for 3.5, all they have to be able to do is a third shot drop, come in after the return of serve, and not bang every ball. The 4.0 test is not much different. Your examples show that there are many more factors/skills at play when being rated. For example, do you run right up to the net when your partner serves? Or do you "leak" onto the court when you partner serves? And more. I am going to suggest to our coach that he watch your excellent video. Better players will be created with your suggestions and insights.< Thanks again!
OMG the reaction hands is a jokes. 😂 Just hit the ball harder in hands battles 😂
What’s your led setup for the luxx?
I don’t use any on it. It could probably benefit from some on the sides because it has a little bit of twist to it.
Get wrecked Shea! 🤣
Can u amplify on your statement that one should ‘split step sideways’ instead of doing a ‘split step forward’?
This is a superb vid 🫡 thanks for sharing 🔥🤩
#6 drill with the Slam Master Pro practice training drill paddle.
Nice try diddy
Almost all of these examples are closer to describing 3.5s than 4.0s. I'd type them all out but it'd be a waste. But 4.0s don't do the large majority of the bad things mentioned, 3.5s do
I think it’s quite difficult to prove that something is a 3.5 tendency rather than a 4.0 tendency. The line between is blurry.
There is a much clearer distinction between 4.0 vs 5.0.
Completely disagree here. 3.5's don't do any of this stuff. They just hit the ball back and forth over the net at each other.
@@Jason-zt1rjI assume the point he tried to make isn't that knowing & applying these tips is typical of 3.5 play but that not knowing or at least not regularly applying the tips is typical of 3.5 play. A lot of people in the 4.0 to 4.5 range have had a lot of coaching and they know what they should be doing, it's just the execution and/or athleticism is still lacking. But that said it's also true than many young, athletic 4.0s are pretty oblivious and are getting by on hand-eye coordination, reflexes, foot speed, instinct, and one or two big weapons but could do so much better if they were tactically sound. So, both the comment and the video are imo realistic.
That’s looks like a golf course in background, where is that?
Gower Estates Park?
If I didn't already know these things I shudder to think how much worse than 4.0 I'd be playing lol
Berapa harga pecelnya
12:37
Great vid but, Why does Shea look like the little kid brother?
Caleb is unnaturally tall, leave me alone 😂
Soooo, just be decent, have common sense, and you'll be a 5.0, lol!
That’s a good place to start!
See that’s the thing. The decision making might seem like common sense watching it now, but the reason people aren’t 5.0’s is because the decision making in game is much harder. Common sense isn’t there yet
@joshc.6706 contain the middle
@@chrishough5834 well that too. I’m just saying that in game a lot of people don’t have the common sense to understand good decision making in game. Hell I’m right at 4.0. Whenever I play a 4.5, 5.0 player it’s usually the same thing. It’s not that i can’t hit the same shots as them… it’s the consistency in which I make good decisions/take advantage of an opponent mistake in positioning
Brother - it is not called slice, or underspin, it's called backspin. Tennis always comes first. Great video!
lobs are gaey
Not if used in the right circumstance but players afraid to drive or drop will panic and just start throwing up lobs.
@@drkjhnsn I guess, but still it is a less chivalrous shot choice
@@jmeib Not to be argumentative but that's stupid. What constitutes unchivalrous? Anything that makes you move? A good shot is whatever works in the situation.
@@drkjhnsn I just mean it's a silly shot that people use when they know they can't out dink you or beat you in a hands battle. Especially when most of the time they're lobbing at you so when you look up you're looking into the sun. At least for the rec players we play with that's what they do.
@@jmeib still disagree. It's only effective in certain circumstances but it's a legit shot to have. You only limit yourself by thinking it's somehow unsportsmanlike. Having to look up.onto the sun for a lob is frustrating but smart use of the environment. Do the same to them when you switch side. Do you not target your ops weaknesses? That's could be considered unsportsmanlike.
TIL I'm a 5.0