taken from https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/category/improve-your-game
posted in Bringing people closer together, Improve Your Game by Glen Peterson

​Many of us grew up hearing, “Sports build character.” However, studies have concluded the opposite is true. Winning satisfies like a good steak. Character satisfies like Don Paschal’s kale salad. Like my dear friend Vegen says: “Sport doesn’t build character; it reveals character.”
I learn more about a person in one hour on the court than in enjoying a dozen meals together. I also learn about myself.
Winning’s not everything, but… it sure is fun! (Credit: Petr and Bara Ruzicka)
Why does winning still matter to me at 55-years-old? What longing is fulfilled through another medal or through winning a game at any level? Does 5.0 status make me a better person?  I certainly hope not. Some days I wish I was back at 4.5 level competing for golds with my good friend Ken Crocker.
I am still discovering that a good reputation is more valuable than a drawer full of medals. Don Paschal’s kale salad does satisfy. Consider three tips for gaining pickleball perspective on court.
Concentrate on making good shots and a good game will follow (Credit: Chad Ryan)
1. Compete by making great shots. After all, that is all I control. Be satisfied by playing well and losing.  Congratulate opponents when they make better shots. Losing implies I had the opportunity to be on the court with better players.
2. Be the most complementary of partners. Pickleball is a social activity which begs for laughter and smiles. Fun banter and big smiles compensate for many poor shots.
We can all stand to be gracious in both victory and defeat (Credit: Chad Ryan)
3. I love to be around people who can pursue a goal with great intensity and discipline but are content regardless of the outcome. Perhaps there are moments where I can be that person on a pickleball court.
In life as in sports, I have benefited more from my losses than my wins. I think I will make a kale salad for lunch.
Delicious kale salad (Credit: Brandom Dimcheff)
What tips might you have on how to gain pickleball perspective?
– Glen Peterson

tekn from https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/category/improve-your-game/​
 posted in Improve Your Game by Glen Peterson
I encourage players of all levels to play high percentage pickleball. Aggressive, low percentage shots may be fun for some, but other players will get frustrated at the resulting losses.
Pickleball loves consistency, and more points are lost than won. Many more.
High percentage pickleball is frequently described as hitting the right shot in a particular situation time after time. This is partly true, but not entirely. Many players do hit the same shot in a particular situation consistently, but as their opponent, I’m completely relaxed because I know exactly what to expect.
They are predictable. They are safe. And while safe pickleball wins at many levels and is quite fun, the element of surprise is essential at higher levels. Incorporate a hint of danger into your game.
Be unpredictaball.
Go for difficult shots and be consistent yet flexible (Credit: Chad Ryan)

Yeah, silly word. What do I mean by it?
In every situation there are several high percentage shot options. For me, high percentage means there is over an 80% chance my shot will be in. The 80% shot should be aimed to throw my opponents off more than the 95% shot.
Such a shot might involve hitting the ball near the sideline to throw your opponent off balance or driving a shot hard and low so it’s difficult to return. These shots nearly always occur at the kitchen line, but driving a third shot from the baseline is effective at times. High percentage play is not the same as predictable play.
This element of surprise generates anxiety and tension in opponents. We don’t want our opponents too comfortable or confident! Uncertain players make more errors. I love it when I know a player so well that I can guess the exact shot they’ll hit.
If I don’t know whether a well-placed dink, drive or lob is coming, I tighten up! Don Paschal was famous for this. He would take a backhand volley off his shoelaces at the kitchen and put it in my chest. Sometimes I couldn’t even see the ball till it crested the net.
Don’t use head fakes. They appear odd. Short back swings help you sell one shot and deliver another. Large back swings foretell hard shots. Decide even before your opponent hits the ball that, if the ball arrives where you expect, you’ll deliver a surprise shot.
Hitting balls through the center of the court can slow your opponents (Credit: Chad Ryan)

Stroke or volley the ball using the appropriate mechanics. Avoid wristy shots that are difficult to control. Moving soft kitchen shots from the sideline to the center creates confusion as to which of your opponents will take the ball. An occasional lob might force your opponents to be uncertain about whether to take a step back from the kitchen line.
Keep your opponents guessing where and how hard every ball will come. Bringing a bag of high percentage trick shots to the court might just win you a few points and a few laughs.

taken from https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/category/improve-your-game/
​posted in Getting Started in Pickleball, Improve Your Game by Laura

People often view pickleball as “tennis lite” due to the small court size, slower ball and manageable paddle sizes. While it’s true that pickleball is easier on the body compared to tennis and most other racquet sports, it’s dangerous to presume that you can’t get injured at all playing the game.
As with any sport, there are risks involved. Thankfully these problems can be minimized with proper precautions and self care. Here are a few ways to ensure you stay safe so you can continue playing pickleball for a long time:
Don’t rush for shotsYou know how volleyball players will throw themselves into dramatic dives to return the ball? Don’t do that!
Skinned knees, smacked elbows and possibly even broken bones are not worth saving a single point. While it’s understandable that you might be tempted to leap for a ball that’s just out of range, you don’t want to put off play for weeks on end because you pushed yourself too far.
Let the ball go instead of doing lasting damage to your body.

Don’t run backwards during lobsSimilar to the point above, too many players end up scuttling backwards when they see a high shot and end up tripping over themselves.
Take a moment to fully twist your hips to the side and let your feet point in the direction you’re moving. You can keep your eye on the ball, but if you feel yourself losing balance, take a moment to reacquaint yourself with your position on the court.
Avoid pickleball elbowIn many cases, prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to pickleball elbow. Choose a paddle that’s the right weight for you so you don’t strain your tendons, and don’t play so much that you put undue stress on your body.
Properly warming up, stretching, wearing braces and adding some weight lifting into your exercise routine can also help prep yourself for play.


Wear the right shoesWe recommend using a good tennis or volleyball shoe for pickleball depending on whether you’re playing outdoors or indoors.
Make sure you’re not wearing anything with slippery soles so you don’t lose your balance on the court, nor anything too “grippy” so that you don’t trip over yourself during faster movements.
Pay attention to your bodyIf you’re feeling tired, winded, dizzy or simply drained, give yourself a break! Pickleball games tend to be short and your partner and opponents will likely appreciate the rest period as well. Your health comes before play.
You may think it could never happen to you, but some players have experienced heart attacks after playing pickleball, and you should be wary of the warning signs. Pay attention for pressure in the chest, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and pain along the arms, back, neck and jaw.
Credit: Earl McGeehee
Communicate with other playersEspecially if you’re playing doubles, make sure you’re calling “mine” or “yours” and have an established method for determining who goes after what ball. Talking to your partner will help you avoid accidental collisions, which can be as minor as a smacked hand or as dramatic as running into each other during a lob.
Don’t be afraid to talk with your opponents, either. This can be particularly relevant if you’re playing against more aggressive players who use tagging (hitting the ball into the body) to score points. This is an accepted part of the game, but casual games don’t need to be held to the same standards as those in tournaments.
Pickleball is safer than many sports, but you should still be cautious and ensure proper care of your body. Are there any unfortunate situations you could have avoided with a bit more awareness?

taken from https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/2014/07/15/pickleball-a-great-cardio-workout/
posted in Health Benefits of Pickleball by Anna

It’s important at any age to keep your health in tip-top shape. Along with eating right, getting enough sleep and keeping your stress low, another important element of wellbeing is physical exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate activity per week or 75 minutes of intense activity per week (http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html)

A great way to keep your body healthy is to play everyone’s favorite sport- pickleball!

Pickleball is the perfect combination of cardio and hand-eye coordination training. It’s flexible to anyone’s fitness abilities and can be as leisurely or fast-paced as you desire.

Want an intensified cardio workout? Play a singles match! Although a pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court, you’ll still get a challenging workout as you run sideline to sideline. If you’re looking for a more mild form of exercise, grab three friends and play doubles. With a partner, you only have to cover half the court!

You can also choose the pace of the game by adapting the delivery of the ball. Instead of playing with the goal to beat your partner, try to see how many hits you can get in a row. This changes the focus of the game to a cooperative challenge.

Pickleball doesn’t only tone your muscles- it also sharpens your mind!

Thanks to the design of the ball, a plastic whiffle ball, it’s difficult to predict where the ball will go. Watching the ball  requires focused attention to the game, which in turn keeps the mind alert and stimulated. The Institute for the Study of Aging reports that, “Remaining socially engaged, continuing life-long learning, and engaging in activities… stimulate the brain, build cognitive reserve, and promote cognitive vitality” (ISOA, 2005, p. 12).

Pickleball may have a funny name, but its’ health benefits are nothing to laugh at. With the possibility of improving both your body and your mind, pickleball is a game that anyone can play for a lifetime of fun and health.

taken from: https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/category/health-benefits-of-pickleball/​
posted in Health Benefits of Pickleball by Miranda

It’s hard to enjoy a great game of pickleball while your stomach is grumbling. On the flip side, feeling too full makes you lethargic and the last thing you’ll want to do is chase after a ball! Nutrition is key when it comes to athletic performance.
Think of your body as a car. Cars require gas to get you from point A to point B efficiently and without any problems. Without gas, your vehicle would sputter out!
Your body is the same way. If you don’t feed your body adequately before exercising, you’ll either run out of stamina or struggle to muster up energy, period.
Follow these guidelines to have a stellar pickleball game from the first call of “zero, zero, two” all the way through the final rally.
Ideally, eat a high-carbohydrate snack 30 minutes to 1 hour before picking up your paddle. In a nutshell, carbs are your energy-boosting best friends.
They provide you with a steady stream of energy to get you through all your pickleball playing. By giving yourself some time between eating and playing, your body can work on digesting your snack. This way, it doesn’t have to split its energy between providing your muscles with energy to play and digesting your food!
Some awesome options would be a rice cake topped with a smidge of peanut butter and banana slices, a bowl of cereal, a fruit smoothie, a small bowl of oatmeal, or a small low-fat muffin.
If you’re in a time crunch and only have time to eat right before you play, eat something quick digesting. Your body needs energy pronto and doesn’t have the time to break down more complex carbohydrates. Eat something light made up of simple carbs to fire up your energy levels and get your through your game.
Think: a handful of dried fruit, a sports drink or a piece of white bread.
The most important, non-negotiable dietary requirement during exercise is water. Your body can actually sweat out over a quart of water during an hour or so of pickleball playing. Just about 2/3 of the muscle tissues in your body are actually water, so it’s vital that you drink up to keep your energy levels humming.
Here’s an awesome calculator from Camelback which determines how much water you need per day.
If your pickleball playing spans beyond an hour in duration, you may benefit from giving your body additional fuel from food. Don’t eat anything heavy that will sit in your stomach; again, keep it light and easy to digest. A banana is a great food that will give you an extra boost of energy as well as replenish your electrolyte levels.
Gauge your playing though and determine if your body really needs more food. Most people don’t need to refeed during an average game of pickleball unless you’re playing several intense games in a row, or if you’re playing for several hours. However, you know your body best so listen to it and do what works for you.
All that pickleball paddle swingin’ really can take a toll on your arm and shoulder muscles, while your legs worked hard to chase down those lobs. It’s important to nourish your muscles to prevent soreness or injury!
You need to replenish the carbs that you burned off during exercise so your energy levels don’t plummet. Try a piece of fruit paired with a handful of nuts, or a serving of Greek yogurt topped with low-fat granola and fruit.
While you may be tired after playing, don’t reach for quick fixes that are made of simple carbs. These were great for a fast boost of energy before your games, but they’ll just spike your blood sugar and cause a crash later on. Bring a small 8 oz bottle of chocolate milk with you to drink after playing in case you may be tempted to reach for a candy bar instead. Low-fat chocolate milk is an awesome combination of carbs, protein and chocolate flavor!
Of course, always drink water after exercising.
You don’t want an upset stomach to be distracting you from play. Avoid eating these foods to prevent any discomfort:

• Spicy foods
• High-fiber foods
• High-fat foods
• Alcohol
• Too much food, period

The rule of thumb is to not eat anything new before an important event to avoid any unpleasant responses from your body. Don’t try out a new granola bar right before your tournament or you may be focused on an upset stomach rather than your important game.
Following these nutrition tips is a good way to feel great, look awesome and rock your pickleball game!

One of the more intimidating concepts for the new pickleball player is the pressure of keeping score.  While games are generally played to 11 points (win by 2 points) there are nevertheless scoring nuances in pickleball.  Although pickleball scoring is pretty straight-forward in singles, it can be particularly confusing when playing doubles.
Score Only on the ServeThe first thing to understand about pickleball scoring is that points are scored only on the serve.  The receiving team cannot score.  This applies to both singles and doubles.  Obviously, while the serving team wants to win the rally to score points, the objective of the receiving team is to win the rally(s) and induce a “side-out” so they can serve and, ultimately, add to their score.
The Player on the Right Always Serves First to Start the GameTo negate the inherent advantage that the serving team has when serving first to start the game, only one player – the player on the right side of the court – gets to serve during the first service turn of the game.   After this initial service turn, each subsequent service turn is comprised of serves by both players on the serving team – beginning with the player on the right side of the court.


You Won a Point – Now Rotate with your Partner!If the serving team wins the rally (thereby, scoring a point) – the server rotates sides (from right-to-left or left-to-right) with his/her partner and serves to the receiver in the opposite court.  Each time a point is scored, the partners on the serving side alternate sides.  The receiving side never alternates sides.
What Happens When the Serving Team Loses a Rally?When a rally is lost when the first server is serving (with the exception of the first service turn of the game), the serve goes to the partner.  When a rally is lost when the second server is serving, the serve reverts to the other team.
Announcing the Score with 3 Numbers — Huh?Pickleball doubles scores – as opposed to singles scores – are always comprised of three numbers, called out in the following order:  (1) server’s score, (2) receiver’s score and (3) the server number (either 1 for the first server or 2 for the second server).  For example if the serving team has tallied 5 points, the receiving team 4 points and the second of the two servers is serving, the score would be announced as “5-4-2.”
The Player Number is Announced as “2” During the First Service Turn of the GameIt may be extraordinarily confusing at first, but it’s important to note that the player number is typically announced as “2” in the very first service turn of the game – even though he/she is the first server!  Remember, only one player – the player that started on the right side of the court – gets a service turn on the first service turn of the game.  Prior to the very first rally of the game – before any points have been played – the score would be announced as “0-0-2.”
For Those Prone to Forget (Like Me) – Use Colorful Wristbands!After playing a long point – or simply because of the age demographics associated with pickleball  – it can be easy to forget who is serving, to whom and to which court.  To minimize confusion it is generally effective to simply remember which player served first for each side – and have that person wear a colorful wristband.  If the rotation is executed correctly, a team’s score will always be even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10) when that player (the one with the colorful wristband) is on the right side of the court and odd (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) when that player is on the left side of the court.
Keeping score seems intimidating – but, luckily, after playing several times it will become second-nature.  See you on the courts!

http://www.pickleballmax.com/2015/06/pickleball-doubles-scoring-3-number-scores-side-outs-and-red-wristbands/

Synopsis: If You Start Out Serving, The Score Will Always Be Even When You Are on the Right Side of the Court
February 4, 2016 By Prem Carnot 
Ever heard your partner or opponent say, “The score must be even because you were over there before and now you’re over here…”?
You’re not the only one who’s heard such a proclamation and just moves obediently in the direction they’re pointing while wondering, “WHICH number is even? What does that even mean? And how they heck does that tell you anything anyway?”
If you’ve found yourself in that confusing situation, then this article is for you.
This article is NOT about the basic rules of pickleball scoring (click here for those). Instead, it will walk you through the logic and patterns that arise from the basic pickleball rules so that you can use them to figure out the score in those inevitable circumstances (which seem to be unique to pickleball) when no one on the court remembers what the score is.
In this article, you’ll learn:

• The one thing to check at the beginning of every game in order to make it MUCH easier to know what side of the court you should be—and even who should be serving. (HINT: If you don’t do this, there’s NO WAY you can figure out who should be serving from which side of the court.)

• How to figure out which side of the court you should be on, based on what the score is. (This is helpful when you’ve had a long, exciting rally where you and your partner have switched sides of the court and are having trouble remembering where you started.)

• How to tell whether it’s your team’s first or second serve, based on what position you are in.

Secret #1: Know Your Starting PositionsKnowing the score, or rather, figuring out the score, is made MUCH easier by knowing which side of the court* you and your partner each started the game on.
By “side of the court,” I mean, when you are FACING the net, whether you are on the right-hand side of the court (in tennis, “the deuce court”, where your partner is on your left), or whether you are on the left-hand side of the court (in tennis, “the ad court”), which means your partner’s on your right.
So here’s the secret: At the beginning of every game, make a point to note which player on each team is starting on the right side of the court.
Easy enough?  Great!  That’s why we started simpler.  Maybe you already do that, maybe not, but keep reading for the more advanced tips.
But before we get into Secrets #2 and #3, let me remind you about two pickleball rules that are particularly relevant to figuring out the score and whose turn to serve it is.
The Relevant RulesRelevant Rule #1
As you (hopefully) know, the rule in pickleball is that the player whoever is on the right side of the court serves FIRST at the beginning of the game (and each time your team receives the ball).
We’ll often say that you will “serve first” because you will serve your team’s first serve of the game, but thanks to Rule #2 listed below, this does NOT necessarily mean that you will ALWAYS be the first server each time your team gets the ball back.
Relevant Rule #2
Each time a team scores a point, the players switch sides of the court. i.e. the player on the left moves to the right side of the court and the player on the right moves to the left side of the court.
Secret #2: If You Start Out Serving, The Score Will Always Be Even When You Are on the Right Side of the CourtTogether, the two rules above mean that if you start out serving on the right, then every time your team’s score is EVEN, you’ll be on the RIGHT side of the court. (And, therefore, that every time your team’s score is ODD, you’ll be on the LEFT side of the court.)
(Since the “deuce” and “ad” tennis terms don’t directly apply to pickleball, it’s more common to call the right-hand side of the court the “even” side and the left hand the “odd” side. Again, this is because when we track the FIRST server, the score will always be EVEN when they are on the RIGHT (deuce) side of the court and ODD when they are on the LEFT (ad) side of the court.)
In practice, we’ll sometimes say, “You’re the EVEN server”. Also FYI, this is one of the few situations where it is socially acceptable to call your partner ODD.
Need a little example to understand exactly WHY this is true?
You’re not the only one.
Here ya go…
So: Let’s say your name is Chris and your partner’s name is Pat.
Let’s follow the tournament tradition, where we’ll mark you, the first server, with red to keep track of your position throughout the game. In a tournament, it would be a red bracelet but for our purposes we’ll show your paddle red.
Since you’re the first server, Relevant Rule #1 means that you’ll start the game on the RIGHT side of the court. Your partner Pat will start on the--Yes, you guessed it!—LEFT side of the court.
Okay, so, it’s the first serve of the game…
The score is 0-0-2 or, as some some groups say, 0-0-Start.
(Quick Sidebar: The USAPA has recently ruled that 0-0-Start is not valid for official matches. Although 0-0-2 can be confusing for beginners, if you consider the last number in the score as an indicator of whether it is your team’s FIRST (Score is 1) or LAST (Score is 2) chance to serve, it makes more sense that the beginning score is 0-0-2 because it’s your LAST chance to serve before the other team gets the ball. Okay, let’s be frank, it still doesn’t actually make sense but hopefully that gives you a better way to explain it to newbies.)
Now back to our first set of the game, when the score is 0-0-2.
If we can fudge and call “0” an EVEN number, our logic holds: You are on the RIGHT, and the score is EVEN.

​http://pickleballhelp.com/3-secrets-top-pickleball-players-know-figuring-score-side-youre-serving/

January 3, 2015 By Prem Carnot 9 Comments

Maybe you’ve learned the value of the dink, or you’re beginning to consider it at least…
If you’re like one woman who wrote to me this past month, maybe you have a group of people with whom you regularly play the dink game, and you’ve gotten pretty good at it…
But then you go to another venue, or you play at a different time, and you’re facing off against the “less enlightened” players who are still just smacking the heck out of every shot…
You know that you should be able to beat them (in theory at least) but every time you try to return one of their shots, the ball whizzes up and off your paddle, landing way out of bounds – or down in the net – or up and into their wheelhouse – and it ain’t pretty.
My Top 5 Strategies to Play Against BangersSo how DO you return those hard shots–let alone even take back control of the point and force them to play YOUR game?
Most of the tips and strategies I’ll offer in this post are covered in one place or another in my book, Smart Pickleball: The Pickleball Guru’s Guide, but in this post I’ll compile them all in one place for you and offer a little bit more perspective…
#1 – Keep Your Paddle UpYou have no chance of returning those fast balls if your paddle is below the net, or, worse, down by your knees.  Bring your paddle up (at least as high as your sternum) after EVERY shot you hit.
#2 – Learn to Anticipate the SlamWatch for when your opponent pulls their paddle way back behind them for the wind-up before the slam.  This is your cue that they are gonna hit the ball hard, which can give you those extra milliseconds to get yourself ready and in position.
#3 – Modify Your Ready PositionIn general, I am not an advocate for one ready position being the “right” way.  I always like to say that if you take 10 of the top players in the country, you’ll see a number of different ready positions based on their sporting background.  My stance is usually, “Do what works for you.”
But, when it comes to playing against slammers, one way does seem to work better for most people, so if what you’re doing DOESN’T seem to work for you, then try holding your paddle parallel to the net in the backhand position, aimed slightly downward.
(Remember, no matter what position you prefer in general, as soon as you see the person winding up to hit their shot, you can switch to this modified ready position.)
If you are holding your paddle perpendicular to the net, like the tennis ready position, when the ball comes, chances are you’re rotating your elbow out to hit a forehand but you’ll hit the ball while your paddle face is still pointing about 45 degrees from the net, which is what causes the ball to go out of bounds.
#4 – Loosen Your GripLoosen your grip on your paddle.  This is my first tip for how to absorb the momentum of the ball, but it is one that may seem counter-intuitive.  Often, the second you know you’re playing against a slammer your body tightens up, you white knuckle your paddle a little bit, and put yourself on guard.   But all THAT does is mess up your shot and give your opponent a rock-hard backboard to take aim at.  When you loosen your grip you are, firstly, reminding yourself to relax and loosen up in general.  Even more importantly, you can “aikido” or “judo” the shot (apologies to any black-belts reading this).  When the ball hits your paddle, the vibration and momentum will be deadened upon impact, so you can absorb most of the energy of your opponent’s shot, then use what’s left to direct the ball where you want it to go.
#5 – Retract Your Paddle Slightly at the Moment of ImpactBack when I used to play cricket (and I imagine it’s similar in baseball), we were always taught not to catch the ball out at arm’s length but to reach all the way out and then bring the ball in toward our body as we caught it.  This is the same principle.
It’s subtle, and maybe suited only for the more advanced players, but if you can manage to pull your paddle toward you an inch or two at the moment of impact, you’ll go a long way toward deadening the ball.

If you watch any of the videos from the national level tournaments, you’ll be able to see how many of the top players use these strategies when they play against slammers, and it’s what allows them to return every smash shot with a dink (when they want to, of course).
So please, post in the comments below what new insights this article has given you and keep me posted as to how it changes your game next time you go out to play against those slammers.

http://pickleballhelp.com/top-5-strategies-to-play-against-slammers/

I have watched a lot of movies in my time. I can honestly say that my favorite movie line is Clint Eastwood's "A man's got to know his limitations" from a Dirty Harry movie. Nothing could more accurately describe the first strategy recommendation from Noel Whites' pickleball study mentioned in my post on Pickleball Statistical Analysis. The first conclusion listed by Noel was:

70% of the time winning teams have less unforced errors (many times significantly less) than the losing teams.

What does this tell us? It says that the team with fewer unforced errors will win 7 out of 10 games on average. That means players should give up the hero aspiration that creates attempts to hit risky winners. Instead, players should make greater efforts to keep the ball in play while waiting for opponents to err.

Now, let's dive further into the analysis to see how it makes sense.


First, let's define "unforced error".  In Pickleball Terminology, I defined unforced error as "A player missing a shot that should normally be made". Noel's definition is similar: "any ball that is hit right to the individual and he/she has an easy opportunity to do anything they choose to in the return hit because they do not have to move much, lean, reach, etc. to hit the return AND the individual hits the ball into the net or hits it out". He also notes that unforced errors change with the level of play. In other words, "unforced errors at the 4.0+ level of play may be considered a forced error at a lower level of play".
The study also notes that "most players, maybe 85%, seem to have little idea how much real impact unforced errors have on who wins and who loses". I assume that is one reason why he undertook the study. That certainly is the reason I chose to include it here. From the study:

"The average total number of UE’s (unforced errors) per game is 16. That averages 4 UE’s per player but typically one or two players of the four has a high majority of the UE’s. Considering there are 180 hits per game (on the average) for games at the 4.0+ level, 16 UE’s translates to about 9% of the total hits in the game. 9% seems like no big deal but this 9% of hits ends up being a powerful determiner of winning and losing because…….the average number points earned per game that come from UE’s is 6. Given that most games usually have only 15 to 21 total points scored before one team wins means that anywhere from 28% to 40% of the actual points scored in a given game come off of Unforced Errors."


Noel surmises (and I agree) that lower level matches - at the 3.0 and 3.5 levels - would show an increasing percentage of points lost due to unforced errors. While he did not complete a full analysis of play at the lower levels, he did have statistics comparing the number of shots per game. In comparison to the 180 hits in 4.0+ games, the numbers declined to 140 hits and 128 hits at the 3.5 and 3.0 levels, respectively. Assuming that lower levels of play equate to more inconsistency, it seems reasonable to also assume that more unforced errors occur at these levels. Combine the increased number of unforced errors with the reduced number of total hits, the percentage of rallies ending with unforced error grows significantly. As Noel states, "you can easily speculate that Unforced Errors play an even bigger role in the winning and losing of games at the 3.0 and 3.5 levels".

Okay, that's a lot of numbers that probably cause many heads to spin. So, what is the bottom line of this analysis? I will make three recommendations:

1. Show more patience. Keep the ball in play more and let your opponent make the mistake that ends the rally.
2. Use the soft game more. Power has its place. It is perfectly acceptable to hit a ball hard when your opponent gives you the opportunity by making a mistake. But most of your game should be predicated on setting up that opponent error.
3. Practice, practice, and practice some more. The soft game is a game of touch and feel that takes time and work to perfect.  

Only practice and patience can lead to fewer unforced errors. Fewer unforced errors leads to more winning. That's not myth. It is statistics. ​

​http://applecountrypickleball.blogspot.com/2016/02/pickleball-statistical-analysis.html