Reactions slow with age. The ball comes back quickly in pickleball so if you can anticipate it you will be better prepared and anything that you can do to get a little jump on the ball will help you react more quickly.

Odds are, you get what you hit.

It’s similar to a pool table. If you hit a hard, fast shot, you will get a hard fast shot back. Hit a soft shot, you will probably get a soft
return.

Hit at an angle cross court, anticipate a return in the opposite angle. A high lob often brings on a high lob return. It takes a skilled player to change pace and direction on shots, so play the odds and anticipate a mirror image return.

Bev writes a weekly email blast for our pickleball club. She delivers the rules with clarity and a sense of humor. If you have a rules question post it in the comments below.