THE AWESOME BENEFITS OF CUSTOM PICKLEBALL PADDLES

 Try Using Your Non-Dominant Hand and Arm 

Because I’m right-handed, I play pickleballs mostly right-handed. But I play left-handed on specific occasions when the ball comes to my left side, bounces ahead of me on the court, and comes down in a position where I'd have to come close to turning my back on (or sideways to) the court to return it across the net, something known as the backhand swing.

Backhand swings are problematic for me because I’m not a spring chicken anymore. So, instead of twisting myself into a pretzel, I quickly transfer the racket to my left hand (again, when there's enough time to do so) and hit it back left-handed. I must be ambidextrous to some degree, because this tactic works for me more times than it fails.

Other players have marveled at my dexterity, and some have tried it, but unless you're relatively adept working with both hands and arms, it won't feel right or work well for you right away. But it's worth a try to see if you can develop the move.

To be sure, my left hand and arm aren't as powerful or accurate as my right hand and arm, but they're not overtly sub-par, either. And the more I practice managing the paddles and ball left-handed, the better I get at it, and the stronger my left side becomes, so I keep at it.  (I am nothing if not persistent!)

ALWAYS Keep Your Eye on the Pickleball

I’m frequently amazed to find pickleball players gazing across the net while their partners serve, and at other times, too. From a very young age, I was always told (in every ball-centered sport), “Keep your eye on the ball!”

The ball is the total object of the game. Unless you know where it is at all times, you’re at a distinct disadvantage. By watching the ball every millisecond, you know exactly where it is, what it’s doing, and how to react when it comes back in your direction. In fact, your body will automatically respond to the trajectory of the ball because you’ve put yourself in “hunting mode” just by picking up your paddle and zeroing in on the “prey”—that pesky little perforated ball that keeps trying to get away from you! To perfect this skill, try thinking of yourself as a tiger or lion: that ball is your dinner, your pay-off, your ticket to survival. It’s the entire reason you picked up your paddle!

I see people missing easy shots because they’re gazing across the net and thinking ahead to where they want the ball to go next, instead of where it is right now and what it will take to connect with it and send it back.

Remember to focus on the FUN of playing Pickleball

I proudly wear a pickleball t-shirt  that proclaims WORLD'S OKAYEST PICKLEBALL PLAYER because I'm under no illusion I'll ever become a serious contender since I started playing so late in life after years of being a sedentary, desk-bound professional copywriter and author.

I started playing pickleball because my exercise-averse sister was enjoying it so much and coming back so smiley every time that I thought, “Okay, she’s been at this for three months with no sign of burning out—in fact, she just gets more excited every time she heads out—so I need to look into it…”

When I asked her to describe the game she said, “Pickleball is kinda like tennis and kinda like ping pong.” That was a real head-scratcher, so I looked it up on YouTube and watched  a few games and lessons so I wouldn’t arrive on the court days later feeling like a complete novice.

Because I’d played tennis (eons ago) I quickly caught on and people commented right away, “You’re already an intermediate-level player. You’ll do great!”

I play pickleball because, frankly,  I'm addicted to it. Although I’ve always enjoyed bike riding, swimming, and tennis, no other sport has me in its thrall the way pickleball does. It makes me feel terrific. It works my whole body, makes me sweat, and keeps me limber. And it's 100% fun!!! In my book, that makes it the perfect form of exercise.

I've lost more than fifteen pounds and my core muscles are in great shape for the first time in a very long time, probably since I lived on a ranch and was bucking  hay and throwing it to horses and cattle back in the 60's!

Add witty, friendly players, and there isn't much that can compete with a great game of pickleball.

You’ll pick up the finer points of pickleball the more you play it. Other players will offer tips, tricks and techniques and you’ll watch them from the sidelines when you’re not on the court.

Select Your Perfect Weight

Generally, pickleball paddles may seem lighter than a tennis racket — but they’re actually about the same average weight. And make no mistake; the weight of your pickleball paddle has a great effect on how you’ll play the game.

That’s another reason why a custom pickleball paddle is a great choice — you can combine the right materials, the adequate weight, and the best-fitting handle shape and circumference for the most ergonomic and comfortable grip.

Lighter Paddles

Lighter paddles are best suited for touch players — they provide the best level of control, and they improve your response time near the net. People that transition into pickleball from ping pong usually go with lighter paddles, because they’re used to the “wristy” movement in that sport.

However, that’s not ideal for all players — you need to be ready for the additional stress and vibration that your elbow will experience with lighter paddles. Also, weight isn’t just a factor for your playstyle; you also need to choose the best weight according to your physique. For example, children will start with a lighter youth paddle for obvious reasons.

Midweight Paddles

Midweight paddles will give you a decent combination of control and power. You’ll be able to achieve powerful serves without losing control while dinking at the net. Also, people suffering from tennis elbow often find midweight paddles to be a better fit because your elbow does less work than with lighter paddles — and they don’t have the added weight of heavier paddles that fatigue you over time either.

Heavyweight Paddles

If you think your advantage lies in power more than in control — a heavier paddle is the right fit for you. We’re talking about paddles weighing up to 9.5 ounces; anything more than that is used very rarely, and those are usually made out of wood.

Still, a heavy paddle can be great if swing speed isn’t your best asset; though you need to be ready to handle the fatigue that comes with all of that added mass. People who play singles like heavier paddles, though — drop shots and dinks aren’t as important there, and it plays more like tennis singles.

Find A Comfy Grip

One of the biggest mistakes that beginner picklers make while buying their paddles is disregarding their perfect grip size. While you may shrug off an uncomfortable grip when you’re trying out the paddle for the first time — you’ll soon realize that it’s a constant nuisance.

Of course, there’s no right or wrong handle shape or size; it all depends on the grip circumference that’s the best fit for your hand. People that buy the wrong grip size usually re-wrap their paddles — but if you go with a custom pickleball paddle from the start, you’ll get something specifically tailored for your hands.

And getting a paddle with a larger grip can be a huge issue if that’s not the right size for you; it will constantly slip and strain your elbow. That’s why you should try out a smaller grip first and see if it suits you.

If it does, you’ll be able to get more powerful serves without tiring yourself out — and a smaller grip allows you to switch hands more easily if you’re a player that does that. On the other hand, a larger grip will give you more stability; but ultimately, it’s your hand size that counts the most.

For people who don’t have much experience buying or designing custom pickleball paddles — if you’re struggling to decide between two sizes, you’ll likely be better off with the smaller one.

Carbon Fiber Surfaces

These days, you can choose between a variety of surface materials for your pickleball paddles. However, one of the best parts about getting a custom paddle from Third Shot Drop is the fact that you can combine any sort of weight, grip, core, or design with a carbon fiber surface!

This is the most cutting-edge stuff when it comes to paddle surface materials; advanced picklers can get an insane amount of control with a paddle that’s got a carbon fiber weave over a honeycomb core. Of course, you can still design your paddle with a composite or graphite surface — but you shouldn’t miss out on this chance either.

Make a Paddle That's Truly Your Own

We can go into even more details about what kind of playstyle goes with each type of paddle. But at the end of the day, there are no strict rules. And that’s why getting a custom paddle from Third Shot Drop is a great idea — you can go with your gut and create a paddle that will be your best fit, regardless of what anyone else says! Go with your feeling, and you won't be wrong.