Everyone experiences a pickleball plateau – instead of overthinking it, here are some simple strategies to play your way to that next level
We have all been there. You spend weeks drilling a specific wrist flick or a perfect dink angle, only to find your game falling apart during a real match.
This can feel frustrating, but you're not alone. Trust us.
Pro coach John Cincola suggests that when you feel lost in the weeds, it is time for a hard reset to focus on the fundamentals that actually move the needle.
Here are his five golden rules to get out of your head and tackle 2026 right.
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- The Kitchen is Your Real Office Many players make the mistake of trying to blast winners from the baseline. John Cincola argues that your mindset should be different: every shot from the back is just a tool to get you to the kitchen line .
If your drive or drop happens to be a winner, consider it a nice bonus rather than the primary goal. Once you reach the non-volley zone, you can finally switch your brain into attack mode to finish the point.
- When in Doubt, Reset it Out When things get messy and the ball gets behind you, the instinct is often to try a high-risk lob or a desperate drive. Instead, the most reliable move is to reset the ball into the kitchen and force a bounce.
The kitchen exists to neutralize aggression, so use it to your advantage.
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