69: Embracing The Suck. What It's Like To Learn A New Shot As A Top-Tier Pro

69: Embracing The Suck. What It's Like To Learn A New Shot As A Top-Tier Pro

In this episode, Michael and Mircea dig into one of the biggest offensive upgrades in modern pickleball: the two-handed backhand dink. Mircea, a former tennis and squash player, shares what it's like to relearn a shot as a high-level competitor, while Michael reflects on his own journey picking up the "twoie" back in 2023. Together they break down technique, drilling strategy, and how the shot shows up differently depending on where you are on the court. * Why the two-hander matters: How the two-handed backhand dink has gone from a rare, cutting-edge shot to the default among younger and female players, and why it opens up so much more offense than the traditional one-handed slice dink. * Starting from scratch: Mircea talks about the mental hurdle of deconstructing a shot he'd already found success with, and the discomfort of being a beginner again at a high level of play. * The wall drill: Both hosts recommend starting with 30 to 45 minutes hitting left-handed dinks against a wall to build footwork and spin before ever adding the second hand. * Footwork over everything: Why leg drive and getting under the ball matters more than arm mechanics when learning the shot. * Paddle angle debate: Michael and Mircea compare notes on paddle tip position (angled up vs. dipped down) for different types of dinks and speed-ups. * Shot placement on speed-ups: Guidance on where to target speed-ups (down the line, into the body, or cross-court into the hip/belly button) and why cross-middle speed-ups are usually a mistake. * Timeline for improvement: Expect two to four weeks minimum of discomfort, with real integration into games often taking two to three months or longer. * Pro-level examples: References to Anna Leigh Waters, Anna Bright, Hayden Patrick Quinn, Jack Sock, JW, and Ben, illustrating different ways the two-hander is used (or intentionally not used) at the highest levels. * Senior pro trends: Why more women are bringing the two-hander into senior pro play, and how it's slowly gaining ground among men on that circuit. * Don't neglect your strengths: A reminder to keep drilling bread-and-butter shots (like the one-handed slice dink) even while building a new weapon, since the one-hander still matters for reach, resets, and defense. * Right-side situations: How the two-handed backhand shows up less often at the net when playing the right side, but becomes more relevant in the transition zone and on third-shot drops. Michael gives a shoutout to CRBN Pickleball's new backpack and his Barrage elongated paddle. Listeners can use code 402P at checkout for 10% off at carbonpickleball.com. Committing to a two-handed backhand dink is a long-term project, not a quick fix. Drill it deliberately (wall work, tossed feeds, transition zone reps), keep using it in real games even while uncomfortable, and don't abandon the shots that already work while you build the new one. Key TopicsGear MentionTakeaway Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

68: Stop Thinking About the Third Shot. START Thinking About the Fifth.

Most players are asking the wrong question. "Should I drop or drive?" treats the third shot as a single moment — but it's actually the opening move in a sequence. In this episode, Michael and Mircea break down how advancing players shift from shot-by-shot thinking to combo thinking, and why that mental shift is what separates Pros from 4.0 players. What we cover: The four stages of pickleball thinking — from beginner ("get it in") to pro ("create a sequence") — and how to identify where your game actually is right now. When to drive vs. drop on the third, including how wind, nerves, your skill set on a given day, and your opponent's tendencies should all influence that choice. Why your partner's position matters as much as the shot itself, and how a single heads-up communication before the point can prevent your partner from becoming the target. The most common third-fifth combinations: drive-to-easy-drop, great-drop-to-pounce, and the methodical drop-drop for players who want to slowly work their way up. Why driving middle off the third removes angles and creates confusion, and how to find that imaginary window between your opponents' outstretched paddles. The red-yellow-green framework for third shot quality, and why targeting yellow (not perfect) is the right call on big points. A practical homework assignment: record one match and count only your third and fifth shot errors. The number will surprise you. Key quote from this episode: "The players who control the fifth ball usually control the rally." Drill to try: Rally scoring games. When a missed third costs your opponents a point, you'll find ways to get it in fast. Sponsor mention: CRBN Pickleball — use code 4O2P at crbnpickleball.com for 10% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

67: Pounce on It: How to Recognize, Attack, and Finish Floaters!

It's the shot we all play for: that big, fluffy, juicy floater hanging in the air, begging to be put away. So why do so many players blow it? In this episode, Michael O'Neal and Mircea Morariu dig into one of pickleball's most mismanaged opportunities, the floater, and break down exactly what goes wrong and how to fix it. From collapsing on the space (or as Mircea prefers, pouncing) to limiting your backswing, keeping your arm in your peripheral vision, and aiming at that safe elliptical target in the middle of the court rather than hero-ing it down the line, this episode is packed with technique, drills, and hard-won lessons. Including Michael's very painful memory of a floater that cost him a tournament game at 10-10. Yeah. That one. If you've ever ripped a floater into the net, watched it sail four feet wide, or worse, let it bounce when you had every chance to finish the point, this episode is for you. Gear up with a paddle worthy of your floaters. Head to CRBNpickleball.com and use promo code 4O2P for 10% off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

66: Stacking Revisited - Why You Should Stack More in Pickleball, at ALL levels.

What We Cover This Episode Stacking comes up constantly in rec play, and most players either resist it, misunderstand it, or simply never try it. Michael and Mircea break down why you should at minimum stack on serve, how to think about court positioning based on skill sets, and why ego is quietly costing recreational players games every single day. Key Takeaways Why players resist stacking (and why those reasons don't hold up) * "My backhand is just as good as my forehand" is almost never true * Common objections: too complicated, not fast enough to switch, messes up the return * The cost of staying wrong-sided is almost always higher than the discomfort of learning The lefty-righty problem * A lefty on the left creates two backhands in the middle, one of the most exploitable situations in doubles * Middle, middle, middle. Every single ball. It's a cash register at most rec levels * The fix is simple: lefties on the right, forehands in the middle The one scenario where there is no excuse not to stack * On serve, stacking requires zero movement complexity. You just stand on the correct side before the point starts. There is no reason not to do this How to think about which side each player should be on * Ask your partner which side they prefer before you start * Match the stronger or more dynamic player to the left side so they can dictate angles and control the middle * Hide weak forehands by keeping that player on the right, where their partner can cover the middle * Exception: if a player's backhand is a weapon, you may want that weapon sitting in the middle instead Conor Garnett and the pro game * Conor typically plays the left side, in part because at the pro level, precise dinking can avoid his backhand entirely, making it more valuable to protect from the outside * His pairing with Roscoe Bellamy works because Roscoe's reach clogs the middle and takes pressure off that dynamic Mircea's partnership with Jose DeRisi * Mircea plays right, Jose plays left, based on complementary strengths * Mircea's defense and forehand options suit the right side; Jose's skills are better expressed from the left * They adjust situationally, including half stacking when an opponent has a big serve Using stacking to break momentum * Lost four to six points in a row? Switch sides, even temporarily * The change in look alone tends to break runs, regardless of the tactical reason Half stacking explained * Stack only on serve, not on return * A good entry point if full stacking feels overwhelming * The returner controls whether to call off the switch, not the player at the kitchen How to start if you've never stacked * Pick a preferred side. If you start there, stay. If you start on the other side, scoot over * You do not need pro-level athleticism, fancy signals, or perfect execution * You need: commitment, communication, and repetition * Practice it in rec play before bringing it into a tournament Reference Episodes Episode 28: "Should You Stack More Than You Are in Pickleball?" covers the full mechanics, including regular stacking, half stacking, three-quarter stacking, where to return, and court movement patterns. Sponsor CRBN Pickleball. Use code 4O2P at crbnpickleball.com [https://crbnpickleball.com] for a 10% discount. Thanks for letting us into your earballs. Go enjoy some pickleball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

65: Back on Court: Pro Event Takeaways, DUPR Frustrations, and Three Quick Fixes

Michael O’Neal (@solohour) and Mircea Morariu (@brainsdoc) return to the 4.0 to Pro pickleball podcast, recap Michael’s visit to the PPA finals in San Clemente and what stands out in person about open pros’ hand speed, defense, resets, and dinking pressure, and announce plans to publish more regularly. They discuss CRBN's Barrage paddle (promo code 402P at checkout at crbnpickleball.com) and its power and durability, then dig into DUPR volatility, including ratings dropping after close losses or even wins, the impact of low reliability opponents, and suggestions like weighting later-round matches and the need to “play up” to raise rating. They share tournament stories (including a walk-off ATP and a disastrous windy match) and highlight key improvement areas: stop and hit with a split step, communicate with partners, and let out balls go, plus a drill to understand how little pace keeps balls in. They close with thoughts on sticking to one’s strengths despite the game’s increasing aggression and what each is currently working on (Mircea’s two-handed backhand; Michael refining defensive resets). Peace and love, peace and love. :P M&M Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]