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

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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]

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]

25 de may de 202629 min

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

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