Pickleball tip of the week: How to play (and win) with a weaker partner

Q: What strategies can I use to win in pickleball with a weaker partner?

To win with a weaker partner, focus on clear communication, positioning yourself effectively, and covering for their weaknesses during the game.

Q: How do I handle playing with a less skilled pickleball partner?

Handling a less skilled partner involves being supportive, encouraging them, and adapting your play style to complement their abilities.

Q: Who are the experts providing tips for playing with weaker partners in pickleball?

The tips for playing with weaker partners in pickleball come from experts Tanner Tomassi and Zane Navratil.

Inevitably if you play enough pickleball, you'll wind up with a partner, who, let's just be honest, isn't as good as you are.

It can be a tricky situation, and a sensitive subject and that's why we've turned to the experts Tanner Tomassi and Zane Navratil to walk us through some useful strategies when this dilemma happens.

Coach Mary's tip of the week: How to play and win with a weaker partner

Unless you play with the same people all the time, eventually you’ll be paired with a partner who isn’t as skilled as you. You get on the court, and you realize that your opponent is going to avoid you and target your opponent.

This might lead to you getting frustrated, trying to take over the game, and forcing shots that you would not normally take. You go for winners early, instead of playing good Pickleball.

Winning with a weaker partner is about adjusting your strategy, helping your partner play their best game and making smart decisions.

Strategic Suggestions

Keep it simple. Do not put your partner in difficult situations. They already feel pressured!
Tell them to focus on one thing: keeping the ball in play.
They do not need to execute perfect shots. They just need to keep the ball in play, with low, controlled dinks.
Stack, if you know how to execute this positioning without stressing your partner.
They do not need to go for aggressive thirds or speedups – just focus on continuing the rally.
When your partner keeps it in play, your opponents do not get free points!

Position Yourself to Help

At the NVZ, position yourself near the centerline and make yourself more of a threat. Creep closer on dink rallies. Your partner will have to cover less area, and you can help dictate play.
Keep the ball deep on returns, so your opponent cannot target your partner. Slow and deep is better than hard and shorter.
Return deep to the middle, so your opponent cannot commit early to target your partner.

Encourage and Support Your Partner

Rather than trying to coach your partner, or rolling your eyes, or poaching too much, or getting frustrated, if they miss a shot, say “No worries, we’ll get the next one.”
No negative comments, or intentionally giving away points to get the game over. Be the partner that everyone wants to play with!
If they hit a good serve, return, third or dink, be sure to acknowledge them! “Great shot!”
If they get tight, remind them to: “Just keep the ball in play and let them make mistakes.”
A more confident partner will perform better and will not second guess themselves.

Finally, remember we all started out new. Someone helped us, mentored us, encouraged us, and helped us get to the next level. Pay it Forward!

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Pickleball tip of the week: How to play (and win) with a weaker partner