The pickleball shanks!

Have you ever had one of those days on the pickleball court where you just can't seem to get anything right? I recently experienced what I can only describe as the "pickleball shanks." It all started when I hit a few serves out of bounds during a game. From that moment on, I was completely in my head about it. The last time I had this feeling was when I was playing golf, and I couldn't hit a shot straight to save my life.

Suddenly, my serving accuracy, which had previously been a strength of my game, was gone. All I could think about was how I was not going to embarrass myself with any more missed serves. I even hit the player on the opposite side of the court a couple of times and had a few serves go into the court next to me. Even a serve that just barely went out was a huge win for me.

The funny thing was that shots in the normal course of play were fine. It was only when it came to serving that I was struggling. After quitting that day in frustration, I went to a court by myself and was able to diagnose my issue. I was trying to aim my shot with just my arm and keeping my body still. It wasn't until I trusted releasing my hips and following through with a natural stroke that I realized my problem. This is a common issue in golf as well, where players don't turn through the shot and try to aim with their arms. The key is to remember to keep a natural athletic motion and follow through with the shot.

I share this experience in the hope that it may help others who may be struggling with their serves or experiencing the "pickleball shanks." It can be frustrating, but it's important to remember that it happens to everyone at some point. Take a break if you need to, go back to the basics, and practice your form.