Your Pickleball Partner SUCKS - Here’s What to Do

In pickleball, not every partner will match your skill level. Zane Navratil, a top pickleball pro offers a pragmatic yet supportive approach to managing and even thriving with a weaker partner. Tune into Game+ Network, the official home of Major League Pickleball in Canada! https://gameplusnetwork.com Level up your practice sessions and game with a Lobster ball machine. Use code ZANE5 for 5% off any pickleball machine and accessories. https://lobstersports.com/collections/pickleball-machines UPTIME Energy gives me smooth and sustained energy to power through my day! Check them out here! https://www.uptimeenergy.com/ Har-Tru has all your pickleball court equipment needs. Use discount code ZANE10 to receive 10% off your purchase. https://hartru.com/ Zane’s on Cameo!! https://cameo.com/zanenavratilpickleball My Kineon MOVE+ Pro helps with my nagging injuries and joint pain using red light therapy that I can use at home. Learn more here and check out my review video! https://kineon.io https://youtu.be/HwMAkTmtVBA Thorlo Socks are the best! Engineered with varying levels of padding, their pickleball socks provide maximum comfort and support. Get yours here. https://thorlo.com/pages/pickleball Grab your next ProXR Signature or Sweet Spot Max Paddle on my website! https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/shop/ Subscribe to my newsletter to stay up to date with me on and off the court! https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/newsletters Recover with Yobow, the most compact massage pistol! Each purchase includes a free Yobow warm-up band ($25 value) and free US shipping! https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/shop/ The AIM7 app turns data from wearables to personalized and actionable solutions focused on pickleball performance, recovery, and injury prevention. Use this link and add code ZANE25 for a 30-day free trial and annual subscription for 25% off! Annual subscribers also receive 30% off Thorne supplements! https://www.aim7.com/?via=zane Playing with a weaker partner can be a common scenario. You might be tempted to "tank" the match—intentionally playing poorly to exit quickly. However, Navratil advocates for a more constructive approach. Rather than surrendering to frustration, he encourages players to find ways to elevate their game and support their partner. Here’s how: The first step in handling a weaker partner is protecting them during play. Keep the ball in front of yourself as much as possible. This strategic positioning prevents opponents from targeting your partner with aggressive shots. By dinking in front of yourself, you force your opponents to go crosscourt, giving your partner more time to react. Stacking is a tactical arrangement where players shift positions to maximize court coverage and comfort. Place your partner in their preferred position—whether that’s the left or right side of the court. This adjustment allows them to play from a place of confidence. As the stronger player, you might take the left side (the odd side) to cover more court with your forehand. This positioning allows you to handle a larger portion of the play, alleviating pressure on your partner. Playing more aggressively can shift the match dynamics. This doesn’t mean recklessly speeding up shots, but rather being proactive with positioning and dinks. By taking control of the game, you can prevent opponents from isolating your partner. Aggressive positioning involves moving decisively and applying pressure, forcing your opponents to adapt and making it harder for them to exploit your partner’s weaknesses. Success in pickleball, as in any team sport, depends on both effort and attitude. Zane stresses the importance of taking extreme ownership. This means accepting responsibility for the outcome and maintaining a positive attitude, regardless of your partner’s performance. Encouragement and support can boost your partner’s confidence, leading to better performance. Being a good partner isn’t just about playing well; it’s also about fostering a positive environment. Playing with a weaker partner can be challenging, but it also offers an opportunity for growth. By adopting Navratil’s strategies, you can turn a potentially frustrating situation into a rewarding experience. Whether through protecting your partner, strategic stacking, investing in training tools, aggressive play, extreme ownership, or supportive encouragement, there are many ways to elevate your partner’s game—and your own. In the end, the goal is not just to win but to improve together, creating a harmonious and effective partnership on the court. Source: Zane Navratil Pickleball

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