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- Why You Are Not Getting Better | CRBN Waves Paddle Giveaway | Third Shot Drop Drills | What Makes A Good Mixed Partner
Why You Are Not Getting Better | CRBN Waves Paddle Giveaway | Third Shot Drop Drills | What Makes A Good Mixed Partner
Universal Rackets Weekly Pickleball Update: Coaching - News - Tips
Universal Rackets Weekly Update!
Let’s Talk About Your Pickleball Game…
Takeaways
🎯 Why You’re Not Getting Better
📘 Instantly Improve Your Serve Is Live
👟 Drill of the Week: Third Shot Drop Mastery
🔥 CRBN Tru Foam Waves Paddle Giveaway
🏕️ Junior Tennis & Pickleball Summer Camps Are Open
🎥 What Makes A Good Mixed Doubles Partner
📍 The Best Pickleball Serve Tutorial Ever
Why You’re Playing More Pickleball… But Not Getting Better
A lot of players play 100% games and 0% drills — and then wonder why they don’t improve.
Every week, they play with the same group.
They feel good. They win points.
Then they sign up for a tournament or play a more competitive group… and suddenly nothing works.
So they go back to their group, play more games, sign up for another tournament — and the same thing happens again.
No real improvement.
The Comfort Zone Trap
When you play with the same group over and over, you get used to how they play — not how pickleball actually works at higher levels.
At the 2.5 level, a hard drive at the wrong time might still win points. Why? Because many beginners:
Struggle to handle pace
Get overwhelmed by speed
Swing at balls that are clearly going out
That rewards bad habits.
Now take that same drive to a tournament or a stronger group — and suddenly:
Opponents counter it easily
They let high balls go
You don’t get the “free” points anymore
Why Strategies Stop Working as You Move Up
This happens at every level:
At 3.5–4.0, a high drop or smash might end points
At 4.0–4.5, opponents reset and defend it
At 4.5, speed-ups straight ahead may work
At 5.0, those same speed-ups get countered
What once worked… stops working.
So players swing harder, force shots, and get frustrated — instead of recognizing that the game has changed.
The Real Fix: Exposure + Pressure
Improvement doesn’t come from staying comfortable.
It comes from seeing better shots, faster reactions, and smarter decision-making.
There are two ways to do that:
Play against players better than you
If that’s not available, sign up for competitive tournaments or round robins
At first, it feels uncomfortable.
You lose points you used to win.
But that’s where growth happens.
Why This Works
Think about a major league pitcher and a batter.
If you stepped into an MLB game tomorrow, the ball would feel impossibly fast. But professional hitters don’t see it that way — because they’ve seen it thousands of times.
Pickleball is the same.
The more you’re exposed to higher-level play:
The game slows down
Your decision-making improves
You adapt naturally
The Bottom Line
Playing more games doesn’t automatically make you better.
Playing smarter, drilling intentionally, and exposing yourself to higher levels does.
If you want to improve:
Stop protecting your comfort zone
Stop measuring progress by wins against the same group
Start challenging yourself with better players and real pressure
That’s where real pickleball improvement begins.
2026 Pickleball and Tennis Programs Are Here!
More Programs Announced! New Locations and New Offerings
Universal Rackets is excited to roll out our Spring & Summer Pickleball programming, offering Adult Clinics, Junior Clinics, and 50+ Summer Camps designed for all ages and skill levels and built around fun, structure, and real improvement.
✅ Adult Pickleball Clinics
✅ Junior Pickleball Clinics
✅ Pickleball Summer Camps
✅ Indoor & Outdoor Options
✅ Multiple Skill Levels
✅ Weekday & Weekend Offerings
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your skills, our programs are built to help you play smarter, improve faster, and enjoy every session.
👟 Drill of the Week: 3rd Shot Drop Sequence
Purpose:
To build feel, touch, and distance control for a consistent third shot drop.
How It Works:
Start in the transition zone (mid-court). Without a paddle, “cornhole” toss the ball underhand into the kitchen. Focus on arc, softness, and landing the ball in the non-volley zone. This teaches you the correct motion and height without overthinking mechanics.
Next, grab your paddle and repeat the exact same motion, aiming to land the ball in the kitchen. Keep it smooth and controlled — don’t force it.
Then move to the kitchen line. Hit a dink, and every time you successfully land the ball in the kitchen, take one step backward. Continue stepping back after each successful shot. As you move farther from the net, your dink will naturally turn into a third shot drop.
Once you reach the baseline, reverse the process — begin working your way forward again while maintaining the same soft, controlled motion.
Why It Works:
This drill builds the drop from the net backward, teaching feel first and distance second. Instead of guessing at depth, your body learns the correct arc and speed progressively — which makes your third shot drop more natural and repeatable under pressure.
📘 Instantly Improve My Serve eBook Is OUT NOW!
Our very own Universal Rackets coach & content creator, @pickleballwithtyler, just released his brand-new eBook — Instantly Improve My Serve.
Built from 10,000+ hours of in-person coaching and real on-court experience, this interactive eBook gives players a clear, repeatable system for building a serve they can trust — especially on big points and under pressure.
This isn’t about copying one “perfect” serve.
It’s about applying the right concepts to your serve.
Inside the book you’ll learn:
• How to build consistency before adding power
• How to create depth without forcing pace
• Smart targets and serve intention
• A simple pre-serve routine
• What to do immediately after the serve
With 100+ embedded video examples, drills, and progressions, players know exactly what to practice and why.
🚨 GIVEAWAY ALERT: WIN A CRBN TruFoam™ Waves Pickleball Paddle! 🚨
We’re excited to announce that one lucky Universal Rackets reader will win a brand-new CRBN TruFoam™ Waves Pickleball Paddle 🎉
Here’s how to enter:
Purchase any Universal Rackets Adult Clinic, Junior Clinic, Summer Camp or eBook between February 11th and March 10th, and you will be automatically entered into the raffle.
One lucky winner will be chosen at random on March 11th Newsletter. Good luck!
What Makes A Great Mixed Doubles Partner In Pickleball?
We asked our community a simple question:
“What makes a good doubles partner?”
The answers were loud, clear, and surprisingly consistent.
While skill level matters, what really separates great partners from frustrating ones has much more to do with how you play with someone — not how hard you hit the ball.
Here’s what stood out.
1. Communication (But Not Coaching)
This was, by far, the most common answer.]
Good partners communicate — before points, during points, and between points — but they don’t coach after every shot.
There’s a big difference between:
“Yours / mine”
“Switch”
“Middle’s yours”
…and unsolicited technique advice after a miss.
The best partners help you play better without making you feel worse. Clear communication builds trust. Constant correction breaks it.
2. Positivity & Emotional Control
Mistakes happen. At every level.
Great partners don’t eye-roll, huff, puff, or get passive aggressive when something goes wrong. They reset quickly, offer encouragement, and move on.
One theme came up again and again:
No ego. No blame. No negativity.
If you want to win more points — and enjoy the match — learn to be the calm, steady presence on the court.
3. Court Positioning & Shot Discipline
A good partner understands where to be and why.
That means:
Proper court positioning
Not floating balls to aggressive players
Keeping the ball low
Choosing smart shots over heroic ones
Prevention beats defense.
When both partners manage space and shot selection well, rallies feel calmer and more controlled — and opponents have fewer chances to attack.
You don’t have to play exactly the same way — but you do need to be on the same page.
Are you both:
Competitive but relaxed?
Focused but having fun?
Playing to win and enjoy the match?
Chemistry comes from compatible attitudes, not identical games. The best partnerships feel aligned, even when styles differ.
5. Depth on Serves & Returns
This one came up more than you might expect.
Consistently serving and returning deep:
Starts points on your terms
Buys time to get set
Reduces pressure immediately
Partners who handle the first two shots well make the rest of the rally easier for everyone.
6. Fun Still Matters
Even in competitive play.
Laughter, paddle taps, encouragement, and perspective go a long way. Players repeatedly said the same thing in different ways:
If it’s not fun, it’s not worth it.
You’ll play better, think clearer, and compete harder when you actually enjoy being on the court together.
The Big Takeaway
A great mixed doubles partner isn’t just someone who hits good shots.
They:
Communicate clearly
Stay positive
Know where to be
Choose smart shots
Support their partner
And keep the game enjoyable
If you want a better partner… be one first.
That’s how the best partnerships are built.
Program Spotlight: JUNIOR TENNIS & PICKLEBALL SUMMER CAMPS ARE HERE!
Summer is coming fast — and our Junior Tennis & Pickleball Summer Camps are officially open for registration!
Universal Rackets summer camps are designed to do more than just keep kids active. Our camps focus on skill development, confidence, teamwork, and FUN, all in a structured, positive environment led by professional coaches.
Whether your child is brand new to the sport or already competing, our camps meet them where they are and help them level up — both on and off the court.
What to Expect at Universal Rackets Summer Camps:
• Tennis & Pickleball options
• Ages grouped by age and skill level
• Beginner → Advanced instruction
• High-energy drills, games, and point play
• Emphasis on fundamentals, movement, and sportsmanship
• A fun, welcoming environment kids love
Our coaches create an experience that keeps kids engaged, learning, and excited to come back each day — while parents can feel confident their child is in great hands.
📍 Multiple Locations Available
📅 Weekly & Multi-Week Options
🎾 Tennis & Pickleball Camps Offered
Spots fill quickly every summer — especially beginner and prime-time sessions.
Lesson of the Week: The Best Pickleball Serve Tutorial Ever
Thank you for reading and we can’t wait to see you on court!
-Universal Rackets