Senior Pickleball Tips

In this episode Paddy examines the third shot, especially as it affects high intermediate players (3.5 - 3.9).

If this is you, you're probably frustrated that your third shot just isn't doing much for you - or maybe it could just do better for you? Well, if this is so, this is the podcast for you!

Paddy goes through the traditional drop and drive but ALSO introduces you to 'the drip shot'. What is that? Well tune in and find out, and add another third shot to your armoury. The drip is SO useful and gives you another option with this tricky third shot. You're a high intermediate after all - you should know about it!!!

You'll learn that one of the success factors about the third shot is not necessarily technique, but your decision about which shot to undertake. He goes through all of this and more - all from a seniors' point of view.

So, listen in and improve your third shot and so your whole game!

More about the third shot in the Academy.

To join the Senior Pickleball Academy click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy/about

In this episode Paddy explores the third shot for low intermediate players.

This is, without doubt, a tricky shot. Dropping a third shot can be difficult, but as a low intermediate player at around the 3.0 - 3.4 level, one of your main concerns is the decision of whether to drop it or drive it.

Learn how to make that crucial decision and how to adapt your technique to make that shot more consistent and reliable.

Paddy explains how hitting a powerful third shot drive may not be your best tactic - and what to do instead.

So, listen in and nail your third shot!

To join the Senior Pickleball Academy, click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy/about

We have changed the name of the podcast!

It was called the Senior Pickleball TIPS Podcast but it is now the Senior Pickleball ACADEMY Podcast!

Listen in and find out why we've changed it to align better with our Senior Pickleball Academy and find out how the Academy can help YOU with your shot technique, doubles strategy, mental strength, understanding intricate rules & regulations, risk-reward balance, fitness & keeping injury-free and pretty much everything you need to improve your game as a senior player.

Inside the Academy we also have some great challenges, including the very popular 30-day Doubles Strategy Challenge and the 5-day 'Beat the Bangers' Challenge (let's face it - we've all been there!!!).

All of the podcasts are there for easy reference which include interviews with amazing people within the 'Pickleverse' as well as each of the '10 Essential Shots'.

My brother Terry and I urge you to join the Senior Pickleball Academy which we know will improve YOUR game.

Click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

In this episode Paddy talks to Dr Doug Rowles, an orthopaedic surgeon, about the most common serious injuries in pickleball and how to avoid them.

They talk about various things including the importance of the warm-up before you play. Paddy describes how at the English Open (largest indoor tournament in the world with 3,500 players) he saw very few people warming up and was surprised at this lack or preparation. They discuss why this is and repeat the importance of warm-up to prevent injuries, especially in senior players.

They describe and talk about VAIR, an alternative free rating system, and VAIR+ with its video analysis (where you send in your own video from your phone and get analysis for you and your other three pickle buddies), amazing discounts for pickleball gear and holidays and their latest inclusive offering from Dr Doug - on-court accident insurance.

So consider joining the free VAIR offering and the VAIR+ offering for only $59/year. (YES, for a year!)

Click here for the FREE VAIR Rating system: https://app.vairified.com/?ambassador=7223709

Click here for VAIR+ for $59/year: https://app.vairified.com/vair-plus?ambassador=7223709

To join the FREE Senior Pickleball Academy: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

Advanced beginners need to try and master their third shot. Without it - they just won't improve. Simple as that.

The third shot can be tricky - do you drive it or drop it? If your third shot drop isn't so great, what do you do? Just drive the whole time?

In this episode Paddy unlocks the secrets of the third shot.

• When to drive
• When to drop
• How to decide between the two
• How to improve your third shot drop
• How your third shot will affect your partner
• How you should both react to a good/bad third shot

It's all here in this episode. So buckle up and take a step towards improving YOUR third shot and see your game improve greatly in the next month or so.

The third shot and everything pickleball for seniors is developed further at our FREE Senior Pickleball Academy. Check it out here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

If you're a new beginner (upto a DUPR level of 2.4) and you're wondering what all the fuss is about - regarding this difficult 'third shot' everyone is talking about - then this is the episode for you!

Paddy previously revisited the serve and the return for new AND advanced beginners together in the same episode - but he had a load of requests to do these revisits to the 10 essential shots as separate episodes. So here is the third shot for new beginners and the next one will be for advanced beginners.

But, if you are at a higher level than new beginner - it is still worth listening to this and 'get back to basics' as it were. Would do you no harm whatsoever!

So, for new beginners, Paddy explains the third short:

• what it is
• when to drive or try a drop
• the difficulty level of the third shot drop
• why simply driving it most of the time is perfectly fine
• why it's worth trying the third shot drop sometimes

So give it a listen, get to understand all about this 'tricky' shot and see your game improve as you keep trying the drop in your own rec play.

Join the FREE Senior Pickleball Academy here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

In this episode Paddy interviews Millie Smythe, an enterprising young woman who started a pickleball recycling company based in the UK. She plays in various pro leagues around the world and is currently 'living the dream' in a campervan on the Gold Coast in Australia. She has played all over SE Asia (especially Vietnam which she loves) and runs her company remotely from her van!

Follow Millie's journey both in pickleball and sustainability, how she has cleverly mixed the two and is saving the planet at the same time!

And find out how your club in the UK can help by collecting old pickleballs and turning them into useful sustainable products.

Check out Millie's website here: https://www.wearecrackd.com/about

Her Instagram: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrkEJYC_LBqZAIArmUM34lQ;_ylu=Y29sbwNpcjIEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1791193346/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.instagram.com%2fsmythmillie%2f/RK=2/RS=OENsC0rqNn9SIYLkGqoc8PPMI_c-

Join Senior Pickleball Academy for FREE: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

Paddy always says that the return of serve is THE most important shot in pickleball. Indeed the return is far more important than the serve as the returners have the advantage in the rally.

So, if you're an low- or high-intermediate player, you need to press every advantage you can get from this shot. As an intermediate player you have a set of skills and you can use these skills to do just this - and make the absolute most of your return of serve!

We've all come off the court and been beaten because we did not return well enough!

In this episode Paddy explains again why the return is THE most important shot and then goes through how to maximise on that fact. Yes, it's a lot about DEPTH, but there are other factors too you need to know about and include in your game.

If you're an intermediate pickleball player you need to listen to this episode!

To join Paddy's FREE Senior Pickleball Academy click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

Paddy believes that the return of serve is THE most important shot in pickleball - at ALL levels. And this includes new and advanced beginners (2.0-2.9).

Unlike tennis where the serve pretty much dictates the rally, in pickleball it is the return of serve that stes up the whole rally. With a bad return, the serving pair have the advantage, but with a good deep return this advantage goes to the returners.

Paddy describes everything you need to know (as a beginner) about the return - ready position, how to get properly ready for that serve about to come to you and how to hit the return so that you can follow it in to the kitchen line. And how you can do this, as a senior, to give you time to get forward.

If you're a beginner, this is YOUR opportunity to learn about the most important shot in the sport. Undertake Paddy's simple advice and it will definitely help you to win more games!

Join Paddy's FREE Senior Pickleball Academy here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

Bhushan (known as Bhush to his friends) has done most things in Indian racquet sports. He represented India first in badminton, then tennis and now pickleball. He's in their 60+ team going to the World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam shortly. An amazing sportsman, he also knows pretty much everything about senior pickleball in India where the sport has exploded.

He chats to Paddy about how he got into pickleball and simply became addicted. He won his first tournament and basically just kept on winning. He plays all over the world including at the English Open and you will not see a finer player. he expalins the huge growth of the sport in India and elsewhere in Asia.

Bhush also gives his 'Top 5 Tips for Seniors' - so don't miss the end!

To join the FREE Senior Pickleball Academy click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

UPDATE - Bhush won an impressive TRIPLE GOLD in the 60+ categories - 4.0+ Singles, 4.5+ Men's Doubles & 4.5+ Mixed Doubles, the first amongst the Only 2 out of 4000+ athletes competing in the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam 2026