More of this man articulating strategies and dissecting points, please. That was an absolute joy to hear advice which I felt gave me a new awareness to several aspects of pickleball.
“Let’s talk about what you think you do well!” “I’m going to talk about what I think I do poorly… one of them is mindset.” This seems related - overly focusing on your weaknesses over your strengths is going to lean towards a negative mindset - especially in the clutch moments. The best tennis coach I’ve ever had used to say that It’s much easier to play well by thinking about how to leverage your strengths rather than trying to avoid your weaknesses. For how great of a player John is, he gets down on himself a lot. I love Scott as a coach for John - he really makes an effort to point out John’s strengths.
Haha, this isn't lost on me. I'm 100 percent my own worst enemy on the court. Mindset is one of the things I want to work on in this series, and we'll bring in a mental coach at some point
John, I never comment on TH-cam videos but feel compelled to today which is a testament to you! I have watched a ton of your paddle reviews over the years and ALWAYS find tremendous value in the extent of coverage and detail in your reviews. I’m also a 4.0 - 4.5 player (in my own mind… lol) and I’ve been playing with the Gearbox Pro Elongated for some time, which for me, has helped elevate my entire game, even my kitchen play. I recently watched your review of the new GB Ultimate Hyper, which was awesome, and gave me confidence in my decision to have ordered that paddle. I’ve now had the chance to play with it for 2 sessions, and omg, it seems to be a game changer again for me. So thank you for that! But now, the reason I chose to comment for the first time tonight is based on all that, AND… what you offered us in this video! I feel tonight, you set yourself apart from all of the other PB podcasters and gave your audience a gift! The information shared in this video is valuable to any level player, and I can’t thank you enough for thinking outside the box and sharing your time with Scott , who was AMAZING, with all of us. You are a gift to the PB Community. Please keep doing what you are doing!!!
Thanks so much for this feedback! I love reading what our wonderful regular commenters have to say, but I'm always curious what the other 99% of the viewership is thinking. So it's really nice to hear that you're getting some value from this content. And I love it that you chose this video for your first comment. I was actually very nervous to release this one. It's my first video that's not heavily focused on paddles & gear, AND it's focused more on my story, which believe it or not makes me very uncomfortable, haha. And I'm lucky to have Scott on this show. He really is an amazing coach. His ideas and the way he articulates them is second to none. Anyway, I'm glad you're loving the Ultimate Hyper. People seem to be split on whether or not they like the feel of it out of the box. I did, but others think it feels stiff and unforgiving. And it does become more forgiving as it opens up and breaks in, so hopefully you'll continue loving it.
@@kimleith1378 makes sense…. I believe gearbox might be offering demos on them at some point if not already, so that might be a good route for you to check it out. Just know, out of the box, the power is nowhere near the PPE BUT, the finesse shots you can make with this paddle consistently “for me,” vs the PPE, makes it very worthwhile.
@@johnkewpickleball Thx John for your additional thoughts, really appreciate how open you are in all you are doing!!! There are 1000 reviewers of paddles out there, and maybe 4-5 of you, I consider elite reviewers (jmho). As mentioned, this most recent video is unique in that we are all struggling from plateauing regardless of level, and you recognized it and are addressing it in a way that’s helpful to not only you, but to all of us, especially by bringing in Scott, who until now, I never heard of…. So thx again! Wishing you all the best for a great holiday and happy and healthy new year!!!
Couldn’t have said it better. I watch all of your paddle reviews and I’m now play with an ESQ because of your review. As a 4.0 DUPR player, I took notes on this video of the Key Tips and reminders. Will be working on those as well. Great video and happy holidays.
John - this is so helpful - I really love how you have the “key tips” highlighted throughout the video - makes it easy to go back and watch Coach’s tips throughout - this series is a great supplement to your content - keep up the great work as always my friend!!
This is EXACTLY the kind of content I love. First of all, Scott Fliegelman is an outstanding coach, probably the best around, so you had me at Fliegelman. But then for you allow us to step inside your shoes and head (many of us are on the same or similar journey) is even more awesome. The first episode was great and cannot wait for the next one. This reminds me of waiting for the next episodes of Yellowstone. Could we binge this please?!? LOL...In all seriousness, thank you so much for doing this series. I am also a first time commenter due to how much I'm looking forward to the series. Also subscribed for the first time after seeing this video. I like a good paddle review, but love this kind of content more.
Less than 3 minutes in, and I am instantly subscribed with notifications on. Love these goals, very similar to mine! Happy to follow your journey while I'm going on my same journey!
THIS is the video that finally got me to subscribe. I enjoy learning about paddles, but am not likely to sit through weekly paddle reviews unless I’m in the market, which only happens a couple times a year. This series is right up my alley, though, and I’m super-excited to follow along on your journey to 4.5 and beyond. Fantastic editing on this video, by the way, really like the way you used graphics to highlight Scott’s tips throughout. Great stuff!
You will advance in no time with this coach. thanks for including us in this priceless instruction!!! he answered a question I always struggle with because the coaches here tell me that whether or not the ball bounces, when I am in the tzone (and both opponents are at the net) I need to drop/reset it. They tell me that I am on defense-- as long as I am not at the kitchen and my opponents are. Scott is saying to drill it straight ahead, if I can take it out of the air, it seems like a proficient player will send that right back at me hard and fast, but then again they may be surprised and pop it up....gotta try this next time. Wish me luck
Thanks for the kind words, Joan! While my advice for simplifying decision-making in the transition zone is not 100% applicable, I do find it to be a helpful guideline for most 4.0+ players. Bonus if you have a topspin drive, which helps facilitate the "surprise" element when you take a ball below net level and drill it at the player closest to you. Have fun and let us know how it goes!😀 Scott
Super excited to see this as a series! as Im around 4.0 (though a lot older and not as fit) Followed Scott when he was on 4.0 to Pro podcast and found his analysis great. Would love to see bigger and slow mo video in the future... and Scott controlling it.😂 Agree about using shirt colours or something other than first names. Also going to need a Scott lexicon/dictionary for cornhole, defcon etc😅 I'll be watching to see if you solve our common straight legged issue even following a split-step. Also, any way you could put those very useful summary points in the video in something that could be copied as text in the notes? Can't wait for the next video! Great that you have a goal and are working to achieve it and allowing us to come along for the ride😊👏
@@johnkewpickleball I realise I'm asking for you to do even more and you will also be adding drilling to your already busy schedule but personally I would prefer to see this than more paddle/gear reviews. Don't burn out!
Awesome episode. Seems like lots of folks are putting out "getting to the next level" content. This is one of the better ones. John - Thx for being open and honest about where you are and where you want to be. Scott - Heard you on "4.0 to Pro". Great to put a face to the voice. You were an asset there as you are here.
Good stuff. I've heard him a bunch on 4.0 to Pro Podcast. Good to finally see him. Always great advice. Kew - you need a 65 inch TV not that monitor. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Excellent content, analysis, and editing! I appreciate how frank and humble you were about your areas for improvement. Scott's insight combined with your breakdown of it will help all your viewers make the break through journey with you to 4.5+. Looking forward to the next one.
Thank you so much for this. It is so helpful to hear a coach’s perspective, and I had a takeaway about my serves as well. More power not less power to help with the volatility of the pressure situation. I definitely try to slow down in the high pressure moments, and it blew my mind to realize that practicing the opposite is what will lead me to better serve consistency. Looking forward to the next one!
Wow! Thanks John for documenting ur journey! Being new to pickleball and watching this podcast with the analysis and drill suggestions by Scott has provided me a plan to start improving my game!
Comment related to Scott’s point about set choices/plays … where he talked about when in transition … if bounce cc dink/reset, if volley drive at opponent right in front of you. In tennis tournaments I thought of this as narrowing patterns. For example, in singles, it wasn’t fun to hit every ball to an opponents backhand in a practice match. In a tournament, I relentlessly attacked the backhand (or in the rare case forehand was weaker attacked that side). Most of the time tournament matches were some of the most boring. I don’t play pickleball tournaments, but I throw this out there as a consideration for those that do. Figure out the narrow patterns that create the best results for you. Tournaments are the best at teaching you how to win, but not the best at acquiring new skills. You go to tournaments with the skills you already have, drills are the place to add new skills. If you are much better at driving than dropping, tournaments probably aren’t the time to improve your drop. One other thought I don’t hear much discussion about in pickleball. In tennis we referred to “shot tolerance” as how long you could go until you made an unforced error. I think a lot of pickleball games are won by just being that stubborn player that doesn’t miss. Not exciting … but true.
We’re all our own toughest critic and I get that. Having access to a coach like this is amazing, but also trusting his process. There’s a reason why he starts off with asking what you think you’re good at. Instead of allowing him to start guiding you, you start ranting about all your internalized perceived flaws, and comparing yourself to others. What I took from his approach that I thought you glazed over is you’re not playing singles. So being more of a chameleon like him will make not just you, but the both of you more positioned for success. That means your partner setting you up for your strengths and vice versa. We’ll all continuing improving on our weaknesses but playing to your strengths will put you in the best position to continue to win close matches.
My comment is already here: “play to your strengths” is sage advice and I was a bit surprised Scott didn’t force you to name 3 or so good qualities in your play. He did come around to a few things like your serve. Weather they are working or if you need a change of strategy, knowing and relying on your strengths can be a big deal. And thanks, I echo all the comments on how awesome this video was and how I’m looking forward to more!
Excellent. John, you dodged a bullet when Scott asked you about your vision … thought he might have gone there with line calls. 😂 Now I know what that guy meant when he called me an irritating instigator.
@@johnkewpickleball Speaking of instigating … I just came up with a good one. We have played with many of the same people at our Lifetime for around two years … so pickleball family. The entire group has improved, most impressed with the ladies. I need to get a bunch of eye doc business cards, and hand them out to my secret Santa's. Their job will be to randomly hand them to a male player (I have a couple in mind, but would pick just one for “operation mess with a member”. How about this … they hand him a card and say: “I’ve noticed you have been having trouble with line calls, and I think we would all benefit if you went to this eye doctor”. 😜
Very helpful video John, thanks! Love hearing the strategy aspect of which shot or shots are the best option in different situations! And the more tools/skills we have in our arsenal the better we can implement our best shot strategy! Learned a lot! Thanks and happy holidays!
Great video, relevant topics and an awesome coach - Scott appears to be a very knowledgeable, experienced and well rounded coach who teaches not only technique, tactics and strategy but also things like deliberate decision making, team communication, mindset, etc. ... unlike the many "wannabe TH-cam coaches" who give advice without much coaching knowledge and experience. I especially liked Scotts commentary on the importance of a) making an extra step/half-step in order to keep shoulders level and posture balanced and b) deliberate planning of 1-2 shots ahead when serving or returning serve before the ball is in play.
In the highlights of Scott’s senior pro play I recognized his doubles partner. I was hitting around by myself after a rainy morning while the courts in my hometown dried. This was in of Kearney Nebraska. A couple guys were drilling about and asked if I wanted to join in! I had no idea I was playing with a senior pro until we had finished up! Small world.
John, thanks for being open to share your journey and pickleball weaknesses. Scott is a great communicator and coach. This is a great partnership. I find his ability to break the game down to simple choices is invaluable. I especially appreciate the thought in advance of the serve ie I’m going to hit my 3rd with my forehand to the guy running in. I also find it interesting how humble you are John. I think it’s a great trait in objectively evaluating paddles but perhaps a little more swagger could help your Pickleball. In hot saying you need to trash talk like Hayden but perhaps you review what things you should stop doing, start doing and keep doing.
I've been working with this advice. Scott's decision tree is beneficial, and we are starting to drill it. I've decided to improve my cross-court drive to pressure the returner who is trying to get to the non-volley zone. Also, locating the serving team in the spots mentioned to create forhands is an excellent tip.
Wow.. Super helpful.. I about where u are.. I have great athleticism, reaction time and focused on technical skills.. but... It's about using the right tools at the right time. Scott has given some very good insights on what the right mindset should be. Thanks!! #pickleballchris #tylerwrenpropickleball #OptaHealthAndWellness #rawpickleballbuzz #Pickleball
So many times I have felt "glued to the court" and unable to respond because I was not planted and ready to respond to whatever the other side did. I am still mentally responding to the previous shot rather than preparing for the next. There are so many equipment variables: indoor/outdoor balls, ball mfgr, court surface, wind, temp, lighting... that throwing in multiple paddles is sort of nuts. It seems that settling on one and learning how to best use it would be the best philosophy. New clubs seldom fix a flawed golf game.
This series is a good idea as it applies to many more serious players. Agree with 2 keys to playing better ... Shot Selection, including staying aggressive but being smart about it, and consistency. Like the term modulation, makes me think of being aware to concentrate on keeping a consistent mindset. It's so easy to get lakadaisical and lose focus.
I'm glad to hear that this has broader appeal. It's not comfortable for my own story to be the center of attention, but I did this because I think Scott's coaching (and my relatability) could help a bunch of other people
Had to smile when you said you were still thinking about a previous point when you weren't aggressive so you went for it on a shot in the next point. Many of us can relate to that.
Love the tips provided throughout the video! I think it would be helpful to include the tips in the description for viewers to reference later rather than scrolling through the video to find them again.
John … not sure if you want this to include “ask Scott” questions. I will ask a question and cease and desist 😉if not the plan. Scott pointed out lobbing with opponents forehands in the middle problematic. What is his thoughts on lobbing over backhand sides, and if topspin lob changes his risk/reward thinking? John, you hit lob from right side, so lob down the line goes over opponent backhand, and cross court lob goes over other opponents backhand. I hit topspin on my lobs and found the cross court lob gives you a little more margin for error given the small court dimensions (lobs in pickleball will always be a precision shot). I also see success with high topspin lobs right down the center line, even against players with good overheads. I had avoided that expecting opponent to easily move to it for overhead, but noticed height and spin through opponents off. We aren’t playing Christian Alshon 😂, so we get away with more.
@@johnkewpickleball Thank goodness, I didn’t want to be banned from the “weird dude’s” club. Go take a break and enjoy the holidays. Next year you write your DUPR commitment in ink. 😋 I decided early on any major commitment to improvement would be spelled “injury”.
@johnkew, this video was fantastic! Ironically, I haven’t watched only because the thumbnail threw me off regarding DUPR Rating. I thought it was gonna be a video about Duper and it’s technology or something. But please keep these coming.
This will be a VERY successful series of videos. 👍🏿 It may not add up to much but you might consider “buy me a coffee” to help subsidize the additional expenses incurred in their production.
John, this is fantastic. I’m right there with you looking ahead to 2025 and focusing on improving. My struggles are similar-mental consistency and drilling more instead of just playing. My wife (my doubles partner) and I are finally starting drills this week after Christmas. But I have to be completely honestly, I don’t know how you sit in the studio with all those magnificent paddles around you and a mentor like Scott right there with you. I’d be grabbing a few paddles and dragging him to the court to drill and play. You’re far more patient and focused than I’d ever be-credit to you for that! Thank you for all you do and allowing us a peak inside of your Journey. Also, John what are you using right now as your "Go to" paddle right now?
Good to hear this series resonates with you, and we'll definitely incorporate some court time together in the series. My go-to paddle right now is split between the 11six24 Vapor Power (unreleased) and the Apes Pulse V
@@johnkewpickleball Thanks. A quick question At the end of the video, you had the following: HOMEWORK FOR NEXT EPISODE ✅Split-Step/Heightened Awareness ✅Shorter Backswing ✅Instigator Drill ❌4-Person Drill, 5 MPH Speed Limit ❌Drill >50% Time on Court Why are the bottom two with Red X's (❌) instead of green check marks (✅)? Sorry to be a pain, but I watched the video, and then my wife (my doubles partner) sat down. I had her watch it so we could take some notes, and she noticed it, and we both were unsure what it meant.
I think it would be good to see some in depth discussion on paddle position (and body position) between shots on a rally. It's something I've been focusing on for a while and it's helped my game. Being consistent having the paddle in the right position depending on your court position and where the next shot is coming from is important. As an example of something i see with a lot of players is having your paddle below the net level and at your side while at the kitchen.
This is super helpful and relatable even as I try to get to 4.0 level. BTW the 2 seam or split finger fastball drops/dips while the 4 seamer stays up like a backspin drive😊
Enjoy watching Scott play which is NOT often sadly. Learned he's #1 in combined DUPR in Seniors. Fun Fact, i'm friends with his DOPPELGANGER. That RIPPLE sounds just like my (concept) OM EVO eva core. Love this "level up" format for a pod.
Great Podcast John as always! I’m excited for this I’m ready to follow along and be a sponge bc I feel like I am in this exact same boat! 14:26, QUESTION… I’m a left handed player, so right side, and I want to be this Chameleon, but I find it very difficult being a lefty and finding a partner, 1- who knows how to play with a lefty, and then 2- how to be that partner who can blend with anyone to raise their game and also to raise mine. Can you speak to ways or things I could look to or work on to improve this.
Right-handers are often quite clueless when playing with lefties, so you'll need to take the reins with most... at least until you find a steady partner to grow with:). Scott
Great concept for a podcast. I’ll definitely be following your journey. One suggestion. Please avoid using players first names and use left side, right side. For example, I don’t know “Dirk” and it’s sometimes hard to follow the advice. Thanks
Your observation about being a better partner is very familiar to me. I am very low key and never criticize but I also don't hype up. I am not all that competitive and am ok with losing. But I also do notice that my partners often play worse with me and wonder why.
I found it fascinating that John basically refused to talk about the strengths of his pickleball game. I think this will ultimately inhibit his growth as a player. I've heard this be called "strength blindness" or having a "deficit mindset". The people that show the most growth are ones that take a much more balanced perspective to leverage your strengths, but also to address areas for growth.
John, I don't know if this is going to make sense. Being a geek by training and natural propensity, I've noticed a certain type of body motion among many geeks that is a bit....angular and jerky, for lack of a better word. I believe that this is tied to how we are neurologically wired. It is subtle but obvious and relates to how we contract our muscles in terms of pace and coordination. When video taped myself, my very first thought was, "I move like Kew." So what helped is to try to rewire my brain by intentionally move more gracefully and smoothly. It is difficult to explain but basically look at the pros, and then mentally relax and try to move gracefully. In my case, I think of myself being more ballerina like. It has helped me become more accurate and lithe. I still have miles to go but recent research has shown that the brain is remarkably malleable even into the 50s and 60s.
Haha, "Move Like Kew" has a ring to it. I hear you, though. There does seem to be a pattern where highly analytical people bring stiffness into sports/physical performance. Here's something interesting: I'm much more fluid and graceful doing the things I learned in my youth (drumming and skateboarding). Some of that is just the hours spent doing it (10,000 hours rule), but I also think that children are able to more easily learn activities without their thinking brain getting in the way. I like your advice to be more intentional about being smooth and graceful on the court. In some ways, it seems to contradict one of the core tenants of mindfulness meditation that I'm working on right now: you can't think yourself out of overthinking. Relating that to sports performance, people perform their best when they allow thoughts to pass and return to their intuitive state of focus to stay in the 'zone'. That being said, maybe being intentional about movement, as you recommend, can help you focus more on the body, and less on distracting thoughts.
@@johnkewpickleball Just reread my original post. I meant no criticism at all - and hope none taken. Simply sharing one minor detail that helped me, among the forest of details. Looking forward to this series as you chronicle your journey and will be following avidly!
Are you sure about this tip at 32:02? Isn’t it best to reset to the center towards a backhand when in the transition zone? What if your reset is too high and you hit cross court? Wouldn’t that give them access to a sharp angle to attack where it would be harder for your team to return? My thought is there's better margin for error when resetting to the center since the net height is lower. And shouldn’t we be skeptical of driving while in the transition zone? (Unless the ball is clearly at least a bit above net height) What if my opponents are really good at countering? I'd be at a huge disadvantage being further back in the court where my opponents can counter to my feet.
Good questions, thanks! As for the transition zone reset off the bounce... while there's surely room for personal preference and strengths, my tip is based on both math and margin, as both are most favorable when hitting cross court. Middle is OK, given the low net and the potential for creating confusion, while straight ahead is the biggest mistake I see (at all levels), based on the higher net, the tiny margin (kitchen landing area), and the rather easy Erne it sets up.
As for part 2, check out Episode 2 in the "Analyzing Tape" segment, when I discuss some of the reasons to consider a simple drive vs a more challenging reset.
@@boulderpickleball320 Thanks! I think I may have misinterpreted the tip at first. When you say reset "cross court", do you mean have the trajectory of the ball cross over the center of the net where it's lower, and land the ball in the diagonal service court, but towards the center rather than out towards the sidelines? I've always thought of a cross court reset out wide towards the sidelines as a lower percentage harder to execute shot vs sending it somewhere towards the middle over the lower part of the net.
@@CyberSonic157 Going over the lowest part of the net saves up to 2", while utilizing the full geometric benefits of the cross-court reset to the corner of the NVZ and sideline adds up to 3.5 feet, compared to the straight ahead reset. Both are good, but I lean toward finding the most available kitchen in which to get the ball to bounce, especially when my team finds ourselves losing the court position battle.
How about helping get from 2.8 to 3.5???? I play with 3.5 players but just cant win games. Tons of 1 point losses, and several times get trounced by 8-10 points during DUPR matches.
Really enjoyed that and was a fan of Scott's insights on 4.0 to Pro. Anyone know why he left so suddenly and was replaced with no goodbye or reason given?
More of this man articulating strategies and dissecting points, please.
That was an absolute joy to hear advice which I felt gave me a new awareness to several aspects of pickleball.
Thank you! More on the way:). Scott
“Let’s talk about what you think you do well!”
“I’m going to talk about what I think I do poorly… one of them is mindset.”
This seems related - overly focusing on your weaknesses over your strengths is going to lean towards a negative mindset - especially in the clutch moments. The best tennis coach I’ve ever had used to say that It’s much easier to play well by thinking about how to leverage your strengths rather than trying to avoid your weaknesses.
For how great of a player John is, he gets down on himself a lot.
I love Scott as a coach for John - he really makes an effort to point out John’s strengths.
Haha, this isn't lost on me. I'm 100 percent my own worst enemy on the court. Mindset is one of the things I want to work on in this series, and we'll bring in a mental coach at some point
John, I never comment on TH-cam videos but feel compelled to today which is a testament to you! I have watched a ton of your paddle reviews over the years and ALWAYS find tremendous value in the extent of coverage and detail in your reviews. I’m also a 4.0 - 4.5 player (in my own mind… lol) and I’ve been playing with the Gearbox Pro Elongated for some time, which for me, has helped elevate my entire game, even my kitchen play. I recently watched your review of the new GB Ultimate Hyper, which was awesome, and gave me confidence in my decision to have ordered that paddle. I’ve now had the chance to play with it for 2 sessions, and omg, it seems to be a game changer again for me. So thank you for that! But now, the reason I chose to comment for the first time tonight is based on all that, AND… what you offered us in this video! I feel tonight, you set yourself apart from all of the other PB podcasters and gave your audience a gift! The information shared in this video is valuable to any level player, and I can’t thank you enough for thinking outside the box and sharing your time with Scott , who was AMAZING, with all of us. You are a gift to the PB Community. Please keep doing what you are doing!!!
Same here on the GB PPE wanting to move to the HYPER. Holding off until more time passes for any QC issues that may arise.
Thanks so much for this feedback! I love reading what our wonderful regular commenters have to say, but I'm always curious what the other 99% of the viewership is thinking. So it's really nice to hear that you're getting some value from this content. And I love it that you chose this video for your first comment. I was actually very nervous to release this one. It's my first video that's not heavily focused on paddles & gear, AND it's focused more on my story, which believe it or not makes me very uncomfortable, haha.
And I'm lucky to have Scott on this show. He really is an amazing coach. His ideas and the way he articulates them is second to none.
Anyway, I'm glad you're loving the Ultimate Hyper. People seem to be split on whether or not they like the feel of it out of the box. I did, but others think it feels stiff and unforgiving. And it does become more forgiving as it opens up and breaks in, so hopefully you'll continue loving it.
@@kimleith1378 makes sense…. I believe gearbox might be offering demos on them at some point if not already, so that might be a good route for you to check it out. Just know, out of the box, the power is nowhere near the PPE BUT, the finesse shots you can make with this paddle consistently “for me,” vs the PPE, makes it very worthwhile.
@@johnkewpickleball Thx John for your additional thoughts, really appreciate how open you are in all you are doing!!! There are 1000 reviewers of paddles out there, and maybe 4-5 of you, I consider elite reviewers (jmho). As mentioned, this most recent video is unique in that we are all struggling from plateauing regardless of level, and you recognized it and are addressing it in a way that’s helpful to not only you, but to all of us, especially by bringing in Scott, who until now, I never heard of…. So thx again!
Wishing you all the best for a great holiday and happy and healthy new year!!!
Couldn’t have said it better. I watch all of your paddle reviews and I’m now play with an ESQ because of your review. As a 4.0 DUPR player, I took notes on this video of the Key Tips and reminders. Will be working on those as well. Great video and happy holidays.
Absolutely awesome stuff from the coach. Love this series already and cant wait until the next one!
Amazing video, please do more. I also like that you edited it so each rally had a different tip and that it wasnt all just the same critique
John - this is so helpful - I really love how you have the “key tips” highlighted throughout the video - makes it easy to go back and watch Coach’s tips throughout - this series is a great supplement to your content - keep up the great work as always my friend!!
Excellent collaboration! Thank you for having the courage to talk about your goals. That helps many of us realize it’s ok for us too. Best regards
Good for you for being honest and open to criticism on your own show.
Love this!! I’m in a similar boat. Need to get my DUPR up to where I feel it should be. Good luck. I hope to play with you again soon.
This is some high level coaching. Can't wait to see more content. Thank you.
This is EXACTLY the kind of content I love. First of all, Scott Fliegelman is an outstanding coach, probably the best around, so you had me at Fliegelman. But then for you allow us to step inside your shoes and head (many of us are on the same or similar journey) is even more awesome. The first episode was great and cannot wait for the next one. This reminds me of waiting for the next episodes of Yellowstone. Could we binge this please?!? LOL...In all seriousness, thank you so much for doing this series. I am also a first time commenter due to how much I'm looking forward to the series. Also subscribed for the first time after seeing this video. I like a good paddle review, but love this kind of content more.
Thanks, Rob! I've been sick for almost two weeks, but we plan to get back in the studio in the next few days!🙏 Scott
John this is gold! Need more of these types of videos. Good luck on improving your game! Thanks for being vulnerable and relatable here.
John, this is so nice. Love the content. This coaching is as sharp as it gets. Thank you!
Thanks John, very informative. I am in the same boat as you, plateaued out so this is really helpful. Can't wait for the next episode. Cheers
Great stuff !!! Can't wait till the next episode.
Less than 3 minutes in, and I am instantly subscribed with notifications on. Love these goals, very similar to mine! Happy to follow your journey while I'm going on my same journey!
Great video, John! Eagerly awaiting the next one In the series with Scott. Loved the video Analysis. Keep up the great work.
4.3 on my journey to 4.5, this is a LOT of value in 45 mins, this guy knows what he doing.
THIS is the video that finally got me to subscribe. I enjoy learning about paddles, but am not likely to sit through weekly paddle reviews unless I’m in the market, which only happens a couple times a year. This series is right up my alley, though, and I’m super-excited to follow along on your journey to 4.5 and beyond. Fantastic editing on this video, by the way, really like the way you used graphics to highlight Scott’s tips throughout. Great stuff!
You will advance in no time with this coach. thanks for including us in this priceless instruction!!! he answered a question I always struggle with because the coaches here tell me that whether or not the ball bounces, when I am in the tzone (and both opponents are at the net) I need to drop/reset it. They tell me that I am on defense-- as long as I am not at the kitchen and my opponents are. Scott is saying to drill it straight ahead, if I can take it out of the air, it seems like a proficient player will send that right back at me hard and fast, but then again they may be surprised and pop it up....gotta try this next time. Wish me luck
Thanks for the kind words, Joan! While my advice for simplifying decision-making in the transition zone is not 100% applicable, I do find it to be a helpful guideline for most 4.0+ players. Bonus if you have a topspin drive, which helps facilitate the "surprise" element when you take a ball below net level and drill it at the player closest to you. Have fun and let us know how it goes!😀 Scott
Good vid, it’s nice to see genuine back and forth and coaching, thanks for posting
Super excited to see this as a series! as Im around 4.0 (though a lot older and not as fit) Followed Scott when he was on 4.0 to Pro podcast and found his analysis great. Would love to see bigger and slow mo video in the future... and Scott controlling it.😂 Agree about using shirt colours or something other than first names. Also going to need a Scott lexicon/dictionary for cornhole, defcon etc😅
I'll be watching to see if you solve our common straight legged issue even following a split-step.
Also, any way you could put those very useful summary points in the video in something that could be copied as text in the notes? Can't wait for the next video! Great that you have a goal and are working to achieve it and allowing us to come along for the ride😊👏
Great feedback and tips - thanks!
@@johnkewpickleball I realise I'm asking for you to do even more and you will also be adding drilling to your already busy schedule but personally I would prefer to see this than more paddle/gear reviews. Don't burn out!
Awesome episode. Seems like lots of folks are putting out "getting to the next level" content. This is one of the better ones.
John - Thx for being open and honest about where you are and where you want to be.
Scott - Heard you on "4.0 to Pro". Great to put a face to the voice. You were an asset there as you are here.
Good stuff. I've heard him a bunch on 4.0 to Pro Podcast. Good to finally see him. Always great advice. Kew - you need a 65 inch TV not that monitor. Thanks for sharing your journey.
For sure - adding a big TV to today's shopping list!
Love that he is an Eagles fan! This is going to be a great series.
Excellent content, analysis, and editing! I appreciate how frank and humble you were about your areas for improvement. Scott's insight combined with your breakdown of it will help all your viewers make the break through journey with you to 4.5+. Looking forward to the next one.
Great podcast and looking forward to the series!
This was a great video, looking forward to hearing more about this journey of yours to improve your rating.
Excellent learnings for me in this video. Scott’s advice is right on. Continue this series please!
Best early Christmas present! So helpful, thank you! Look forward to more lessons
Love this! Been a fan of Scott’s for a long time and obviously John Kew! I found this super helpful. Thank you so much!!
Great idea for an episode, and great ideas from the episode. Very helpful. Thank you.
Great stuff! I’m looking forward to seeing you continue this series.
Thank you so much for this. It is so helpful to hear a coach’s perspective, and I had a takeaway about my serves as well. More power not less power to help with the volatility of the pressure situation. I definitely try to slow down in the high pressure moments, and it blew my mind to realize that practicing the opposite is what will lead me to better serve consistency. Looking forward to the next one!
Boom!
Wow! Thanks John for documenting ur journey! Being new to pickleball and watching this podcast with the analysis and drill suggestions by Scott has provided me a plan to start improving my game!
Great video! Perfect addition to the channel
Great video. I love Scott's insight and coaching tips. Please continue with this type of content.
This series is gonna be so good!
Good stuff. Scott is a beast. Excited to see what you can do with his help!
Fantastic, I really look forward to this series! My game is in the same spot, great analysis from Scott
Great approach to leveling up your game!
Comment related to Scott’s point about set choices/plays … where he talked about when in transition … if bounce cc dink/reset, if volley drive at opponent right in front of you. In tennis tournaments I thought of this as narrowing patterns. For example, in singles, it wasn’t fun to hit every ball to an opponents backhand in a practice match. In a tournament, I relentlessly attacked the backhand (or in the rare case forehand was weaker attacked that side). Most of the time tournament matches were some of the most boring. I don’t play pickleball tournaments, but I throw this out there as a consideration for those that do. Figure out the narrow patterns that create the best results for you. Tournaments are the best at teaching you how to win, but not the best at acquiring new skills. You go to tournaments with the skills you already have, drills are the place to add new skills. If you are much better at driving than dropping, tournaments probably aren’t the time to improve your drop.
One other thought I don’t hear much discussion about in pickleball. In tennis we referred to “shot tolerance” as how long you could go until you made an unforced error. I think a lot of pickleball games are won by just being that stubborn player that doesn’t miss. Not exciting … but true.
Awesome! Looking forward to more.
This was great! More please!
We’re all our own toughest critic and I get that. Having access to a coach like this is amazing, but also trusting his process. There’s a reason why he starts off with asking what you think you’re good at. Instead of allowing him to start guiding you, you start ranting about all your internalized perceived flaws, and comparing yourself to others. What I took from his approach that I thought you glazed over is you’re not playing singles. So being more of a chameleon like him will make not just you, but the both of you more positioned for success. That means your partner setting you up for your strengths and vice versa. We’ll all continuing improving on our weaknesses but playing to your strengths will put you in the best position to continue to win close matches.
Fair points. I realized this too when I was watching back the video. We'll bring it up again in Episode 2 so I can answer properyly
My comment is already here: “play to your strengths” is sage advice and I was a bit surprised Scott didn’t force you to name 3 or so good qualities in your play. He did come around to a few things like your serve. Weather they are working or if you need a change of strategy, knowing and relying on your strengths can be a big deal.
And thanks, I echo all the comments on how awesome this video was and how I’m looking forward to more!
This is YT gold. Keep it up! Subscribed.
This is an amazing show! Thank you. Exactly the kind of content i was hoping for
Good video. Thanks John and Scott.
Excellent. John, you dodged a bullet when Scott asked you about your vision … thought he might have gone there with line calls. 😂
Now I know what that guy meant when he called me an irritating instigator.
Haha, my mind immediately went to vision as in conceptualization, so it took me a minute to understand
@@johnkewpickleball Speaking of instigating … I just came up with a good one. We have played with many of the same people at our Lifetime for around two years … so pickleball family. The entire group has improved, most impressed with the ladies. I need to get a bunch of eye doc business cards, and hand them out to my secret Santa's. Their job will be to randomly hand them to a male player (I have a couple in mind, but would pick just one for “operation mess with a member”.
How about this … they hand him a card and say:
“I’ve noticed you have been having trouble with line calls, and I think we would all benefit if you went to this eye doctor”. 😜
Very helpful video John, thanks! Love hearing the strategy aspect of which shot or shots are the best option in different situations! And the more tools/skills we have in our arsenal the better we can implement our best shot strategy! Learned a lot! Thanks and happy holidays!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video, relevant topics and an awesome coach - Scott appears to be a very knowledgeable, experienced and well rounded coach who teaches not only technique, tactics and strategy but also things like deliberate decision making, team communication, mindset, etc. ... unlike the many "wannabe TH-cam coaches" who give advice without much coaching knowledge and experience.
I especially liked Scotts commentary on the importance of a) making an extra step/half-step in order to keep shoulders level and posture balanced and b) deliberate planning of 1-2 shots ahead when serving or returning serve before the ball is in play.
In the highlights of Scott’s senior pro play I recognized his doubles partner. I was hitting around by myself after a rainy morning while the courts in my hometown dried. This was in of Kearney Nebraska. A couple guys were drilling about and asked if I wanted to join in! I had no idea I was playing with a senior pro until we had finished up! Small world.
I absolutely love this show!!!
really like this John. Thx to Scott
Great episode!
Good podcast, looking forward to more!
Love this already! Only halfway through the video! Great intro!
Great video
Enjoy this series and learn a lot.
One thing I noticed through all of the rallies was cement feet. Rarely shuffling sideways once you got to the kitchen
Loved this John, keep up the brilliant work!
Good stuff!
I know, Scott knows his stuff. Cause he's an Eagles fan! Go Birds!! Go John Kew 💪 👏🏽 !
Go Birds!
Great stuff. Thank you!
John, thanks for being open to share your journey and pickleball weaknesses. Scott is a great communicator and coach. This is a great partnership. I find his ability to break the game down to simple choices is invaluable. I especially appreciate the thought in advance of the serve ie I’m going to hit my 3rd with my forehand to the guy running in. I also find it interesting how humble you are John. I think it’s a great trait in objectively evaluating paddles but perhaps a little more swagger could help your Pickleball. In hot saying you need to trash talk like Hayden but perhaps you review what things you should stop doing, start doing and keep doing.
I've been working with this advice. Scott's decision tree is beneficial, and we are starting to drill it. I've decided to improve my cross-court drive to pressure the returner who is trying to get to the non-volley zone. Also, locating the serving team in the spots mentioned to create forhands is an excellent tip.
Right on!
Wow.. Super helpful.. I about where u are.. I have great athleticism, reaction time and focused on technical skills.. but... It's about using the right tools at the right time. Scott has given some very good insights on what the right mindset should be. Thanks!!
#pickleballchris
#tylerwrenpropickleball
#OptaHealthAndWellness
#rawpickleballbuzz
#Pickleball
So many times I have felt "glued to the court" and unable to respond because I was not planted and ready to respond to whatever the other side did. I am still mentally responding to the previous shot rather than preparing for the next.
There are so many equipment variables: indoor/outdoor balls, ball mfgr, court surface, wind, temp, lighting... that throwing in multiple paddles is sort of nuts. It seems that settling on one and learning how to best use it would be the best philosophy. New clubs seldom fix a flawed golf game.
Look forward to coming along on your journey
This is great.
Happy to do Scott Squad drills with you if you are looking for partners!
Good to see you here, Marie! Always looking for drilling partners...
This series is a good idea as it applies to many more serious players. Agree with 2 keys to playing better ... Shot Selection, including staying aggressive but being smart about it, and consistency. Like the term modulation, makes me think of being aware to concentrate on keeping a consistent mindset. It's so easy to get lakadaisical and lose focus.
I'm glad to hear that this has broader appeal. It's not comfortable for my own story to be the center of attention, but I did this because I think Scott's coaching (and my relatability) could help a bunch of other people
Had to smile when you said you were still thinking about a previous point when you weren't aggressive so you went for it on a shot in the next point. Many of us can relate to that.
Looking forward for the journey
good stuff papa, love these
Love the tips provided throughout the video! I think it would be helpful to include the tips in the description for viewers to reference later rather than scrolling through the video to find them again.
Good stuff John Kew!!
John … not sure if you want this to include “ask Scott” questions. I will ask a question and cease and desist 😉if not the plan.
Scott pointed out lobbing with opponents forehands in the middle problematic. What is his thoughts on lobbing over backhand sides, and if topspin lob changes his risk/reward thinking?
John, you hit lob from right side, so lob down the line goes over opponent backhand, and cross court lob goes over other opponents backhand. I hit topspin on my lobs and found the cross court lob gives you a little more margin for error given the small court dimensions (lobs in pickleball will always be a precision shot). I also see success with high topspin lobs right down the center line, even against players with good overheads. I had avoided that expecting opponent to easily move to it for overhead, but noticed height and spin through opponents off. We aren’t playing Christian Alshon 😂, so we get away with more.
I love the idea of an Ask Scott section. We might start that on the next episode...
@@johnkewpickleball Thank goodness, I didn’t want to be banned from the “weird dude’s” club. Go take a break and enjoy the holidays. Next year you write your DUPR commitment in ink. 😋
I decided early on any major commitment to improvement would be spelled “injury”.
Excellent! Thank you
@johnkew, this video was fantastic! Ironically, I haven’t watched only because the thumbnail threw me off regarding DUPR Rating. I thought it was gonna be a video about Duper and it’s technology or something. But please keep these coming.
great stuff as always
This will be a VERY successful series of videos. 👍🏿
It may not add up to much but you might consider “buy me a coffee” to help subsidize the additional expenses incurred in their production.
John, this is fantastic. I’m right there with you looking ahead to 2025 and focusing on improving. My struggles are similar-mental consistency and drilling more instead of just playing. My wife (my doubles partner) and I are finally starting drills this week after Christmas.
But I have to be completely honestly, I don’t know how you sit in the studio with all those magnificent paddles around you and a mentor like Scott right there with you. I’d be grabbing a few paddles and dragging him to the court to drill and play. You’re far more patient and focused than I’d ever be-credit to you for that!
Thank you for all you do and allowing us a peak inside of your Journey.
Also, John what are you using right now as your "Go to" paddle right now?
Good to hear this series resonates with you, and we'll definitely incorporate some court time together in the series. My go-to paddle right now is split between the 11six24 Vapor Power (unreleased) and the Apes Pulse V
@@johnkewpickleball Thanks. A quick question At the end of the video, you had the following:
HOMEWORK FOR NEXT EPISODE
✅Split-Step/Heightened Awareness
✅Shorter Backswing
✅Instigator Drill
❌4-Person Drill, 5 MPH Speed Limit
❌Drill >50% Time on Court
Why are the bottom two with Red X's (❌) instead of green check marks (✅)?
Sorry to be a pain, but I watched the video, and then my wife (my doubles partner) sat down. I had her watch it so we could take some notes, and she noticed it, and we both were unsure what it meant.
Go Birds!
I think it would be good to see some in depth discussion on paddle position (and body position) between shots on a rally. It's something I've been focusing on for a while and it's helped my game. Being consistent having the paddle in the right position depending on your court position and where the next shot is coming from is important. As an example of something i see with a lot of players is having your paddle below the net level and at your side while at the kitchen.
Great point, and we do intend to discuss paddle position in subsequent episodes (e.g., teeter-totter relationship between paddle, net, and ball)
This is super helpful and relatable even as I try to get to 4.0 level. BTW the 2 seam or split finger fastball drops/dips while the 4 seamer stays up like a backspin drive😊
Thank you, Jeff! OK, no more "4 seamer" 3rd shot references from me😜. Thinking I'll stick with "breaking ball" or "splitter", what ya think?
Enjoy watching Scott play which is NOT often sadly. Learned he's #1 in combined DUPR in Seniors. Fun Fact, i'm friends with his DOPPELGANGER.
That RIPPLE sounds just like my (concept) OM EVO eva core.
Love this "level up" format for a pod.
Thanks, Kim! Who is my Doppelgänger???🤣
@@boulderpickleball320 Just a old high school buddy of mine. So similar, especially with the beenie on.
Thank you!
Great Podcast John as always! I’m excited for this I’m ready to follow along and be a sponge bc I feel like I am in this exact same boat!
14:26, QUESTION… I’m a left handed player, so right side, and I want to be this Chameleon, but I find it very difficult being a lefty and finding a partner, 1- who knows how to play with a lefty, and then 2- how to be that partner who can blend with anyone to raise their game and also to raise mine. Can you speak to ways or things I could look to or work on to improve this.
Right-handers are often quite clueless when playing with lefties, so you'll need to take the reins with most... at least until you find a steady partner to grow with:). Scott
Great video.
I made it to 1:51 before noticing the Pulse X. Please explain... (Pulse V is my main)
Good eyes! The X will be a new elongated shape Apes is offering. More of a standard 16.5 x 7.5 elongated
I saw the Pulse V back there also.
@@johnkewpickleball Nice! Hoping for a 116ish SW and 6.5+ TW. If so, I would definitely give it a try. Love the V!
Great concept for a podcast. I’ll definitely be following your journey. One suggestion. Please avoid using players first names and use left side, right side. For example, I don’t know “Dirk” and it’s sometimes hard to follow the advice. Thanks
Your observation about being a better partner is very familiar to me. I am very low key and never criticize but I also don't hype up. I am not all that competitive and am ok with losing. But I also do notice that my partners often play worse with me and wonder why.
Welcome to my world, haha. Seriously, this is an area that I'm hoping to see some of the biggest improvements through this series.
4.0 plateau is a real thing!
I found it fascinating that John basically refused to talk about the strengths of his pickleball game. I think this will ultimately inhibit his growth as a player. I've heard this be called "strength blindness" or having a "deficit mindset". The people that show the most growth are ones that take a much more balanced perspective to leverage your strengths, but also to address areas for growth.
Yes, this is definitely a hurdle I need to overcome during this series. We'll bring on a mental coach at some point to help
John, I don't know if this is going to make sense. Being a geek by training and natural propensity, I've noticed a certain type of body motion among many geeks that is a bit....angular and jerky, for lack of a better word. I believe that this is tied to how we are neurologically wired. It is subtle but obvious and relates to how we contract our muscles in terms of pace and coordination. When video taped myself, my very first thought was, "I move like Kew." So what helped is to try to rewire my brain by intentionally move more gracefully and smoothly. It is difficult to explain but basically look at the pros, and then mentally relax and try to move gracefully. In my case, I think of myself being more ballerina like. It has helped me become more accurate and lithe. I still have miles to go but recent research has shown that the brain is remarkably malleable even into the 50s and 60s.
Haha, "Move Like Kew" has a ring to it. I hear you, though. There does seem to be a pattern where highly analytical people bring stiffness into sports/physical performance. Here's something interesting: I'm much more fluid and graceful doing the things I learned in my youth (drumming and skateboarding). Some of that is just the hours spent doing it (10,000 hours rule), but I also think that children are able to more easily learn activities without their thinking brain getting in the way.
I like your advice to be more intentional about being smooth and graceful on the court. In some ways, it seems to contradict one of the core tenants of mindfulness meditation that I'm working on right now: you can't think yourself out of overthinking. Relating that to sports performance, people perform their best when they allow thoughts to pass and return to their intuitive state of focus to stay in the 'zone'. That being said, maybe being intentional about movement, as you recommend, can help you focus more on the body, and less on distracting thoughts.
@@johnkewpickleball Just reread my original post. I meant no criticism at all - and hope none taken. Simply sharing one minor detail that helped me, among the forest of details. Looking forward to this series as you chronicle your journey and will be following avidly!
Are you sure about this tip at 32:02? Isn’t it best to reset to the center towards a backhand when in the transition zone? What if your reset is too high and you hit cross court? Wouldn’t that give them access to a sharp angle to attack where it would be harder for your team to return? My thought is there's better margin for error when resetting to the center since the net height is lower.
And shouldn’t we be skeptical of driving while in the transition zone? (Unless the ball is clearly at least a bit above net height) What if my opponents are really good at countering? I'd be at a huge disadvantage being further back in the court where my opponents can counter to my feet.
Good questions, thanks! As for the transition zone reset off the bounce... while there's surely room for personal preference and strengths, my tip is based on both math and margin, as both are most favorable when hitting cross court. Middle is OK, given the low net and the potential for creating confusion, while straight ahead is the biggest mistake I see (at all levels), based on the higher net, the tiny margin (kitchen landing area), and the rather easy Erne it sets up.
As for part 2, check out Episode 2 in the "Analyzing Tape" segment, when I discuss some of the reasons to consider a simple drive vs a more challenging reset.
@@boulderpickleball320 Thanks! I think I may have misinterpreted the tip at first. When you say reset "cross court", do you mean have the trajectory of the ball cross over the center of the net where it's lower, and land the ball in the diagonal service court, but towards the center rather than out towards the sidelines? I've always thought of a cross court reset out wide towards the sidelines as a lower percentage harder to execute shot vs sending it somewhere towards the middle over the lower part of the net.
@@CyberSonic157 Going over the lowest part of the net saves up to 2", while utilizing the full geometric benefits of the cross-court reset to the corner of the NVZ and sideline adds up to 3.5 feet, compared to the straight ahead reset. Both are good, but I lean toward finding the most available kitchen in which to get the ball to bounce, especially when my team finds ourselves losing the court position battle.
@@boulderpickleball320 Thanks so much for the response! That makes a lot of sense.
Are you still using the hyper? I just got one and wow its actually pretty nice
Go birds
How about helping get from 2.8 to 3.5????
I play with 3.5 players but just cant win games. Tons of 1 point losses, and several times get trounced by 8-10 points during DUPR matches.
Really enjoyed that and was a fan of Scott's insights on 4.0 to Pro. Anyone know why he left so suddenly and was replaced with no goodbye or reason given?
Thanks for listening to 402P! Stoked to be able to continue to share with John and his ardent followers going forward!
Cool
That TV needs to be twice as big 😂
Haha, yep - the next episode will have a much bigger one