CJ Johnson Headshot
CJ Johnson
Tony Roig
Tony Roig

Playing Tip: That’s what Friends are For

You always want a friend by your side.

When you and your partner are together, you form a barrier that your opponents must penetrate. This is true whether at the baseline or at the kitchen line. You should try to move in unison back to front, side to side.

The only time you start apart is when your team is receiving the serve. The receiver needs to move up quickly to join his partner after returning the serve. Set up your side-by-side defensive barrier as soon as you can.

When you and your partner are not together, you leave open spots on the court for your opponents to target. The larger the opening the bigger the target.

Bev writes a weekly email blast for our pickleball club. She delivers the rules with clarity and a sense of humor. If you have a rules question post it in the comments below.

 

CJ Johnson

Hey there — I’m a professional three-sport athlete and coach who has spent my entire adult life earning a living from playing and coaching sports. Since I started coaching more than three decades ago, one thing has remained the same: My commitment to see students not as they are but as what they can become and to move heaven and earth to help them realize their untapped potential. You should know that when it comes to helping pickleball players over 50 live their best lives on and off the courts, I'm an expert. Good pickleball is not just technique; it's the mind and body working holistically. That's why I'm also a personal trainer and weight management specialist. When I’m chillin', you'll find me watching Star Trek with my husband John and our two fur babies, Shirley and Ralph. (Yes, Happy Days)

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