Pickleball isn’t just a game—it’s a fantastic way to boost your overall fitness, especially if you’re looking to stay active as you get older. Drilling, or practicing specific shots and movements repeatedly, is a hidden gem that can supercharge your performance and support your functional fitness. Whether you join a dedicated drill session in your area or gather a few friends to run drills of your own, here’s why that extra practice matters—and a few simple ways to get started.
Tag: pickleball
Stable Feet, Solid Shots: Why Balance Matters in Pickleball (and Life)
Let’s get real: Nobody—and I mean nobody—hits a sweet dink when they’re dancing across the court. If you’re moving mid-swing, you’re compromising both the power and accuracy of your shot. Pair that with unsteady balance, and you’ll be flailing around trying to recover from your own momentum—not exactly a winning combination.
In my Proactive Aging Blueprint, I always emphasize the importance of functional movement and body awareness—both of which are crucial on the pickleball court. If your muscles aren’t conditioned to stabilize your joints, or if you’re not used to quickly setting your feet before striking the ball, you’ll find yourself off-balance more often than not. That sets off a chain reaction of errors and potential injuries.
Rotator Cuff Relief: How to Protect Your Shoulders and Keep Smashing
Let’s face it: pickleball can be murder on your shoulders if you’re not careful—especially as we get older and our joints start voicing their opinions. In my “blueprint” philosophy, we focus on total-body harmony—which means we don’t just play; we prepare and protect so we can keep playing for years to come. Your rotator cuff is a prime example of where that matters most.
Your rotator cuff is a group of four small muscles (and their tendons) that wrap around your shoulder joint, stabilizing it and helping you lift and rotate your arm. Whether you’re going for a powerful overhead smash or a sneaky drop shot, these muscles are the unsung heroes behind every swing. That is, until they start screaming in pain.
Squat Your Way to a Stronger Pickleball Game
Let’s face it, nobody wants to hobble off the pickleball court before they’ve had their fill of dinks and drives—especially our 50+ players who plan to keep smashing well into their golden years. That’s where squats come in. They’re one of the most effective ways to build bulletproof knees and protect yourself from unwelcome injuries.
When you have stronger legs and more stable knees, you’ll change directions faster, reach those sneaky drop shots, and reduce the chance of that “oops” moment where your knee decides it’s done for the day. Whether you’re pushing for a 4.0 rating or just want to keep playing socially without an ice pack on standby, squats are a game-changer for aging pickleballers.
