We’re not gonna lie. We think pro pickleball athlete Collin Johns is one of the most brilliant practitioners and analysts of the sport that we’ve come to appreciate as a chess match on court. On his Instagram account this week, after observing his girlfriend and sister compete in Austin, Texas, Johns posted 15 helpful tips for amateur pickleballers who enter tournaments.
You can read the whole mini-essay here:
Our faves:
- GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OUT BALLS!
- “Drive middle or line, not cross court.”
- “Lob, lob often.”
- “Look for 5th shot poaches after a good 3rd.”
It’s pretty dang cool that pros like Collin take the time to write up and share their actionable tips for free. It’s one of the things that makes this sport so infectiously unique.
In case you missed Johns’ compelling interview on The Dink explaining his “fading” strategy and other keen observations in his tournament play with top-ranked pro baller/brother Ben, you can watch it here:
