What are some tips for being a good partner during a tournament? Q&A with pickleball coach Morgan Evans
Partnership skills are largely invisible, heavily underrated, and very often the secret sauce to a player’s success. In my career, playing alongside Marcin Rozpedski, with Tyson McGuffin riding shotgun in a partnership masterclass, I learned a lot about how to treat a wingman to get the best out of them.
Here’s a few tips to help you raise your team at the next tournament.
Understand your role and communicate what that means for them — not just verbally, physically tell them. For example, if you’re a traditional right-side player, you can give your partner verbal cues of how much they need to take with their forehand in the middle. Physically move to positions that allow them the space to do so, and reinforce the principle after they do it well. If you’re the left-side player, then let your partner know that consistency over flashy attacks is what you need from them. Whatever you perceive your role is, talk about it. You don’t risk much by communicating, but you risk a lot by not communicating!
Have a plan, and at least one backup plan. Before each match begins, get together and talk about your strategy. Try to decide on three important parts of the game - Who are you going to return to? To whom and how are you going to hit your 3rd shot? And lastly, who will you focus on at the kitchen line? If you can answer these three questions, then you have the foundation of a solid strategy. If the answers to those questions happen to be correct, even better. If the strategy is executed well then you have a great chance to win. However, if things aren’t going well early on, call a timeout and ask yourselves another basic question: Is it the strategy or the execution that’s letting you down. If it’s the former, then switch things up with your return, 3rd shot, and/or dink direction. If it’s the latter then move your feet, get low, and trust that you will find your game.
Stay positive, even when all evidence points to a resounding defeat. Remember, we all live in our own little worlds and both you AND your partner may feel responsible when the chips are down. Any negativity at this point, even if it’s intended for yourself, can be received as accusation by your partner. Nothing ruins any chance of comeback momentum like that sinking feeling that your partner just confirmed your fear, that horrible fear that it is indeed you that’s letting the team down. Do the opposite, be the blame lightning rod. When the shit hits the fan, take the hit for your team. Your partner hits a dink in the net: “I should have put that earlier one away.” Your partner hits an obvious out ball: “I gotta make the out call, no worries.” Find a way to improve your partner's mindset and they will do the same for you, and together you will be better, I guarantee it.
Remember, you don’t always get to be the best player on the court, but you can choose to be the best partner.
- Morgan Evans
