Author: Staying Out Of The Kitchen

The Right of Way

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Ever find yourself apologizing for poaching a ball that you knew you could get only to worry afterward that maybe it was your partner’s? Or worse–not hitting a ball at all because you weren’t sure if it was yours?

As it turns out, there are a few “rules of engagement” that can help with those awkward middle-of-the-court moments.

My go-to guideline is the Forehand Rule. Typically, when both players are right-handed, the player on the left has the forehand in the middle and will often take balls down the centre, along with anything on the left side of the court. Sometimes they may even edge into the right side–or poach–if they feel they can get the ball and trust their partner has them covered for the next shot.

But what happens if you’re playing with a leftie? 

That’s where the next rule comes into play: communication. Talk to your partner and find out what they prefer. Some teams like the stronger player to take more middle balls, while others stick to forehands or specific court zones. 

The last option is the “Respect the X”. This tends to show up more at higher levels of play. It’s exactly what it sounds like–imagine an X across the court, and you’re responsible for the balls coming diagonally to you.

Ultimately, these are just guidelines to help prevent those awkward “your ball…no, your ball!” moments. Good communication can make a huge difference, and your pickleball partner will definitely thank you.

In the moment, it can be hard to remember all of this, especially as a beginner. But like anything in pickleball, it comes down to practice, practice, practice. And you know what that means….pickleball, pickleball, pickleball. 😉

Until next time… play fair, play hard, and stay out of the kitchen!

#pickleballaddiction #pickleballforbeginners #stayingoutofthekitchen

Slow Down?! Hell No!

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I’ve come to realize lately that I don’t do anything lightly. When I want to do something, I jump in with both feet and I don’t back down.

I never really thought of myself that way until recently. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, not really.

Let’s look at pickleball. I. AM. DEVOTED. Full stop.

Where it gets tricky is when my body is telling me to slow down and I don’t want to.

My feet. My legs. My back. My elbow. All shouting at me to take it easy.

But I don’t want to.

So what do I do? I research. That’s what I do.

Hamstring stretches. Plantar fasciitis stretches. Mobility exercises. Recovery tools. Compression sleeves. Different shoes. Different insoles. You name it, I’ve probably googled it at 10:00 at night while convincing myself I’m “being proactive.”

I even have a list of stretches I “should” be doing every few hours.

And yet… no magical solution.

Still no desire to slow down either.

So I’ll keep stretching. I’ll keep researching. And, realistically, I’ll probably keep playing more pickleball than my body would prefer.

I’m guessing this is a tale as old as time. What do you do when the thing you love most is also the thing making your body file formal complaints?

Maybe the answer is balance.

Or maybe the answer is just finding slightly better insoles.

Until next time… play fair, play hard, and stay out of the kitchen!

#pickleballaddiction #pickleballforbeginners #stayingoutofthekitchen

Serve & Stay

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I’ve been going down the rabbit hole lately trying to find the best drills for improving pickleball skills, especially for beginners.

When you first start pickleball, everything feels like a blur. You’re trying to learn how to keep score, remember all the unusual rules, decide whether the ball was in or out, and return shots from players who hit way harder than you expected.

Once some of the basics start to click, you naturally begin thinking about improving your skills. 

In my opinion, control is the foundation of better pickleball. It applies to every part of the game, starting with your serve.

As a beginner, it can be hard to know where to start. 

Here is a simple drill you can do alone or with a partner to practice a deep, consistent serve.

You’ll need:

  • A paddle
  • 8-10 balls
  • An optional target (cone, water bottle, etc.)

Place your target near the baseline at the back of the court. From the opposite side, serve each ball while aiming for the target. Track how many you hit. 

Then switch sides and repeat.

Less time in the kitchen, more time serving deep.

Big Bird vs. Short Stuff

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How to win against a tall pickleball player

For those of you that know me, you know that I am vertically challenged. However, I tend to surround myself with people who tower over me (husband, children, friends, etc.). Because of this, I don’t always notice how truly short I am. 

While I believe pickleball is for everyone, those of you with “giant” potential have some serious advantages! 

Generally, they have a long wingspan, allowing them to cover most of the court, especially at the kitchen, without even moving.

Here is a simple visual that shows you what I mean, taken from How To Play Against Tall Pickleball Players.

The red line displays height. The dotted lines show the trajectory of the highest shot possible. 

This height advantage does two things: 

  • it creates a bigger strike zone above the net. With the additional angle, they have more options for attacking (see the difference in space between the two dotted lines!); and
  • it creates additional overhead coverage. Tip: don’t try to lob the shot over them; they can reach it without even jumping! 

In addition to a wide wingspan, long legs can be a factor too. They cover in two strides what takes me five.

Lastly, tall players are able to hit down easier. When hitting down, it’s easier to keep the ball in, which allows them to hit harder. Because of this, they don’t need to be as accurate with their timing on shots. A shorter player usually hits from lower down. When they try to blast the same ball, it’s more likely to go into the net or go long.

That’s why it can be oh so intimidating when TWO tall people are standing at the kitchen line just waiting for your shot!

So, what do you do?

Keep it low

Use your vertical limitations to your advantage. Keeping the ball low, preferably at their feet is your best option. Roll your dinks instead of popping them up. Those high shots are way too easy for them to return. Think about it…it’s the farthest thing away from their arms. 

Body shots

Aim for their chest or belly. Because their arms tend to be longer, the positioning of their arms gets awkward when the ball comes directly at their core. Think chicken wing shot (picture this: lifting your elbow up awkwardly to hit a shot coming right at you).

Dink it out

Because of their long body and extra reach, they have the advantage with high shots. Try to play a dinking game to force more bending. Keep the ball short so they can’t attack. Remember they hit down easier so keep it low. Aim cross court to create angles, moving the players from side to side. 

Height gives an advantage but strategy wins points. If you can keep them bending, moving, and uncomfortable, you take away their biggest advantage.

And, as always, remember: play fair, play hard, and stay out of the kitchen!

Drills baby drills

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A few weeks ago, I attended a pickleball workshop at a local court. The focus was personalized tips and hands-on instruction, and one takeaway stood out immediately: drills matter. A lot. They can be a major factor in improving your game.

Full disclosure. I suck at dinking. For those who are unfamiliar or new to pickleball, a dink is a soft, controlled shot that lands in the kitchen. So when a kind woman I met at the workshop offered me feedback while I was doing drills, I was thrilled! 

Her advice was simple but effective. When standing ready to receive, she suggested that I follow the ball with my paddle. Instead of letting my paddle drop or fall to the side, track the ball with it. And wouldn’t you guess it, the advice worked! 

Below are a couple of beginner-friendly pickleball drills that can be helpful for improving your dink game.

Two-touch Drill

Players stand at the kitchen line. Player 1 will dink the ball over the net to Player 2. Player 2 will then tap the ball up to themselves once in the air (almost like catching the ball with the paddle)  before returning a soft dink back to Player 1, making sure the ball lands in the kitchen. 

The purpose of this drill is to learn how to control the ball and develop a soft touch.

There’s a great YouTube video explains this drill clearly and provides four ways to level up as you improve.

Figure 8 Drill

In this drill, Player 1 always hits diagonally across the court, while Player 2 always hits straight forward. The resulting pattern resembles the figure eight. 

This drill helps you to work on both your forehand and backhand. After some time, you can switch roles so that Player 1 hits forward and Player 2 hits diagonally. Beginners will likely move at a slow pace, but as your control improves, you’ll find your speed improves as well. This is a great drill for players at all levels.

Remember to keep your paddle centred in front of your body so that you’re always ready. And don’t forget the advice I received at the workshop: let your paddle follow the ball. When your paddle is already where the ball is headed, you’ll be more prepared and far more consistent.

And more importantly, always play fair, play hard, and remember to stay out of the kitchen!

#pickleballfun #pickleballdrills #beginnerpickleball

In or Out? Your call.

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We’ve all been there: the ball hits the line and everyone freezes. Was it in, or was it out? 

According to the 2025 USA Pickleball Rulebook, a player must see a space between the line and the ball at contact to call it out. 

Many social media posts tell us that it’s about perspective, and yes, that is a factor; however, if you’re unable to see a space, it’s best to call it in.

Official Rules

The most obvious rule is if the ball lands outside the court, it’s out. Easy peasy.

Where it gets confusing is on a serve. A served ball must clear the kitchen (Non-Volley Zone) AND its lines to be considered in. If the served ball touches any part of the kitchen line, it’s out.

After that initial served ball, the ball must land outside of the court to be considered out. A ball landing on any court line is in.

Courteous Rules

When playing doubles, if one player calls out and the partner calls in, it will be considered in.

All out calls must be promptly signaled by voice and/or hand signal. The hand signal for “out” is extending your arm straight above your head, palm open. The hand signal for “in” is extending your arm straight toward the court (parallel to the ground) and pointing to the spot where the ball landed.

Any ball that cannot be called out will be considered in. 

The call is made by the players on their side of the court. If you’re not sure, favour your opponents. No one wants to play with someone that is unfairly calling the shots.

Remember, perspective matters. If you can’t see a gap, it’s in. Play fair, play hard, and remember to stay out of the kitchen!

The Importance of Stretching Before Hitting the Court

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Recently I had a conversation with a friend about the importance of a warm up or stretching before pickleball. She told me that two of her friends have recently been injured playing pickleball-TWO injuries in one friend group!

The thought of getting injured and being unable to play is a very scary thought for me. 

To avoid the same fate, I looked into some simple warm-up stretches that can help prevent injury before you hit the court.

Prefer to watch instead of read? Here’s a 3-minute video where I show you the stretches.

It’s important to warm up the whole body. Below are a few dynamic stretches that can be done before play. Warming up helps increase blood flow to your muscles and improves joint mobility, which can reduce your risk of common pickleball injuries like ankle sprains or shoulder sprains.

Lower Body

A good stretch for the ankle is ankle rotations. This can be done while standing or sitting. Rotate your ankle in one direction 8-10 times then switch to the other direction. Then do it again on your opposite foot. Pointing and flexing the foot can give a good stretch as well.

Leg swings are another good stretch. If you need to, hold on to a bench or friend and swing one leg from side to side then back and forth. Do this 8-10 times then switch legs. 

Upper Body & Torso

I love arm circles because they feel so outrageous, and take up so much space. Swing your arm up and back 8-10 times in one direction. Switch the other direction then do the next arm in both directions. Follow up with some wrist rotations for both hands in both directions.

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart with your hands on your hips and twist your body from side to side 8-10 times. You can extend your arms out to get a bigger stretch along the side of your body.

These are just a few stretches that have helped me. Always check with a professional if you’re recovering from an injury or have specific concerns.

What stretches do you do before hitting the court? Let me know in the comments!

Perimenopause & Pickleball: A Midlife Match Made in Heaven

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PSA: pickleball can also be good for those of us that are going through some midlife “changes”.

It might be my age but there’s a lot of talk lately in socials about perimenopause. Okay, maybe I do think pickleball is the solution to most things (big smile), but hear me out.

How Pickleball Can Help During Perimenopause

Activity

  • Get a boost of endorphins with the cardio workout you get from the game. It improves heart health and burns calories–helping with mood swings, weight gain, and temperature regulation.
  • They say use it or lose it and I agree. Pickleball gets you moving! It could even help with stiffness and joint pain. 

Mental Health

  • Connect with people. Socializing can be a surprising way to boost your mood.
  • Movement helps reduce stress–and let’s be honest, smacking the ball can feel pretty therapeutic too!

If you can’t beat them, join them (the lighter side…)

Brain fog / Memory lapses

  • Can’t remember the score? Don’t worry–nobody else can either!

Hot Flashes

  • Feeling hot? Of course you are–you’re moving! That post-game glow? Just another reason no one will notice a thing. 

If you’re feeling like you need help managing your perimenopausal symptoms, think about playing pickleball. 

Grab a paddle, find a court, and see for yourself how good it feels! You won’t be disappointed!

#pickleballislife #thechange #stayingoutofthekitchen

Why You Should Play at the Kitchen Line in Pickleball

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If you’ve ever found yourself lost in pickleball reels, you’ve probably noticed something: the pros live at the kitchen line.

As a beginner, you might ask yourself why—and maybe you’ve been told to “get to the line” as quickly as possible.

While it’s not necessary, getting to the kitchen line early can give you a serious advantage.

Here are a few reasons why:

  • Offensive advantage
    Control the pace and angles. From the kitchen line, you can pressure opponents, putting them in a defensive position, and set up winning shots.
  • Positional advantage
    Being close to the net lets you hit downward shots and place strategic dinks easily.
  • Energy Efficiency
    Move less and volley more–saving energy and staying ready for the next shot.

The kitchen line might seem intimidating at first, but give it a try with some friends. You’ll be surprised how quickly your body adapts—and how much fun you’ll have.

#pickleballforbeginners #stayoutofthekitchen #pickleballislife

Dinking? What The Heck Is That?

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Back in my day, “dink” was a funny insult you’d throw at your brother. To this day, it’s still the one word that truly infuriates my husband. 

So it’s funny to me that the makers of pickleball decided to call a short shot a dink.

And that’s all it is. A short, soft shot.

(Cue the mic drop.)

As easy as it is to explain. It’s a lot harder to carry it through…at least for me. I get so excited to hit the ball, I often hit it way harder than I should.

Beginner Tips for Dinking

  • Loosen your grip: Holding the paddle loosely helps prevent pop-ups and gives you more control. 
  • Use your shoulder, not your wrist: Keep your swing compact. Let the motion come from your shoulder to keep things consistent and controlled.
  • Stay square and behind the ball: Face your opponent and ball directly. This body position helps you stay in control and avoid popping the ball up.

Want to see these tips in action? Check out these beginner-friendly videos:

For all you experienced ballers, share your tips in the comments. I’d love to learn from you!

Until next time, dink smart—and dink hard. 😉