--- title: The Pickleball Blog | Control the 'T' Sports | Sara McInnes (3) description: Welcome to the pickleball blog at Control the 'T' Sports. We aim to help you learn more about pickleball, help you improve your game, and learn more about pickleball gear. (3) --- [![CTSPORTSLOGOsmall](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CTSPORTSLOGOsmall.png?width=300&height=75&name=CTSPORTSLOGOsmall.png) ![CT\_Logo1](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CT_Logo1.png?width=450&height=111&name=CT_Logo1.png)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball) [![CT\_Logo1](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CT_Logo1.png?width=450&height=111&name=CT_Logo1.png)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball) - [Home](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball) - [Shop](https://controlthet.com) - [Testimonials](https://controlthet.com/pages/control-the-t-sports-testimonials) - [Contact Us](https://controlthet.com/pages/contact-us) - Blogs - [Pickleball Blog](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball) - [Squash Blog](https://blog.controlthet.com/blog) - [Tennis Blog](https://blog.controlthet.com/tennis) - [Home](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball) - [Shop](https://controlthet.com) - [Testimonials](https://controlthet.com/pages/control-the-t-sports-testimonials) - [Contact Us](https://controlthet.com/pages/contact-us) - Blogs - [Pickleball Blog](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball) - [Squash Blog](https://blog.controlthet.com/blog) - [Tennis Blog](https://blog.controlthet.com/tennis) [The Pickleball Blog | Control the 'T' Sports](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball) Categories **Browse All Categories** - [Pickleball](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/tag/pickleball) ## Sara McInnes #### More from Sara McInnes [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pickleball%20and%20net%20stock%20pic%20(No.%201408893167).jpg?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Pickleball%20and%20net%20stock%20pic%20(No.%201408893167).jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/simple-reasons-youre-losing-games-you-should-be-winning) ### [Simple Reasons You’re Losing Games You Should Be Winning](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/simple-reasons-youre-losing-games-you-should-be-winning) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on November 25, 2025 Have you ever played a game that ended so fast you were left wondering what even happened? You can’t figure it out because it’s all just a blur. [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/simple-reasons-youre-losing-games-you-should-be-winning) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Close%20up%20backhand%20(No%20-%201979080235)-1.jpg?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Close%20up%20backhand%20(No%20-%201979080235)-1.jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/backing-up-in-pickleball-a-step-in-the-right-direction) ### [Backing Up in Pickleball: A Step in the Right Direction?](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/backing-up-in-pickleball-a-step-in-the-right-direction) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on October 31, 2025 I’ve been noticing that more and more players are taking a step backwards to fire the ball. [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/backing-up-in-pickleball-a-step-in-the-right-direction) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/High%20volley%20(No.%202500341331)%20(1).jpg?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=High%20volley%20(No.%202500341331)%20(1).jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/the-art-of-lobbing) ### [The Art of Lobbing](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/the-art-of-lobbing) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on October 31, 2025 Lobbing in pickleball is a bit like adding a twist to a familiar tune: unexpected, strategic, and occasionally controversial. [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/the-art-of-lobbing) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hubfs/Pickleball%20on%20side%20of%20court%20stock%20pic%20(No.%202011278296).jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/is-team-play-taking-over) ### [Is Team Play Taking Over?](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/is-team-play-taking-over) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on September 19, 2025 The first Major League Pickleball (MLP) event, which occurred in the latter half of 2021, was also the first large-scale team event for the sport. [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/is-team-play-taking-over) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jump%20smash%20shot%20(No.%202515797867)%20(1).jpg?width=1120&upscale=true&name=Jump%20smash%20shot%20(No.%202515797867)%20(1).jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/sharpen-your-game-2-person-pickleball-drills-that-actually-work) ### [Sharpen Your Game: 2-Person Pickleball Drills That Actually Work](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/sharpen-your-game-2-person-pickleball-drills-that-actually-work) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on August 29, 2025 Let’s face it - pickleball drills aren’t exactly what people call “fun.” [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/sharpen-your-game-2-person-pickleball-drills-that-actually-work) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pickleball%20gameplay.jpg?upscale=true&width=720&upscale=true&name=Pickleball%20gameplay.jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/the-social-impacts-of-pickleball) ### [The Social Impacts of Pickleball](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/the-social-impacts-of-pickleball) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on August 29, 2025 Before entering the world of pickleball, I was fully immersed in soccer and downhill skiing. [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/the-social-impacts-of-pickleball) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Women%20and%20man%20partner%20(No.%201724071267).jpg?width=1120&upscale=true&name=Women%20and%20man%20partner%20(No.%201724071267).jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/hitting-to-the-feet-an-underrated-pickleball-strategy-youre-not-using-enough) ### [Hitting to the Feet: An Underrated Pickleball Strategy You’re Not Using Enough](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/hitting-to-the-feet-an-underrated-pickleball-strategy-youre-not-using-enough) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on August 29, 2025 If you're reading this, chances are you're already hooked on pickleball - maybe even obsessed. At some point, you've gone from just trying to get the ball over the net to actually thinking about ... [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/hitting-to-the-feet-an-underrated-pickleball-strategy-youre-not-using-enough) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2512690981.jpg?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=shutterstock_2512690981.jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/lesson-match-when-students-struggle-to-apply-what-they-learn) ### [Lesson → Match: When Students Struggle to Apply What They Learn](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/lesson-match-when-students-struggle-to-apply-what-they-learn) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on July 29, 2025 One of the reasons pickleball has become such a phenomenon is because it’s instantly fun. [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/lesson-match-when-students-struggle-to-apply-what-they-learn) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pickleball%20and%20net%20stock%20pic%20(No.%201408893167).jpg?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Pickleball%20and%20net%20stock%20pic%20(No.%201408893167).jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/kitchen-violations-10-pickleball-hot-takes-that-might-offend) ### [Kitchen Violations: 10 Pickleball Hot Takes That Might Offend](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/kitchen-violations-10-pickleball-hot-takes-that-might-offend) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on June 27, 2025 Pickleball is no longer just a game for retirees in sunny Floridian cul-de-sacs. [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/kitchen-violations-10-pickleball-hot-takes-that-might-offend) [![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/unnamed%20(2)-May-23-2025-12-32-45-3341-PM.jpg?upscale=true&width=1024&upscale=true&name=unnamed%20(2)-May-23-2025-12-32-45-3341-PM.jpg)](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/why-players-are-stepping-back-from-the-kitchen-line) ### [Why Players Are Stepping Back From the Kitchen Line](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/why-players-are-stepping-back-from-the-kitchen-line) By [Sara McInnes](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes) on June 11, 2025 The mantra to "get to the kitchen and stay there" has echoed through pickleball circles for years - sometimes with more conviction than reason. [Read More](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/why-players-are-stepping-back-from-the-kitchen-line) [Prev](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes/page/2) [All posts](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/all) [Next](https://blog.controlthet.com/pickleball/author/sara-mcinnes/page/4) ![CT\_Logo1](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CT_Logo1.png?width=450&height=111&name=CT_Logo1.png) ## **JOIN OUR PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY** ©2026 Control the 'T' Sports [Privacy Policy](https://controlthet.com/policies/privacy-policy)  [Terms & Conditions](https://controlthet.com/policies/terms-of-service) - - -