​Hey Reader,​

Quick one today.

The single fastest fix for your reaction time on the court isn't speed training. It's the split step.

Right before your opponent makes contact, hop -> not a big jump, just enough to get off your heels and onto the balls of your feet. Land right as the ball leaves their paddle.

Here's why it works: standing flat-footed, your first move is always a push-off. That costs you a half-second you don't have. Already in motion from a split step, your first move is a step, not a launch... and you've already started reading where the ball's going.

‼️ Try it today: every time your opponent swings, hop. Time it to their paddle, not the ball. You'll feel slower at first. Then noticeably faster.

One more thing before you go today.

I'm starting to bring in occasional sponsors here, companies whose products genuinely fit this audience. You won't see this often, and I'll always flag it clearly when an email includes one, like today. They get exposure to a great audience (like you! 🫵) and you get a great discount on a product or service that can help change your game!

Today's sponsor is Simple, an app built around small sustainable habits instead of extreme overhauls. No calorie counting, no restrictive diets.

That's the same principle behind everything we teach at Pickleball Hut & Dynamite Doubles: one specific adjustment, repeated consistently (like a split step) beats a total overhaul nobody actually sticks with. If feeling lighter and quicker on the court is on your radar, it might be worth a look.

Go play well,

Trey

P.S. The split step is just the entry point. Helle has a whole footwork system (what she calls "the box") that covers exactly where your feet should be on every shot, forehand or backhand. It's one of the most overlooked parts of doubles, and it's inside Dynamite Doubles.
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