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Kenn Cervantes | Pickleball & Young Families

@kenn.pb

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🇵🇭🇦🇺🥒🎾 helping build the pickleball community
Code 'KEN' for 10% off @sixzeropickleball
Faves: Boulder Opal - Smooth & Coral Pro
@rewardchart.io

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Parenting is challenging, and so is being a kid. Here’s my strategy for helping my daughter move from “I don’t want to” to “can we come back tomorrow?”

(Sorry about the audio, I did not plan to capture this)

For some children, the task of trying something can be overwhelming to the point that they refuse to try at all. This can be frustrating to any parent trying to introduce a sport they love to a refusing child. But remember, they are the child, and you are the adult. So scaffold the introduction, “baby steps” before they can run.

Introduce the mechanics in a safer space. For this, I introduced just tapping the ball with the paddle, away from the main court area, worse thing that could happen is a ball to the face at this point.

Introduce a challenge. For this, she tapped it once, let’s try repeat what she has already successfully done…

Extend the challenge. For this, we want to try to go further than we ever thought possible 2 minutes ago? 4 taps in a row. Done.

Then introduce them to the main space and continue to scaffold. Most importantly celebrate every milestone!!!

And celebrate yourself for not making the situation even more traumatic. Well done you 👏👏

Follow for more tips.
Send to your parent group chat.

#pickleball #postiveparenting by @kenn.pb

They say the first point of the night sets the tone. First time at @padelclubaus, and I had to survive broken traffic lights to get there ⛈️😅. Love the space and surface, although the configuration of courts can be disruptive (for the other courts behind). Can’t tell whether it was the surface or the new shoes, but my feet were not as sore as they usually would, especially playing at this level. Hard to cut the clips to less than 20.

Solid session with Jimmy, @joshsangueza & @jasongnw
Watching the videos back there’s a lot of mid-point and end of point laughter and hands in the air. Good times. Sore body. by @kenn.pb

Monday night coaching drill sessions with @brianht.pb at @centralpick_sydney 930pm to 11:30pm. Yes… it’s a late sesh, but this lets me have dinner with the kids and put them to bed before I leave the house, so no complaints from me.

Currently configured with 5 courts, 4 people on each court matching your DUPR level. Only one court for < 3.5

Brian changes up the skill set to be drilled weekly, introduces the drills as a big group, then moves around offering individual pointers, adjustments on mechanics, tips on strategy, all that valuable stuff!
Then the later part of the session is gameplay, hopefully incorporating the skills you’ve just reinforced.

If you’re down to do this weekly they have monthly memberships where these sessions are included and members are prioritised over guests, as capacity is limited. Otherwise there’s a guest price…

Comment below any questions.

Obviously sharing cause I’ve found them valuable and enjoyable, and trying not to gatekeep 😅 by @kenn.pb

Feels like I was just having a conversation with @winstonchiro about looking for “barefoot style” pickleball shoes (wide toe box and zero drop heel) so I’m excited to try out @cuurt.sport’s Muuve shoes. Thank you so much for sending these over.

BTW: if you’re wondering why they didn’t send it in a shoe box (which I was also wondering), they explain it all in the thank you card… in short, the bag is wayyy better!

Let me know if you want a discount code 😘
#pickleball #shoes by @kenn.pb

When versing a left-handed player partnered with a right-handed player, the middle is strong, because both forehands are in the middle. But when both players have strength there, it adds to the confusion of whose ball it is to cover. The aim is to place it in “out of reach” middle territory so they have to decide to go for it, or leave it.

#pickleball #tips #sixzero

Sidenote: I’m really loving the @sixzeropickleball Smooth Boulder Opal by @kenn.pb

Which Erne was better? #pickleball
Definitely the last one that didn’t happen, cause my legs were too tired 😴 by @kenn.pb

Taping your paddle? Read this.
A few grams can change how your paddle plays. But where you put them matters. Swipe to find a setup that suits your game. 🏓

#pickleball #beginner #sixzero

Three ways to feel the weight
Same weight on the scales. Different feel on court. Total weight, swingweight and twistweight each tell a different part of the story.

Paddle twisting on off-centre hits? Side weight can help it stay steadier, making the sweet spot feel more forgiving. Placement makes a difference. Lower placement means less increase to your swing weight than a higher placement

Higher weight changes the swing
A little tape up top can add more behind your shots, provided you maintain your swing speed. The trade-off? More effort during those fast exchanges.

Handle weight changes balance
Handle weight can change the balance, but it won’t cancel out the effort of swinging a heavier paddle head. If your paddle feels sluggish, try reducing the head weight first.

Lead or tungsten?
Pre-cut strips or cut-to-length rolls: check the grams before copying someone else’s setup. The same length of tape doesn’t always mean the same weight.

A small change, then a test
Don’t judge your setup by one big drive. Test your dinks, resets, serves and quick volleys too. Change one thing at a time so you know what actually helped.

Apply it with care
Secure it properly and check for lifting edges before you play. Using lead? Cover it, wash your hands after handling and keep it away from children.

Tape is allowed. Limits still apply.
Before tournament day, check your setup against your event’s rules. Pay particular attention to how far the tape extends onto the paddle face.

🕚 Your quick placement guide
Added stability means increased sweet spot feel.
Added swing weight means increased power feel.
Your best setup is the one that works across your whole game. Start small, test it and adjust. Save this guide for your next paddle experiment. 🔖 by @kenn.pb

It’s tough to choose between the two of my latest mains. I’ve been playing with the Boulder for the past month, and I hate to say it, cause I feel like I’m ALWAYS saying it, but I REALLY like the Boulder Opal, BUT I still ALSO REALLY like the Coral Pro. I do like the idea of keeping a “collection of tools” (the actual word triggers warnings)
So, I think I’ll main both and depending on what the matchup will need most, will determine which paddle I use.
You can tell @sixzeropickleball have done their research with all the cutting edge tech they are putting into consumer hands, often replicated. The smooth surface of the smooth boulder is pretty deceiving, the spin it generates is still very impressive. My biggest like it the
“ball pocketing” feel I get with the boulder, almost a tennis racquet like sensation.
#pickleball #sixzero
I can’t choose between the two, so I’m sticking with
“BOTH” haha by @kenn.pb

PICKLEBALL PLAYERS ARE LOSERS.
Some losses are worth it. A few points while learning a drop. A tough game that exposes a weakness. Don’t let winning today become the limit of your game tomorrow. 👀

#pickleball #sixzero

LOSE A POINT. WORK ON THE SHOT.
Two missed drops and suddenly it’s “just drive everything”? Familiar. In a practice game, give the shot enough reps to learn something. What shot do you abandon too quickly?

LOSE THE EASY MATCHUP.
You know where the easy points are. But what happens when you hit to the player who makes you uncomfortable? Take the tougher game occasionally. Find something new to solve.

NO MEDAL. STILL NOT A WASTE.
Pressure has a way of showing you what needs work. Did your returns stay deep? Did your resets hold up? Leave with one clear practice priority—even if you leave without a medal.

LOSE THE NEED TO LOOK GOOD.
Being decent at pickleball doesn’t mean being good at every shot. Let yourself look awkward while you learn. “I’m working on this” is a perfectly good explanation.

LOSE THE EXCUSES.
“We should’ve won” won’t tell you what to practise. Pick something you can control: your return, your patience, your positioning. What will you work on before the rematch?

THE SCORE ISN’T THE WHOLE STORY.
Lost 7–11—but finally trusted your backhand? Notice that. The score records who won; it doesn’t record every step forward. What small win did your last game hide?

LOSING ISN’T THE LESSON.
Losing alone doesn’t make you better. Notice what kept costing you points, choose one adjustment, then practise it. Give your next session a purpose beyond “play more.”

PLAY TO WIN. BE WILLING TO LOSE.
Want the win. Compete for it. Just leave room for the uncomfortable work that builds a better game. What are you working on that the scoreboard doesn’t show? by @kenn.pb

@bigwaustralia with the emotional support, think this might be a great gift for you pickle bestie #pickleball by @kenn.pb

You may be winning, but are you improving?
#pickleball #sixzero

… and obviously… drill more. by @kenn.pb