Planted feet keep you from playing like an octopus in a windstorm.
You know that shot you almost had?
The one where your paddle was technically nearby, your intentions were pure, and your body somehow turned into a folding lawn chair?
There’s a very good chance your paddle was not the problem.
Your feet were.
This week, Tracie talks with coach Leia Miller about one of the most overlooked skills in recreational pickleball: footwork. Not fancy footwork. Not “pretend you’re on Dancing with the Stars” footwork. Just the practical, game-saving kind that helps you stay balanced, controlled, and much less likely to flail.
Leia’s core message is refreshingly simple: plant before you hit.
Because when your feet are stable, your shot has a fighting chance. When they’re not? That’s when the reaching starts. The scrambling starts. The “octopus arms” appear. And nobody wants to be the octopus.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why your feet should be set before you make contact
Leia’s “big three”: feet first, patience, finesse
Why moving through the ball can wreck your control
What “sliding and gliding” at the kitchen line really means
How to avoid the dreaded “Grand Canyon” stance
Why crossing your feet is a pickleball betrayal
How to handle lobs without backpedaling into disaster
Why good footwork is also injury prevention
The big takeaway:
Plant before you hit.
Not after.
Not during.
Not while drifting forward like you’re chasing a runaway shopping cart.
Before.
Your feet give your paddle permission to behave.
So the next time a ball comes your way, resist the urge to lunge, reach, cross your legs, backpedal, or audition for community theater.
Set your feet.
Stay balanced.
Then hit.
Forward this to the player who keeps blaming their paddle. Their feet know what they did. Then tell them to SUBSCRIBE.
Short, practical insights for recreational players who want answers.
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