Line calls can be a touchy subject! Often it’s difficult to tell if the ball is in or out. Tom Earley from the North Georgia Pickleball Club created a really clever solution when he built his home pickleball court. Everyone who plays there agrees that this neat trick makes playing easier. His solution has even been tested through daily pickleball play, clinics and their annual fun round robin tournament. Watch this video today to find out Tom’s secret to success.
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Learn more from Tom Earley! Mastering the soft game can bring your game to the next level. Many players love to smash the ball hard, but everyone knows top players use dinking to control the game and ultimately win. Check out this episode of Pickleball 411, as Tom demonstrates a key reason why you must have the dink as part of your game plus five steps to get started! Watch Dinking 101 – Five Steps to a Winning Dink today
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Good idea but I would have liked to have seen balls going out or touching on both 1″ and 2″ lines.
I think that you have something their and the USAPA should look into this. My 8+years playing pickleball the line calling seems to always causes a problem.
I don’t see any difference. As a former D1 volleyball official and D2 football official, you’re looking at contact points and anticipation. Line thickness is irrelevant to me. The inside of the line where it meets the court is the critical point.
Not sure why thinner lines make it easier?
Thanks
I guess my question would be does that mean that the person standing at the “kitchen” line is actually 1″ closer to the net? Making a diffence in reaching the ball for a volley or smash????
The edge closest to the net is the one that is shortened. The edge on the court side is still in the same place. The player will not be closer. Also, the kitchen is inclusive of the line – it doesn’t matter if that line is 3 inches or 1/4″ so foot faults would not be affected either. It doesn’t matter if you foot fault on the line or in the kitchen part – both sections are part of the entire area that makes up the kitchen. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!
I agree with Steve above. Mr. Early didn’t explain why one inch lines are better. Also, by eliminating one inch around the court, you have taken away the opportunity to make finesse shots.
I think this makes some sense. If looking at the picture up top and you were looking at the ball from above it would look in but the ball does not physically touch the line. If it were over just a little it would be touching the line as well as hanging over the line inside the court making it easier to tell if it is in or out. Would like to try it out and see if it makes a difference.
The author never explains how a 1″ line is better. ALL of the line, whether it is 1″ or 2″ wide is part of (inside) the court, and all of the kitchen line is part of (inside) the kitchen. Therefore it is the OUTSIDE edge of the line that matters, because it is that edge that delineates in or out of bounds. How, then, does making the line thinner make make it easier to call balls in out when looking at the outside of the line??
I am a recent addition to the North Ga. Pickleball Club and I noticed of course the inch difference on my first visit. I must admit, I have never had a close call there where I caught my self wondering “was that ball really out?” I think it would be great if the USAPA would adopt the one inch line.
I have used lines 3/4 inch, one inch, 1.88 inch and 2 inch and our group clearly prefers the 2 inch lines. on sideline calls it may or may not make a diffence but the baseline calls I think a2 inch lines is much easier to see than a 1 inch line especially when players are making these calls from the kitchen line………….we also have found yellow the choice of colors we use which allow for better visibility after the sunsets……….Larry Tucker
I think the outside of the line is the critical edge, as the line is inside the court.
Fascinating idea Meridith.
Makes perfect sense to me and makes me wish I’d have thought of it myself.
Time will tell if it catches on.
The frustrating part of “bad calls” is that it takes away the best shots of the day.
I know this won’t affect those players who see everything close as out when hit by their opponents, but it may help those who truly try to make good calls.
The width of the line cannot make any difference to weather the ball is in or out as the actual in/out line is the outer edge of the 2 inch strip. In medal matches where we have lines-people I would think the wider strip is better as they are sometimes looking over 50 feet to call a ball in or out. If players are calling their own lines they shouldn’t be looking at the 2 inch painted line but at the outer edge of that line so again the width shouldn’t matter.
a couple of questions: Can you toss the ball before you hit it, as long as it is struck properly beneath the naval line and paddle head below the wrist break?
Second: Is the NVZ line an imaginary “wall” that cannot be broken with an anticipation of a shot, an actual contact with the ball, or the follow through of that shot? In other words, can you break that vertical plane with a shot or not?
I would greatly appreciate an email answer, as I may not be able to find this specific site again.
thank you. I’ll pass your answers on to our group where they would be happy for clarification of those two points. (I didn’t find them in the rules).
The NVZ is only two dimensional and does not rise above the court surface.
I can predict how some opposing players will call any close shot “out.” No matter the width of the line. 🙂
The only place the 1″ line would make a difference is the center line on the serve. The server wouldn’t have that extra 1/2″ cushion for the ball to be considered “in.”
How the heck can you tell with the naked eye (as when playing) if a ball compresses or not. It makes little sense. Either you see it out or you don’t. So, it follows also that if you don’t call it out the ball is obviously in.
The one inch wide line versus the traditional two inch wide may make it easier for some people to call the line but it won’t make a diff for someone who is already adept at calling the lines. That’s all.