Hi Friend!

At almost every clinic I run, I see the same thing: players work hard to get to the ball, only to arrive just a beat too late—lunging, stretching, or popping the ball up. And almost every time, the problem started before their opponent even hit the ball.

They never stabilized.

Instead, they ran through the shot or were still falling forward or backward when it was time to react.

Enter the split step.

If you never played tennis, you may have never even heard of it. The split step is a small hop you take just as your opponent makes contact with the ball. It isn’t about athleticism—it’s about stability. It prepares your body to move in any direction instead of getting caught leaning the wrong way.

More importantly, it buys you time to make a better decision.

That tiny moment between your opponent’s contact and your next move is where better pickleball happens. The players who look “fast” at the kitchen line usually aren’t actually faster than you—they’ve simply given themselves an extra beat to read what’s coming and choose the right response. Move or hold. Attack or reset.

This weekend, I released a new YouTube video breaking down exactly how to time your split step, the mistakes I see most often, and three game situations where adding a split step can immediately improve your movement and consistency.

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AUGUST WOMEN'S INTENSIVES ARE HERE!

These half-day intensives are some of my favorite events to teach. With three full hours, we can go beyond quick tips and really change the way you think about the game: clear demonstrations, purposeful drills, lots of quality repetitions, and coached live play. Both sessions run with multiple coaches at an 8:1 player-to-coach ratio, so you're getting coached the entire time - not waiting in line for reps. My goal is for there to be actionable information you can use immediately.

3.0 - 3.5 Women's Performance Intensive
Smarter Decisions. Better Results.​
Saturday, August 22 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
$199 | Limited to 16 Players
Reserve your spot → [Registration Link]​

4.0 Women's Performance Intensive
Advanced Patterns​
Sunday, August 23 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
$199 | Limited to 16 Players
Reserve your spot → [Registration Link]​

My email list gets these first. I'll be sharing on Instagram later this week. If your weekend is open and your level fits, I'd love to have you join me. Good times are always had. 😎 Reply to this email with any questions.

See you on the court!

Jess
Founder, Athena Pickleball
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​P.S. I'm exploring premium 4-player and one-on-one coaching intensives ranging from one to three days for players who want a more personalized path to improvement. If that sounds interesting, just hit reply and let me know.

RESOURCES: ​
​Get 10% off CRBN gear with code: COACH JESS at www.crbnpickleball.com​
Pu​sh Dink Cheat Sheet Push Dink Cheat Sheet.pdf​
Split Step Cheat Sheet ​​Split Step Cheat Sheet.pdf​