Improving your pickleball game often comes down to the advice you wish you had known when you first started. Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate player, these 10 essential pickleball tips will help you play more consistently and make better decisions on the court.
1. Use the "Dip" to Reach the Kitchen
The best way to reach the kitchen line is not by hitting your drive as hard as possible. Hard, flat drives often sail long or allow opponents to hit a strong counter. Instead, aim for about 70 percent pace and use a low-to-high motion to create "dip" over the net. This forces your opponents to hit up on the ball, giving you an easier third-shot drop so you can advance forward.
2. Brush the Sides for Better Spin and Deception
While many players only brush the back of the ball to create spin, advanced players also brush the sides. This technique allows you to direct the ball with the angle of your paddle rather than having to move your entire body behind it. This makes your footwork more efficient and your shots more deceptive to your opponents.
3. Use Early Preparation for Speed-Ups
Effective decision-making depends on your preparation. You should only attempt to speed up the ball if you are prepped early with both your feet and your paddle. If you can get your paddle-side leg and paddle tip behind the ball early, you can attack with pace or spin. If you are late or the ball is outside your body, it is safer to play defensively.
4. Shrink the Court by Targeting the Middle
If you are facing skilled "dinkers" who use sharp angles to keep you off balance, start targeting the middle of the court. Dinking middle "shrinks the court" for your opponents, as they won't have the same angles to work with. This strategy also makes it much easier for you to anticipate where their next shot will land.
5. Target the Backhand at the Baseline
When your opponents are at the baseline, especially early in a match, target their backhands. Most players are significantly more comfortable hitting forehands from the back of the court. Aiming for the "inside foot" of the receiver can also force them to choose between a difficult backhand or an awkward run-around forehand.
6. Target the Forehand at the Kitchen Line
Once your opponents reach the kitchen line, the strategy flips: target their forehand side. This often creates a "chicken wing" effect where the player is unsure whether to use a forehand or a backhand to counter. Since players typically defend most of their body with their backhand at the net, targeting the forehand can disrupt their rhythm.
7. Play with Depth and Movement at the Kitchen
Do not just "hug" the kitchen line statically. To hit aggressive dinks, you need space to hit the ball at its apex. Use a pivot or drop step to give yourself room to work. Additionally, move your opponents by dinking with depth — pushing them off the line makes them feel uncomfortable and creates offensive opportunities for you to "bait" a high ball and jump back up to the line for a putaway.
8. Float and Read Your Partner's Drop
Instead of blindly crashing forward to the net, learn to read the quality of your partner's shots. When your partner hits a third-shot drop, "float" into the mid-court and read the trajectory. If it is a good drop, advance to apply pressure. If it is a "bad" drop (left high), stay back or retreat to defend the opponent's attack. As the saying goes: "Don't chase the trash."
9. Keep Firefights Short and Compact
In fast-paced exchanges at the net, big swings are a liability. If you follow through too far, you will be in a compromised position for the next ball. Keep your volleys and counters short and compact so you can "reload" your hands quickly. Staying ready for the "next one" is often what wins the point in a firefight.
10. Understand the "Teeter-Totter" Effect
This concept helps you position your paddle correctly based on the ball's trajectory. If your opponent's paddle is low (meaning they must hit up on the ball), you should be prepared to hit down. Conversely, if their paddle is high and they are hitting down, you must get low and drop your paddle to defend and reset the ball.
By implementing these professional-level strategies, you will find yourself winning more points and playing a much smarter game of pickleball. For more tips, subscribe to the playpickleball.com community.