In pickleball, what separates a beginner from an advanced player isn't flashy shots or raw power — it’s shot decision-making. Every rally is a series of small choices that determine whether you win or lose the point.
To level up your game, you need to stop playing on impulse and start playing high-percentage pickleball. Here is a breakdown of how to make the right decisions from every area of the court.
1. The Backhand Dink: Slice vs. Roll
Many players believe a slice dink is purely defensive and a roll is offensive, but that’s a misconception. The right choice depends entirely on your positioning and the ball you receive.
When to Roll: Choose the roll when you are on balance and can get your outside leg right behind the ball. Wait for the ball to reach its apex to generate maximum topspin.
When to Slice: Use the slice for balls that pull you outside of your balance point. The slice provides extra reach and the necessary loft to get shallow balls back over the net.
2. To Attack or Defend?
The "speedup" is often glorified, but a bad speedup can put your team at a massive disadvantage. Before you initiate a firefight, check these three criteria:
- Court Position: If you or your partner are pulled out wide, do not attack. Instead, hit a defensive dink to the middle to reset your positioning.
- Balance: Good attacks require you to be on balance. If you are running or reaching, you won't be ready for the ball that comes back at you.
- The "Next Ball" Readiness: At high levels, the initial speedup rarely wins the point; it’s the shots that follow. If you aren't prepared for a counter-attack, stay defensive.
3. The "Ben Johns" Strategy: High-Percentage Dinking
The best players in the world, like Ben Johns, stay at the top because they consistently choose the highest-percentage shot available.
- Respect the Angle: If an opponent hits an aggressive crosscourt angle that leaves you compromised, don't try to "ego dink" an aggressive angle back. The smartest move is a lift dink to the middle, which resets the point and gets you back into an offensive position.
- Mind the Depth: If you are pushed deep or dealing with a net-dribbler, avoid the temptation to be aggressive. Speeding up from a deep position is risky because you aren't at the kitchen line to "clean up" the return.
4. The Baseline Dilemma: Drop or Drive?
On the third shot, the "drop vs. drive" debate is usually decided by the height and location of the ball.
- The Transition Zone: If the ball bounces high and you can set your feet, a compact drive is effective. However, if the ball is at your shins or below, a drive will likely fly out; stick to a soft drop.
- The Apex Rule:
- Drop it if you can catch the ball on its descent after it has reached its apex.
- Drive it if the ball is still traveling upward or has not yet reached its apex.
- Balance Check: If you are moving while swinging, it is very difficult to hit an accurate drop. In these cases, hit a low drive to elicit a simpler response that you can then drop while on balance.
By focusing on these high-percentage decisions rather than flashy winners, you’ll find yourself winning more rallies and moving up the ranks.