Pickleball is a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. However, if you want to take your game to the next level and play like a pro, there are a few pickleball strategies you need to know.
In this guide, we will teach you the ultimate pickleball strategies that will baffle your competition and help you become the king, or queen, of the court.
You will learn how to get better at pickleball, how to keep the ball low, how to drop shot, chop, lob, and smash, and all the pickleball strategies you need to know to become a pro pickler!
One of the key strategies to learn to help you get better better at pickleball is to keep the ball low.
The ability to keep the ball low during competition is what sets the best pickleball players apart from the rest. By keeping the ball low in pickleball, you make it harder for your opponent to execute aggressive plays.
If you keep the ball low, your opponent has less of an opportunity to go on the attack and rack up points against you. That's why it's crucial that both casual and serious players master this essential skill.
When the ball is hit excessively high, it is considered an attackable ball. If your opponent gets a good look at such a ball, they can easily score with a powerful shot or smash, forcing you and your team to go on the defensive.
Below are some key strategies to keep the ball low and get better at pickleball:
1. Don’t Hit Low-to-High Shots too hard
A soft touch is an excellent method for keeping the pickleball low when using this shot. Try hitting a dink, drop, or reset shot, to increase your chances of winning the point.
2. Aim at your Opponents Feet
You don’t want to give your opponents the ability to hit a smash shot or a powerful volley. In order to do this, you need to aim the ball at your opponent's feet. This will keep the ball low on the opponent's side and keep you on the attack.
3. Use Quick Feet to get in position early
Fast feet allow you to get in position early and hit your shot at the best moment. Moving toward the oncoming ball and hitting it as soon as possible sets you up for the best chance at keeping the ball low on the opponent's side.
4. Be aware of your grip pressure on your paddle
When playing an intense game of pickle, it's a common mistake to grip the paddle tighter than you should. This causes the ball to bounce off your paddle a lot harder, which tends to send the ball higher than intended. To keep the ball low in pickleball, relax your grip on the paddle.
5. Don’t Flick Your Wrist or Break Your Elbow
One of the main culprits of sending the ball unintentionally too high is excessive use of the wrist and/or elbow during your swing. You’ll want to hit your shots swinging primarily from the shoulder and keep the wrist and elbow relatively stable with only minor motions.
A powerful, downward-facing overhand shot into the opponent's court, typically in response to a lob, high return, or high bounce.
To get better at Pickleball you need to be able to master the smash. Smash shots work best when the paddle is fully stretched over the head and the elbow is straight. When using a smash shot, it is best to aim at your opponent's feet or at an open area of the court.
Make contact with the ball at its highest point, and transfer your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you smash.
Stacking occurs in doubles pickleball when both players on a team stand on the same side of the court prior to the service and then switch to their favorite side of the court.
The player's stack on one side instead of taking up position on both in a normal pickleball game, hence the name "stacking."
For some, stacking is a complex tactic that should be used only by the very greatest players in the world. However, stacking is a viable tactic at any stakes game. It's crucial that you and your partner talk about this before the match and continue to communicate while playing. While you may feel uncomfortable at first, you will quickly become accustomed to this new strategy and it will help you get better at pickleball.
Some of the advantages of stacking are as follows:
Similar to other racquet sports, a pickleball rally consists of back-and-forth play between players. They take turns hitting the ball back and forth between themselves (or two doubles teams). A rally starts the moment the ball is served until the moment a fault happens, e.g, the ball is hit out of bounds, hits the net, etc.
Some pickleball players prefer to play a rally scoring method, rather than the traditional scoring method wherever only the serving player or team can win a point. In the rally scoring method, anyone can win a point, regardless of who served to start the rally.
A drop shot is a soft shot struck off a bounce from deep in the court that is designed to land in the opponent's No-volley zone (kitchen), preferably close to the net.
The drop shot is one of the most difficult shots to master in pickleball and by practicing this shot you increase your chances to get better at pickleball.
This type of shot is primarily the third shot in a rally. It allows the service team to approach the net following the return of service. It can also be a great tactic to use whenever the opponents are at the net.
Dink responsibly, it's addictive!
Pickleball palooza, party on the court.
Dill with it, and play Pickleball.
A chop shot is a tactic to add backspin to the ball and send it in a direction your opponent does not expect.
Pickleball is not all about power shots and smashing. You need to be able to change the direction of the ball and confuse your opponents to get better at pickleball.
A chop shot is achieved by sliding the paddle across the center and lower parts of the ball. This causes the pickleball to spin backward as it flies.
Ideally, you want your chop shots to land in the kitchen (no-volley zone) as this means your opponent can't hit it on the full and counteract the spin. If chopped successfully, the ball will spin in a different direction when it bounces.
In pickleball, a lob stroke is a lofted shot that propels the ball far overhead and deep into the back of the court.
The goal is to surprise the opponent or drive them back to the baseline. It's also a good defensive shot to use as you can buy time and get yourself into a great position for an attacking shot.
Use the lob shot to lob the ball over the head of your opponent when they are standing on the no-volley zone line or close to the net. Be wary, your opponents might respond to a lob with an overhead smash and put you on the defensive.
If you are wondering how to get better at pickleball, it is crucial that you practice perfecting the lob shot, and the other shots mentioned above. Continue reading for more strategies to help you improve at pickleball.
Pickleball is a game that requires quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination. The more you play, the better your reflexes will become, and the more comfortable you will feel hitting the ball.
In addition, Pickleball singles strategy is important to master if you want to improve your skills. Pickleball singles strategy involves using different shots to keep your opponent off balance. The more you play, the better you will become at using different shots and strategies.
So if you want to get better at Pickleball, make sure to play as often as possible.
Pickleball is a fun sport that can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. If you're looking to improve your game, one of the best things you can do is find a partner who can help you with your Pickleball doubles strategy.
Pickleball doubles is all about communication and teamwork, so it's important to find a partner who you can trust to make the right decisions on the court.
When choosing a Pickleball doubles partner, look for someone who shares your goals and who you feel comfortable communicating with. With the right partner by your side, you'll be able to take your pickleball game to the next level in no time!
Benjamin Johns and Tyson McGuffin are professional picklers who have made a living playing pickleball. They began their career by watching other players and learning from their techniques. Today, they are among the top-ranked pickleball players in the world and have a fierce rivalry.
In an interview, Benjamin said, "When we first started playing, we would watch other people and try to learn from them. We would study their strategies and find out what worked and what didn't. We would also experiment with our own strategies and see how they worked against different players."
Tyson added, "It's important to always be learning and adapting. The pickleball community is constantly changing and evolving, so you need to be able to change with it."
By watching other players and learning from their techniques, Benjamin and Tyson have become two of the best pickleball players in the world.
If you want to perfect your swing and get better at pickleball, one of the best things you can do is practice in front of a mirror. This will allow you to see exactly what your form looks like and make any necessary adjustments.
It can be helpful to videotape yourself as well so that you can go back and analyze your technique more carefully. In addition to practicing your swings, it is also important to focus on your footwork and positioning. Make sure you are positioned properly in relation to the pickleball court before you swing so that you can make the most of your shot.
By taking the time to practice and improve your pickleball skills, you'll be sure to impress your opponents the next time you hit the court.
If you're looking for a fun and challenging way to test your skills and get better at pickleball, why not join a pickleball league or tournament?
Playing against other pickleball enthusiasts is a great way to improve your game and learn new pickleball strategies. Plus, it's a great way to meet new people and make friends.
So whether you're a pickleball novice or a seasoned pro, be sure to sign up for a pickleball league or tournament today. Who knows, you might just come out on top!
Playing pickleball is a great way to spend some free time and it can also turn into a career if you’re good enough. If you want to make money playing pickleball, follow the advice in this blog post and put in the work. You won’t regret it when you’re cashing those tournament checks! And if you need any gear to get started, be sure to swing by our pickleball shop.
We’ve got everything you need to take your game to the next level. Happy Pickling!
