Take Your Pickleball Game to the Next Level: Smart, Simple Tips for Serious Improvement

Whether you're new to pickleball or have been playing casually for a while, there's a moment when the lightbulb turns on—you realize that strategy, shot selection, and control matter just as much as enthusiasm. To help you elevate your game, we’ve put together a series of tips that blend fundamentals with smart tactics.

Master these skills and you won’t just play better—you’ll start winning more too.

1. Learn to Dink with Purpose (Both Cross-Court and Straight Ahead)

One of the biggest differences between beginner and intermediate play is the ability to dink. Dinking isn’t just about tapping the ball over the net—it’s about control, patience, and positioning.

Practice both cross-court dinks, which give you more margin for error, and straight-on dinks, which can surprise your opponent. The goal is to keep the ball low and unattackable, forcing errors or setting up your next move.

Tip: Think of dinking as playing chess—set up your position before going for a winning shot.

2. Patience Wins Points

It's tempting to try and end a rally quickly, especially when things get fast. But the best players know how to wait.

Be willing to engage in longer dink rallies or exchange soft shots until your opponent makes a mistake—or gives you the perfect opportunity to strike. You don’t need to end every point in three hits.

3. Know When to Go Soft or Hard

Pickleball is all about change of pace. Learn when to slow the game down with dinks or drop shots, and when to speed it up with drives or putaways.

Trying to hit everything hard? That’s a recipe for unforced errors. On the flip side, playing too passively lets your opponent control the game.

Rule of Thumb: If the ball is high and you’re in good position—go hard. If it’s low or you're off-balance—reset or go soft.

4. Don’t Force the “Kill Shot”

It’s easy to fall into the trap of swinging for a winner every chance you get. But unless the shot is clearly set up—don’t force it.

Trying to hit a winner from a bad position often leads to hitting the ball into the net or out of bounds. Stay disciplined and wait for a truly attackable shot.

5. Watch the Paddle, Not Just the Ball

One of the most underrated skills in pickleball is reading your opponent's body language—especially their paddle.

Before the ball even leaves their paddle, you can often tell:

• - If it will be fast or slow

• - Where it’s headed

• - Whether they’re about to drive, dink, or lob

Start watching their paddle and shoulders to anticipate better and react faster.

6. Aim for Their Feet or Weak Side

A common (and effective) tactic? Hit to the feet.

Balls at the feet are hard to return with control, often popping up for easy putaways. You can also exploit their backhand side, especially if it’s weaker than their forehand.

Pro Tip: Don’t just hit to their backhand—test both sides and look for weaknesses.

7. Develop a Reliable Drop Shot

The third shot drop is one of the most essential skills in pickleball. It allows you to transition from the baseline to the net safely, neutralizing aggressive opponents at the non-volley zone.

A good drop shot:

• - Clears the net by just a few inches

• - Lands in the kitchen or close to it

• - Gives you time to move up

Avoid using it when your opponent is already deep—keep them back with drives or deep returns.

8. Practice What You Struggle With

Instead of only practicing your favorite shots, train your weaknesses.

Ask friends to feed you balls that you find uncomfortable—whether it’s low balls to your backhand, lobs, or fast drives to your body. The more you face them, the more confident you’ll become. And chances are, your opponent doesn’t like those shots either.

9. Look for Patterns and Predictability

Every player has habits—some good, some predictable.

Watch your opponents closely during warmups and early points. Do they always serve to the same side? Always dink cross-court? Never lob? Once you pick up on a pattern, you can exploit it.

Pattern recognition is a skill, and the more you play with awareness, the better you’ll get at it.

10. Stop, Set, and Get Ready

One of the simplest ways to improve consistency is this: Stop moving before your opponent hits the ball.

When you're still and balanced, you’re in control. If you’re running or off-balance while trying to hit, your accuracy and power suffer.

Stay on the balls of your feet, paddle up, and get ready to move the moment they make contact.

Final Thoughts: Smart Play Wins Games

You don’t have to be the fastest or strongest to win at pickleball. You just need to be smart, consistent, and strategic. By applying these simple but effective concepts to your game, you’ll start to frustrate opponents, win longer rallies, and raise your overall level of play.

Ready to Put These Tips into Action?

Find local competitive events near you and take your game to the next level at Pickleball.com. Whether you’re looking for leagues, tournaments, or casual play—there’s a match waiting for you.