Pickleball might seem like it’s really easy to pick up before you have tried it, but you will learn quickly that there is a lot more technique in pickleball than you might have expected.
If you are looking for ways to improve and get better at pickleball, then you have come to the right place!
We are going to give you some pointers to help you get better at pickleball, and when you use these pointers, you will notice the improvement in the way you play! So let’s get started.
How To Get Better At Pickleball
Pickleball is a team sport and it requires a lot of technique. Not only do you have to watch out for yourself, but you also need to watch out for your teammate too!
There are lots of things you can do to get better at pickleball, and the things we have included on this list are the best ways to start. Once you understand these tips and use them in your own games, you will notice a huge difference in the way you play.
Practice
It sounds incredibly cliché, but practice really does make perfect when it comes to pickleball! The more you play the game and the more you practice, the more you will just naturally get better.
It’s always more fun to play with people, but when you are trying to improve your skills, you might find that practicing by yourself is a lot more beneficial.
When you practice by yourself, you are able to experiment and use different techniques and you can drill these techniques as many times as you want.
You also don’t have to worry about anyone else getting frustrated with you for not just playing the game, so sometimes, practicing alone is extremely helpful and beneficial!
Sync Up With Your Partner
As previously mentioned, pickleball is a team sport, so it’s incredibly important that you learn to sync up with your partner.
You need to be so in sync with them that your opponent will find it hard to find gaps, and becoming so in intune with your partner definitely takes a bit of time.
But if you are practicing with your partner a lot, it shouldn’t be too hard to achieve! The more you play with them, the more you will understand their techniques and methods and you will be able to learn how to compliment their playstyle.
Be Strategic
Strategy is another extremely important part of pickleball, so you will naturally need to learn to be more strategic. This can take a bit of time, but when you combine strategy with the other pointers on this list, you can very rarely go wrong in a game of pickleball!
You need to put strategies in place in order to create gaps on your opponent’s side that you can later use. You do need to think a couple of steps ahead as the game is changing around you, but the more you play, the easier this will become!
Focus On The Ball
Unsurprisingly, it can be easy to get distracted when you are playing pickleball. But even the slightest distractions can drastically effect the game and if you miss the ball, it can put you at a disadvantage.
A simple way to improve the way you play pickleball is to focus on the ball. When you keep your eye on the ball, you can usually work out exactly where it is going to land and bounce, and it can help you implement strategies a lot easier.
Try this tip before you try any of the others and see how much it improves your game!
Know When To Be Defensive & Know When To Attack
It can get really overwhelming when you first start playing pickleball because you will need to switch between attack and defensive positions so quickly and so often.
This is one thing that really throws off a lot of new players, and can be the reason why you seem to not be improving.
Learning to differentiate between being on the defensive and knowing when to attack will improve the way you play pickleball so much.
When your team has the advantage, that is the best time to go on the attack, but when your team is at a disadvantage, this is the best time to be defensive!
Keep Up The Ready Position
A really simple way to improve the way you play pickleball is to always be in the ready position when you are playing.
To get yourself in the ready position, simply keep your knees bent slightly and have your feet about shoulder-width apart.
Make sure your weight is on your heels rather than the balls of your feet, and keep your upper body and shoulders relaxed. Finally, make sure that your paddle and arms are in front of your body.
Before and after every shot, make sure you are putting yourself in the ready position. This makes it a lot easier for you to move more fluidly, and it will keep you prepared and ready to react, regardless of what your opponent plans on doing next.
If you need to practice the ready position, you can do it in the comfort of your own home as you don’t need much space at all! Mastering the ready position will improve the way you play dramatically.
Conclusion
Once you understand pickleball a bit better, it can be quite simple to implement ways to get better. The tips we have included here are guaranteed to help you get better at pickleball, they just require a bit of practice.
Yes, it is cliché, but practise in any form is always the best way to get better at something, so practice these pointers and watch how much better at the game you get. You won’t be disappointed when you start to see the way you play pickleball improve!
Pickleball has been played for decades, and it is a great way to let off some steam, engage in friendly competition, and improve your fitness levels.
Hi, my name is Joe Polls and my family and I are keen pickleball players. My parents actually met on a pickleball court, and the rest is history.
I have always loved pickleball, no matter how many times I hear that it’s not a real sport. It has helped me get through some challenging times in my life - whether that be a breakup, finals, or even bereavement. The reason I made my website is so that I can teach more people about the wonders of pickleball, and maybe even get them interested in playing.
Pickleball could always use more players, so what are you waiting for?
Please, enjoy my website and I hope it teaches you something of use. Who knows, maybe I’ll catch you out on the court one day!
