1. Ready Position

Mastering your ready position is your secret weapon. Just like a seasoned boxer, I can size up a player’s skill by their stance alone. True champions have a rock-solid ready position.

Here’s the drill for a killer ready stance:

• Paddle Up High: Keep your paddle close to your chest, imagine it’s a fly swatter ready to strike. This lets you react like lightning, especially when you’re battling at the net.
• Low and Ready to Leap: Think cheetah, not statue. A slight crouch with your feet shoulder-width apart, or even a little wider, creates a stable base. This wide stance is your launching pad for explosive movements, letting you chase down those tricky dinks and dig deep for tough shots. Don’t go full-on crouch, just ditch the stiff stance.
• Paddle Position Shifts: Up at the net? Paddle up high, a shield ready to block or smash. Hanging back a bit? Lower your paddle to guard your feet from sneaky attacks. If they blast a high shot, you’ll still have time to react. Otherwise, it’s likely sailing out of bounds anyway.
• Consistency: is your key to victory. Skilled players never let their focus waver. Between shots at the net, keep your paddle up and alert. The moment you relax, your opponent pounces with a speed-up, and that’s a point gone.

2. Foot Work

To move like a pickleball pro, here’s the secret: Be light on your feet! Stay low and spread your legs a bit for stability. Imagine you’re a cat stalking its prey – ready to pounce in any direction.

Keep your upper body calm and collected. You don’t need to be a windmill! Let your legs do the work, keeping your head and torso steady. Think smooth and controlled, not flailing and frantic. That way, you’ll be balanced and ready to smash the next shot (or anything your opponent throws your way!).

Finally, ditch the giant swings! When you’re close to the net, use short, powerful strokes. This keeps you in a ready position for whatever comes next. No more getting caught off guard!

3. Server and Stay at Baseline

I see some folks rushing to the net after they serve the ball. There’s no need to hurry! Pickleball isn’t a race to the net. Here’s why:

• Take your time: After you serve, there’s no penalty for staying back a little from the net. This gives you more time to react to your opponent’s return shot.
• Remember the “bounce rule”: In pickleball, both the server and receiver have to hit the ball after it bounces once (except for the serve itself). So, if you rush to the net, you might not be able to get back in time to hit the ball before it bounces twice on your side, which is a fault.
• Stay ready for anything: The best position after serving is a few steps behind the baseline, kind of like being in the “ready position” for catching a ball. This way, you can easily move back for a deep return or step forward for a short return.
• Only rush the net when needed: If your opponent hits a weak return that lands close to the baseline, then by all means, go for a third shot at the net! But for most returns, it’s better to play it safe and stay back a bit.

4. Time before taking shot

In pickleball, unlike tennis or racquetball, you usually have a good chunk of time to get ready for the ball. Don’t feel like you have to rush and smack it back as hard as you can!

Many beginners feel pressured to hit the ball quickly, but that can lead to mistakes. Instead, take a deep breath and use that extra time to your advantage. Here’s the trick:

• Focus on your footing: Just like planting your feet before throwing a ball, setting yourself up with a good stance is important. This will help you hit the ball with more control.
• Think steady, not speedy: Big swings might seem impressive, but they can throw you off balance. Aim for smooth, controlled movements to hit the ball accurately.

Remember, taking a little extra time to get yourself set can make a big difference in your game. You’ll be hitting those winning shots in no time!

5. Don’t Swing paddle hard at Net

I see a lot of folks at the court swinging their paddles real hard, especially near the net. But here’s the thing: swinging hard often just sends the ball flying out of bounds!

Instead, imagine you’re playing catch. When someone throws a ball at you, you don’t swat it away with all your might, right? You hold your glove out to stop it gently. That’s kind of what we want to do in pickleball at the net – we want to block the ball.

Think of your paddle like a wall. When the ball comes your way, hold your paddle steady in front of you, almost like you’re saying “stop right there!” This will help you:

• Keep the ball in play: By blocking, you’re more likely to send the ball back over the net and keep the rally going.
• Make it tricky for your opponent: That hard-hit ball they sent? Blocking it makes them work a little harder for their next shot. The ball might even drop softly on their side of the court, making it tough for them to return.