University of Kwazulu-Natal

10 Simple Tips To Improve Your Game Pickleballtournaments Com

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
10 simple tips to improve your game pickleballtournaments com

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. 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. Pickleball is growing fast, and if you're anything like the rest of us, you want to do more than just play. You want to get better.Whether you're brand new to the sport or you’ve already been bitten by the competitive bug, there are plenty of ways to level up your game. Here are eight practical ways to improve your skills and become a more confident, consistent player on the court. Ball machines are perfect for building consistency.

They feed balls to the same spot over and over, so you can isolate your volleys, dinks, drives, and drops without chasing balls all over the place. Some machines even come with oscillating features, which mimic game-like movement to help you react and adjust on the fly. Yes, they can be expensive, but the consistent reps might just be worth the investment if you're serious about improving. If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in a plateau—playing often but not really leveling up—this one’s for you. In a no-fluff, rapid-fire format, Pickleball Union’s coaches Marko and Joey dropped 30 concise but essential tips that every pickleball player should know. And let’s be clear: while these tips may be simple, they’re far from basic.

Each one addresses a small but critical habit that, when dialed in, massively improves your consistency, shot quality, and tactical awareness. Watch the video below, then keep scrolling—we’ll break down each tip with added detail, technical context, and real-world scenarios so you can apply them right away: Serving deep pins your opponents further back and makes their return shorter, giving you more time and space to set up your third shot. Aim for their backhand side and test their ability to return under pressure. Pickleball’s explosive growth has attracted new players and created a huge library of instructional content. After reviewing instructional articles from recent years and synthesizing advice from professional coaches and top players, this report outlines ten essential actions to elevate your pickleball game.

For each tip, relevant video resources from leading YouTube channels are suggested. The serve initiates every rally and sets the tone for the point. A deep, underhand serve that stays in is far more valuable than an occasional ace. Coach Peter Hoopis stresses keeping a loose grip, making contact below your waist with the paddle head lower than your wrist, and finishing the swing over your opposite shoulder peterhoopis.com. Varying placement and speed, while still hitting deep into your opponent’s court, keeps them off balance peterhoopis.com. Practice/drills: Develop a pre‑serve routine and practice drop serves and bounce serves until your motion is automatic.

Aim two‑to‑three feet inside the baseline to reduce unforced errors peterhoopis.com. “5 Pickleball Tips to Get Really Good” (channel: Briones Pickleball) – covers grip, serve depth and variability. “2025 Top 10 Pickleball Tips to Beat 99 % of Players” – includes serving routines and placement. Pickleball, a sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, has surged in popularity. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get into the game or an intermediate player aiming to enhance your skills, these top 10 pickleball tips will help you improve your game today. The serve in pickleball is a crucial skill that initiates the point.

It’s important to choose a serving style that feels natural for you. Whether you opt for a ground stroke style serve from the side of your body or a front-facing, bowling-style motion, maintaining consistency is essential. Remember, you can only score points if your serve lands in the service box, so keep it simple. The purpose of the serve is to start the point, not necessarily to win it outright. However, as you improve and gain more control over your strokes, you can develop a more offensive serve. For beginners, practicing a deep serve is advisable.

A deep serve keeps your opponent at the baseline longer, while a short serve may prematurely invite them to a more advantageous position on the court. Use a short serve sparingly, only if you believe your opponent won’t reach it. To achieve depth in your serve, use a firm grip, keep the ball slightly closer to your body to avoid overreaching, engage your legs, and complete your swing. Focus on hitting your intended target area rather than on generating maximum power, as consistency is key to a successful serve. A strong return can effectively transfer the pressure back to the server. Try to direct your returns deep into your opponent’s court, ideally targeting their backhand side.

This strategy not only gives you additional time to get into position for the next shot but also starts to shape the point in your favor. A powerful return isn’t always about speed; a medium-paced return with a bit more arc can help you advance to the net more quickly. Pickleball has exploded in popularity over the last decade, drawing players of all ages and skill levels to courts in community centers, parks, and clubs worldwide. Whether you’re new to the sport or a weekend warrior looking to break into competitive play, improving key skills—serve, return, footwork, strategy, and mental toughness—can transform your game. In this comprehensive 2,000-plus-word guide, you’ll discover ten expert-backed tips to take your pickleball performance to the next level. Along the way, you’ll find practice drills, data-driven tables, technical breakdowns, and even simple visual representations to reinforce each concept.

Let’s dive in! The serve is the only shot in pickleball you can prepare for without immediate return pressure. A consistent, well-placed serve forces your opponent into defensive positions and sets the tone for the rally. Follow these steps to refine your serve: Practice Drill: Serve 50 balls targeting the opponent’s back-hand corner, then 50 serving to their forehand. Track your in-play percentage.

Recording your serve drills weekly allows you to gauge progress and adjust technique. Aim for an overall in-play rate above 75% before moving on to advanced spin or jump serves. A strong return puts your opponent immediately on the defensive. Many beginners simply push the ball back, but with targeted practice you can turn returns into offensive weapons: Imagine the satisfaction of outplaying your opponents on the pickleball court, thanks to newfound skills and strategies. Well, with these 10 proven pickleball tips, that dream can become a reality.

Get ready to step up your game and gain the upper hand in your next match. Master the serve, return and dinking to outsmart opponents. Develop shot variety & coordinate with your partner for doubles play. Utilize court awareness, strategy & quality equipment to maximize potential! Mastering the serve is essential when you play pickleball, as it sets up the point and can give you a powerful advantage. Focus on precision more than power, aiming to send your serves deep into the middle of the service box on the pickleball court for the best results.

A deep serve to your opponent’s backhand can make the return more challenging for them, giving you more room to score points.

People Also Search

Whether You're New To Pickleball Or Have Been Playing Casually

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 t...

The Goal Is To Keep The Ball Low And Unattackable,

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. Pickleball is growing fast, and if you're anything like the rest of us, you want to do more than just play. You want to get better.Whether you're brand new to the sport or you’ve already been bitten by the compe...

They Feed Balls To The Same Spot Over And Over,

They feed balls to the same spot over and over, so you can isolate your volleys, dinks, drives, and drops without chasing balls all over the place. Some machines even come with oscillating features, which mimic game-like movement to help you react and adjust on the fly. Yes, they can be expensive, but the consistent reps might just be worth the investment if you're serious about improving. If you’...

Each One Addresses A Small But Critical Habit That, When

Each one addresses a small but critical habit that, when dialed in, massively improves your consistency, shot quality, and tactical awareness. Watch the video below, then keep scrolling—we’ll break down each tip with added detail, technical context, and real-world scenarios so you can apply them right away: Serving deep pins your opponents further back and makes their return shorter, giving you mo...

For Each Tip, Relevant Video Resources From Leading YouTube Channels

For each tip, relevant video resources from leading YouTube channels are suggested. The serve initiates every rally and sets the tone for the point. A deep, underhand serve that stays in is far more valuable than an occasional ace. Coach Peter Hoopis stresses keeping a loose grip, making contact below your waist with the paddle head lower than your wrist, and finishing the swing over your opposite...