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In pickleball, few shots are as satisfying as that crisp punch volley that lands just in front of your opponents’ feet resulting in a weak pop-up and a subsequent easy put-away volley for you or your partner. Or the drop volley that lands softly and harmlessly just over the net after a hard struck drive […]

Pickleball Volley Inevitably, most pickleball matches come down to play at the net. This is where most points are scored and, typically, the person or team that can do the best in the non-volley zone (kitchen) area is most likely going to win. This means that, if you want to win more matches, you have […]

Players on each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed, and there is a seven-foot no-volley zone on each side of the net, to prevent “spiking.” A player cannot volley a ball while standing within the non-volley zone.

What is arguably the toughest place to be on the court in pickleball? The area where most would recommend that you do not stand because it’s a losing proposition? And what is arguably the toughest shot to hit in pickleball? The shot that takes the most skill that only the most advanced of players really […]

Check out the full video for tips from top senior pro, John Sperling. Part One: Person one is at the baseline focusing on their third shot drops. Person two is at the kitchen focusing on returning deep balls to the baseline Part Two: Person one is working on dropping the ball into the kitchen from […]

When you start playing pickleball, you’ll hear a lot about staying out of the kitchen. Good advice. And as you progress in your play, you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time at the kitchen line, developing your dink game. It’s important to stay at the kitchen line and master your dink game. But once […]

Though many pickleball players have heard the term split step, they may not fully understand it or use it properly.  A split step is extremely important for your footwork at any level of play and is the focus of today’s post. Split Step Why? Let’s begin with understanding why the split step is important.  The […]

I see it happen regularly in rec play. A team pinned to the baseline understands that, strategically, they need to get to the kitchen line in order to give themselves the best chance at winning the rally. That’s definitely a true statement and a winning strategy. After all, approximately 80% of rallies are won at […]

There comes a time in almost everyone’s pickleball playing journey when they start wondering how they can get better. Perhaps you start thinking about shot selection. Maybe you purchase a new paddle or better-fitting shoes. You begin practicing a bit more and talking through strategy with your pickleball friends and partner. But, one area is […]

Recently, I was drilling with professional pickleball referee and instructor Matthew Cross. During our warmup, he pulled out this very deceptive shot that took me by surprise. I had been playing the sport at a high level and watching professional play religiously for well over a year, yet I had never seen this shot. Matthew […]

above the pickleball net (whether in the air for a volley or after a high bounce), so you are able to hit the pickleball with some kind of downward trajectory (as opposed to hitting up on the pickleball). To note, for some advanced pickleball players, this could also be when the pickleball is below the […]

TIPS FROM TOP PRO PLAYERS Today’s edition has three parts:  1. A Helpful Tip – How to effectively “speed up” a ball to put your opponents in a tough spot.  2. An Entertaining Video – Former NFL player beats a pro singles player (a feel good story).  3. An Update on my Journey To Pro […]

Serving in Pickleball from basics to advanced techniques Pickleball has service out side scoring which means you can only score on your serve. Because of this serving is especially important. If you cannot serve, you cannot score. And if you cannot score you cannot win! Pickleball serving has some other unique rules we’ll cover so […]

With the growth of pickleball, the competitive playing pool is getting bigger and bigger every day – meaning your serve needs to work for you instead of against you. It’s one of the most important parts to perfect in pickleball, so what should your serve look like? A highly effective serve in pickleball is one […]

Foot Placement When Serving Also, to note, your foot placement is important at the point of contact on your serve in pickleball. At the point of contact between your paddle and the pickleball on your serve, at least one foot must remain in contact with the ground behind the baseline. Neither of your feet may […]

The words “easy” and “backhand” rarely go together because, for many pickleball players, the backhand is a challenging shot and one they like to avoid at all costs–even sometimes running all the way around a ball for a forehand shot instead. But having a solid backhand is a key component to everyone’s overall game, and […]

Hi, Scott Moore here from The Pickleball Masterclass. Many people ask me how and why to use a backhand serve, and why I like to use it. Not many people use the backhand serve, but there are a couple of reasons I love it.  Sometimes we get the yips on our forehand, so it’s easier […]

Today I want to share my Backhand Pickleball Serve. I get asked daily about this serve. While it takes a bit of coordination, it’s an easy and effective shot to add to your arsenal as it gives your receiver a different look and spin than a traditional serve. The most common mistake with the Backhand […]

Serve Hitting an effective return-of-serve in pickleball is critical to your team’s ability to earn side-outs – and, as a result – get the serve back so you can once again score points. But how do you hit the return of serve?  The following are five tips for hitting an effective return of serve in […]

What is the major advantage everyone gets in Pickleball?  If you said, the returning team gets to “start at the kitchen line”you would be correct.  Since the ball must bounce on our opponent’s side, the returning team gets to start with one player at the net (and the second player should run to the net […]

When playing pickleball, there is no way to avoid hitting a bad 3rd shot from time to time. It’s ok, it happens to everyone…even the pros. As long as the ball went over the net and is in bounds, you’re still in the point and there is still something you can to to get out […]

PICKLEBALL PLAYERS NEEDS Getting up to the net is an important movement in pickleball. However, some pickleball players may struggle with achieving such a goal during a game. In most cases, the problem may be rooted from the very low shots that pickleball players sometimes receive. To solve the abovementioned problem, there is one thing […]

What’s the difference between 4.0s and 5.0s pickleball players? It’s the ability to reset anything and everything. The best players on the court are  those who  get the ball over the net more than the other team. Sounds simple, right? At lower levels, when a firefight starts, there is minimal “blocking” or “resetting” back into […]

One of the overarching keys to successful execution of any of your shots on the pickleball court is to be in an “appropriate” ready position – from both a preparedness and paddle position perspective. From this balanced, ready position you want to be able to move quickly to the ball – in any direction – […]

JUNE 2022 STACIE TOWNSEND Share with your friends Pickleball rallies often play out at the Non-Volley Zone line, in fast exchanges where the pickleball flies back and forth over the net in what is called a hands battle. These quick exchanges mean that you need to make split-second decisions and have lightning-fast reactions in order […]

Improve Your Game If you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Details Proper paddle position is a key skill in pickleball. Having your paddle in a good “Ready Position” can reduce the time it takes you to perform your return shot and reduce your percentage of errors. Whether we […]

surge…10-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9… your heart starts racing, your breath shortens, muscles tighten as you slam a high easy put-away volley into the bottom of the net…after the mental “Choke…two points later they close out the match to WIN gold. Many of us have first-hand experience with a game like the above and […]

I see it happen regularly in rec play. A team pinned to the baseline understands that, strategically, they need to get to the kitchen line in order to give themselves the best chance at winning the rally. That’s definitely a true statement and a winning strategy. After all, approximately 80% of rallies are won at […]

What Goes Through Your Head in a Game of Pickleball? The music in our minds. Turning mental chatter into words of wisdom. By Khevin Barnes There is one thing about pickleball you can say unequivocally.  It’s not a quiet game! In fact, the sport is ideal for encouraging laughter, commentary and conversation.  It’s not only […]

The lob is becoming more and more prevalent on the pickleball courts. With the rise of the lob, it is more important than ever to know how to beat a lobber on the pickleball court. Generally speaking, there are three main strategies in beating a lobber or otherwise defending against the lob: (1) anticipating and […]

A lob is a shot in pickleball where you will put some height on the trajectory of the pickleball and send the pickleball relatively high into the air. Lobs have been a part of the sport of pickleball for decades—perhaps, since the very first pickleball game in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. However, the lob […]

The lob is an important part of pickleball and can often be the deciding factor in a game. When executed correctly, it can be difficult for your opponent to get to the ball and return it, resulting in an easy point. When executed poorly, you risk giving your opponent an easy putaway. Before we get […]

The lob shot in pickleball – loved by some and loathed by others – is a shot that is both overused and under-utilized.  Whether you’re nicknamed, “Larry the Lobber” or, conversely, whether you rarely attempt this shot, it’s important to understand the when, why and how of executing an effective lob. What is the Lob […]

Pickleball Channel: The Secret of the Lob (Stephanie Lane)

The lob is an important part of pickleball and can often be the deciding factor in a game. When executed correctly, it can be difficult for your opponent to get to the ball and return it, resulting in an easy point. When executed poorly, you risk giving your opponent an easy putaway. Before we get […]

Preamble For those who aren’t familiar, a continental grip is also known as a hammer grip. The best way to learn a continental grip is to hold the paddle as if it is a hammer. You can even imagine a nail out in front of you and give it a few imaginary wacks. A semi-western […]

The Western Grip – The “Frying Pan” Grip The Western pickleball grip is less common, but still seen around the courts. The Western pickleball grip resembles how you may hold a frying pan when you flip a pancake. The Western favors the forehand grip and offers a lot of spin, but does set up a […]

Try some small pickleball grip changes to alter the direction of the pickleball. For instance, consider a small pickleball grip change to a Western pickleball grip on a forehand drive from the baseline, or a small pickleball grip change to a Continental pickleball grip on a backhand drive from the baseline. However, make sure that […]

One thing I notice with new students, when they are attempting a forehand slice, is they open up their bodies too much and creates a pulling motion which decreases power, flow and accuracy. Here’s what you should be doing… Youtube video

One of the best possible options available to you with your return of serve is to hit a slice. The slice is not only limited to the backhand side but you can use it on your forehand return too. The reason why it’s such an effective options as a return is that you can get […]

One of the most effective returns you can hit in pickleball is the forehand slice because with a slice you can hit your return deep, give yourself time to get to the non volley zone line and keep the ball low making a 3rd shot drop much more difficult to hit. It’s very effective and […]

Forehand Groundstroke:  Typically, the most powerful and most accurate shot; therefore, the most utilized from at or near the baseline. Backhand Groundstroke: Used when a ball is approaching the side opposite the paddle arm. However, many players consider the backhand groundstroke as their “go to” shot and use it for up to 75-percent of their […]

In today’s blog we’re going to talk about the forehand drive. You can use your forehand drive off of a return of serve or maybe a third shot depending on when you get that ball. What we want to talk about is a technique which is the less backswing the better. When you’re taking your […]

Grip it and rip it. Ahhhh. The allure of banging a shot down the sideline beyond the outstretched arm of your non-volley-line-positioned opponent is intoxicating to most. If only it were as simple, however, as to “grip it and rip it.” Transforming your pickleball forehand drive (groundstroke) from an “ordinary” shot that you’re just glad […]

Good footwork is critical to advancing your pickleball game! You’ve got to know when to move forward, when to stop, and when to move to side to side! I even made a short video which shows the type of footwork you need on the court!  Begin Moving Up I hang back for the third shot, […]

There comes a time in almost everyone’s pickleball playing journey when they start wondering how they can get better. Perhaps you start thinking about shot selection. Maybe you purchase a new paddle or better-fitting shoes. You begin practicing a bit more and talking through strategy with your pickleball friends and partner. But, one area is […]

If you have ever been to one of my clinics I talk a lot about how to properly use your body.  Since our point of connection to the ground is our feet, today we talk about footwork…your key to pickleball success. I get the question: What’s a good drill to improve my footwork? This week […]

Shown below are ten doubles strategies – particularly helpful, I’m certain – for those of you just embarking on your pickleball journey. Obviously, there are considerably more than 10 strategies. These doubles strategies, however, represent the foundation for all others and will help you to become a smarter – and better – pickleball player. 1. […]

We highly recommend listening to or watching our interview with Collin Johns. Many of our listeners have dubbed it the most strategically insightful pickleball interview they’ve ever listened to. Collin is truly a pickleball genius and he sees the game in a way that few do. For those that don’t have an hour to spare, […]

1. Player positioning 2. Getting to the net 3. Partners move in unison 4. Pickleball is more about placement than power 5. Communicate with your partner Pickleball Channel 411: Fantastic Doubles Point with Strategy Breakdown (Alex Hamner)

No, I’m not talking about dual income; no kids. I’m talking about the softest and most precise shots you’ll ever use in pickleball. If you’re a beginner you’ve probably heard of it in passing. Dinking is one of the most important parts of any player’s pickleball game. And considering that is one of the most […]

If you make it to the dinking stage of the game, then you’re doing something right. But where to you go from here? Let’s get to dinking To understand dinking, you must first understand what it truly is. Dinking. The thing we all love to do, but sometimes love to hate. Since you’re well beyond […]

Whether you love ’em or hate ’em, no pickleballer can argue that dinks aren’t one of the most effective shots that a player can master. And for many, they are a necessary evil in controlling pickleball matches. Today’s article is all about the dink shot and how you can improve yours. What is a Dink […]

Since so many Pickleball players have also played tennis, you will see a lot of balls hit with top spin.  That means the top of the ball is rotating forward and you hit this by using a low to high motion, making sure you brush up on it.  But since I come from a racquetball […]

The ability to change pace and spin of the ball is one of the essential characteristics of a well-rounded/all-court pickleball player. Adding slice to your arsenal will allow you to effectively mix up the rhythm of the point and, hopefully, take away your opponent’s strike zone. Therefore, a slice approach/return of serve becomes one of […]

If you have problems returning serves with your backhand side in pickleball and you also want to make it tough for your opponent to hit their 3rd shot, a backhand slice is a good option. There’s a few key components that you need to be sure to execute in order to hit a successful backhand […]

One of my favorite shots is my backhand. I really enjoy hitting a groundstroke whether that be a drive, topspin or slice. I also like resets or dinks on the backhand side. But, that wasn’t always the case. I really had to work quite hard on my backhand as most people do when they build […]

A few years ago, the two-handed backhand was not overly prevalent in the sport of pickleball. However, today, the two-handed backhand is more popular than ever, especially among the pro women’s game. As more tennis players convert to pickleball, we will likely see even more two-handed backhands, as it is a common shot in the […]

We recently received a message from a fellow pickleball player… “I have a weak backhand. Need help now!” This is a common feeling amongst pickleball players. If you have ever read any of our pickleball strategy blogs, then you probably know that the backhand side is a common target of choice for most pickleball players, […]

The third shot drop is an essential shot to learn in pickleball. If you’ve been playing for awhile you’ve probably had more frustrating pickleball conversations about the pesky third drop shot than anything else. I’m right there with you. If you want to become a top player in your area or if you want to […]

Each pickleball point generally follows a particular sequence, which goes as follows: (1) a player serves the pickleball for the first shot; (2) an opponent returns the serve for the second shot; and (3) the serving team either drives the pickleball or drops the pickleball for the third shot. A drive will be a fast, […]

Players don’t initially realize the difference between offense and defense in pickleball.  When first being introduced to the game one feels like they are on offense as the server, since you only score when serving. But you eventually come to realize the opposite is true.  You actually start the point on the DEFENSIVE because the […]

One of the first things beginners learn when coming into pickleball is the third shot. This is crucial for all players to succeed.   What is it? There are two different types of third shots. The serving team will hit a serve and wait for the return. The next shot will be the third shot of […]

Third shot drive or drop? The age-old pickleball question is as divisive as choosing a waffle or sugar cone. At the end of the day, they’re both effective–and delicious. And both shots should be mastered for a balanced pickleball game. Today’s tips are all about how you can improve your pickleball third shot drive. Tip […]