Have you ever wondered what sets pro pickleball players apart from the rest of us? Recently, we had the opportunity to learn from some top-level players, and what we discovered might just change your game.
Let me walk you through the insights we gathered, highlighting specific tips for players at different skill levels—whether you’re a beginner or on the verge of becoming a pro yourself.
1. Understanding the Pro Serve: Key Tips for All Levels
Beginner Tip: The Loose Grip Secret
One of the biggest takeaways we got from playing with a 6.9-rated pro was how incredibly relaxed his grip was. He would hold his paddle so loosely that his pinky sometimes hovered off the handle. This loose grip not only allows for better control but also facilitates greater fluidity in your swing.
If you’re just starting out, try experimenting with holding your paddle more gently, letting the power flow naturally from your body instead of forcing it. You’ll be surprised how much easier it becomes to generate consistent depth and spin.
Intermediate Tip: Body Weight Forward
For intermediate players, focusing on your body positioning can make a world of difference. One thing I learned is that powerful, deep serves come from shifting your body weight forward. The pros have their weight over his toes, shoulders pointing forward—creating explosive power.
Take a video of your own serve, and notice if you’re leaning backward or to the side. Correcting this and driving your momentum forward can instantly add more power to your serve.
Advanced Tip: Control the Ball with Your Hand Motion
Watching a pro serve is like watching a master artist paint—effortlessly putting the ball exactly where they want it. The secret lies in the hand motion at the point of contact. By adjusting his follow-through, the pro could switch between deep, short, or angled serves without changing his body position.
This is an advanced skill, but practicing hand control with small changes can lead to pinpoint accuracy.
2. Groundstrokes: Less is More
I’ve always struggled with groundstrokes. I recently learned from 6.2-rated pros that pickleball groundstrokes are not meant to mimic tennis strokes.
Forget about heavy topspin! Instead, the key is to keep your strokes compact and flat for greater consistency.
Beginner Tip: Start with Push Dinks
If you’re having trouble controlling your groundstrokes, start with push dinks—a simple forward push without adding any spin. This might feel overly simplistic, but it’s foundational for building consistency. Once you get comfortable, try to incorporate these push strokes into your backhand to enhance your reliability on that side.
Intermediate Tip: Avoid the “Glancing Blow”
Many intermediate players struggle because they focus too much on topspin, resulting in what pros call a “glancing blow”—hitting the ball with a high margin of error. Instead, try simplifying your motion. Practice hitting the ball cleanly and directly. The more compact your movement, the better your control.
Advanced Tip: Drill to Stay Balanced
In one advanced drill, the challenge was hitting from the non-dominant side while balancing on one leg. It quickly revealed how off-balance things can get without even realizing it!
Practicing drills that challenge your balance can reveal weaknesses in your stroke and help you correct unnecessary movements.
3. Play Smart: Strategy Tips for Different Skill Levels
Beginner Tip: Warm Up with Purpose
Pros don’t just dink back and forth to warm up; they warm up with intent. One drill I learned involves a four-dink rally where both players stay within the kitchen. It’s a mini-game that sharpens your reflexes and accuracy. Next time you warm up, focus on specific goals—whether it’s keeping the ball low or placing it deep.
Intermediate Tip: Don’t Be Afraid to Step Back
One of the most misleading pieces of advice is to always stay at the kitchen line. But watching a pro step back from the line during a dink rally—to give himself time and improve positioning—was a game-changer. If you’re an intermediate player, allow yourself that flexibility to create a better shot.
Watch Fudge and Barr vs. Whitwell and Oshiro at the APP Daytona Beach Open 2023. Notice how they step back from the kitchen line to handle dinks better:
Advanced Tip: Master Court Awareness
When playing at a higher level, knowing where to place your serve or return is crucial. Against opponents with weak backhands, aim for angles that force them to move. When dealing with more complete players, hitting to the middle conservatively keeps the game in your control.
Developing the ability to read opponents and adjust your serve location is what distinguishes high-level players.
Simplify to Excel
The overarching theme from all these pros can be summed up as this: less is more. Whether it’s the power that comes from a loose grip, the consistency found in flat, compact strokes, or the court positioning that makes your game smarter, simplicity is at the heart of every improvement. When you stopped trying to force topspin or overcomplicate your body movement, your shots not only became more effective but also required less energy.
Pickleball is a game of efficiency, control, and mental awareness. From drilling your balance, to mastering the use of your body weight, to refining your hand motion—each of these lessons helped me level up my game, and they can do the same for you. 🏓
