Many players have been there: you’re in the middle of a fast-paced rally, the ball is flying, adrenaline is high, and—bam!—you make a decision. Was it the right one? Who knows. All you know is that your “instinctive” flick to the sideline ended up in the net, and your partner is giving you that look.
In pickleball, success often comes down to what you do in the moments you barely have time to think. This article is your guide to better decision-making in those tight windows—how to make smarter calls, trust the right instincts, and avoid the dreaded post-point regret.
The Fastest Game of Chess You’ll Ever Play
Let’s start with this: pickleball isn’t just about dinks and drives. It’s a game of choices. Constant, rapid-fire choices. Do you speed it up or stay soft? Move in or stay back? Attack the middle or go down the line?
You have a split second to decide, and you’re doing it with incomplete information. That’s right—just like chess, but faster, sweatier, and without the ability to stop the clock.
The best players aren’t just mechanically skilled—they’re great thinkers. They’ve trained their decision-making muscles just as much as their third shot drops. And when tournament pressure hits? They don’t overthink—they react, confidently and decisively.
Why Overthinking Kills Your Game
Let’s get this out of the way: overthinking is the silent assassin of great pickleball. You hesitate, you doubt, and suddenly you’re lobbing an easy floater that gets crushed.
The truth? You don’t have time for second-guessing on the court. Tournament play, in particular, reveals this weakness fast. Players who excel under pressure rely on muscle memory and mental clarity, not mental ping-pong.
The team at Pickleball Journey puts it best:
“In tournaments, higher percentage plays win. I’m a shot maker—I make a lot of mistakes. But after watching that point, I think I’ll go middle next time.”
That’s not just hindsight—it’s growth.
The Decision-Making Timeline: Make the Call Before You Know
One of the most powerful concepts introduced in the analysis is the Decision-Making Timeline.
Here’s the idea: In pickleball, you often have to make a decision before you have all the information.
Take a poach, for example. You have to commit to it before your opponent hits the ball. But the shot that’s coming—high, low, fast, spinny—doesn’t reveal itself until it’s too late. So how do you make a smart call?
You train yourself to recognize patterns and base your decision on what’s most likely, not just what’s happening right now.
As the video breaks down:
- T = the moment you must decide
- T+2 = when the new information arrives
- T+4 = the outcome
The problem? You can’t wait until T+2 to decide. If you do, it’s too late. So you need to make peace with the fact that you’ll make decisions with incomplete data—and that’s okay.
The key isn’t to be perfect. It’s to be consistent and confident with the choices you do make.
4 Rules for Smarter Decisions on Court
To make decision-making more manageable, here are four simple, powerful rules:
1. GG Rule – Good? Go.
If you hit a good shot (your opponent’s paddle is below the net), move in. You’ve earned the kitchen. Don’t hesitate.
2. BB Rule – Bad? Back.
If your shot pops up and your opponent can hit down on it, back up and prepare for defense. Don’t stand your ground and pray—they’ll punish you for it.
3. Teeter Totter Rule
If their paddle is high, yours should be low. If theirs is low, prep for a possible speed-up. Always mirror their potential shot angle.
4. Down the Middle Solves the Riddle
Middle shots reduce angles, create confusion, and keep you in control. It’s not just safer—it’s smarter.
John Cincola shares some excellent tips on making smarter shot decisions by recognizing and responding to specific pattern plays at the kitchen line:
Mental Reps Matter: Play Without a Paddle
Want to improve your decision-making? Start off the court.
Visualize points. Practice shot scenarios in your head. Mentally rehearse what you’d do if someone speeds up at you, or if you’re stuck in transition. Think of it as “pickleball meditation”—no sweat, just strategy.
It may feel silly, but as the analysis points out, it works. Reacting faster starts with thinking smarter.
Let Go of 20/20 Hindsight
One final truth: stop beating yourself up over shots that didn’t work after you made them.
Was your decision sound at the moment you made it? That’s what matters. Don’t judge your choices by their outcome alone. That’s the trap of hindsight—and it’ll mess with your confidence if you let it.
You’re Not Playing Perfect—You’re Learning
Better decision-making isn’t about getting every shot right. It’s about increasing your odds, owning your choices, and understanding that good decisions sometimes have bad results.
So the next time you hit a shot and wonder, “Was that the right move?”—don’t default to doubt. Ask yourself, “Did I make the best choice with what I knew at the time?”
If the answer is yes—you’re already winning.
