6 Small Tips for Improving Your Pickleball Skills

Finally fallen into the wonderful trap that is pickleball? Build confidence in your game with these small yet mighty tips to improve your pickleball skills. Pickleball is a dynamic and enjoyable sport for all ages. Whether you’re just starting out in racket sports or shifting from playing tennis, your aim should be to refine your skills and boost your game.

Not sure where to start? This guide offers small and practical tips to help you improve your pickleball skills.

1. Perfect Your Serve

Your serve is the first opportunity to set the tone of the game. A strong serve can put your opponent on the defensive right away, giving you an early advantage.

Of course, your first priority should be ensuring your serves consistently make it over the net. Afterward, you can start to practice various serve techniques that feel best to you. You have options like the deep serve, the lob serve, and the drive serve to keep your opponent guessing. Remember—practice makes perfect.

2. Develop a Strong Return

The other side of serving is sorting out a strong return. A powerful return can level the playing field after a strong serve from your opponent. Position yourself correctly and stay on the balls of your feet to react quickly. Aim to return serves low and deep into your opponent’s court. This forces them to make difficult shots and gives you control of the rally.

3. Master the Dink Shot

The dink shot is a soft shot that drops the ball just over the net into your opponent’s non-volley zone. It’s an essential skill in pickleball, as it forces your opponent to move forward and creates opportunities for you to attack. Practice your dink shots from various positions on the court to improve your touch and control.

4. Improve Agility and Footwork

Quick and precise footwork is crucial in pickleball; it helps you get into the right position to hit the ball effectively. Incorporate agility drills into your training routine to enhance your movement on the court. Lateral shuffles, quick sprints, and dynamic stretches can improve your speed and coordination. The more agile you are, the better you can respond to your opponent’s shots.

Pro Tip

Your shoes make quite the impact on your ability to remain agile throughout the game. Make sure to invest in the right shoes so you put your best foot forward. There is a lot that goes into the right pickleball shoe, and it can change depending on your physique. For instance, choosing the best pickleball shoes for women is a bit different than it is for men, so don’t just pick the first pair you see.

5. Strengthen Your Grip

A strong yet flexible grip on your paddle can improve your control and power. Experiment with different grips, such as the continental grip or the eastern grip, to find what works best for you. Regularly switching grips during practice can also help you adapt to various game situations.

Do you feel like you have weak hand and wrist strength? You can try improving your grip strength on a chin-up bar to increase your overall muscle.

6. Practice Consistently

Our last tip to help you improve your pickleball skills is a simple one—practice consistently! Consistent practice is the key to improvement. Set aside time for regular sessions to work on different aspects of your game. And focus on one area at a time—whether it’s serving, returning, or agility drills—to ensure you’re making progress in all aspects of your game.

The ball’s in your court. It’s up to you to return!

Jennifer Dawson

Jennifer Dawson is an experienced freelance writer who specializes in food and nutrition. Working in fitness marketing previously gave her a good feel for the industry and since going freelance she has been able to explore her preferred topic areas such as diet types, nutrition and food. Outside of work, Jen enjoys traveling, swimming and spending time with her young family.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Keep Fit Kingdom
Logo