Tanner Tomassi’s Crucial Tips: Professional pickleball player Tanner Tomassi recently shared key advice on Instagram for tennis players transitioning to pickleball. He highlighted the three most common mistakes tennis players make when switching to the new sport and provided tips on how to improve.
Tanner Tomassi’s first piece of advice addresses the importance of paddle position while dinking. He explained that many tennis players mistakenly dink with the paddle head up, which is incorrect. In pickleball, the paddle head should always be down when dinking to maintain control and accuracy.

Mistake 1: Dinking with Paddle Head Up
The most common mistake tennis players make is dinking with their paddle head up. Tomassi emphasized that the correct technique requires keeping the paddle head down. This ensures better control and accuracy, preventing mishits that can lead to mistakes on the court.
Mistake 2: Muscling Shots from Midcourt
Another common error tennis players make is trying to “muscle in” shots from the midcourt. Tomassi advises that, unlike in tennis, pickleball players should not generate their own power from the middle of the court.
Instead, they should use their opponent’s power against them. By softly catching and pushing the ball back, players have much more control and can execute more effective shots.
Mistake 3: Using Too Much Slice
The third mistake is using too much slice on soft shots like dinks and third-shot drops. Tanner Tomassi explains that tennis players often rely on slicing the ball, which isn’t necessary in pickleball. Instead, he recommends thinking of a “push” rather than a hit, making the shots much simpler and easier to control.
Expert Insights
Tanner Tomassi’s advice comes from his extensive experience as a professional pickleball player. He encourages tennis players to adjust their mindset when transitioning to pickleball. “It’s about control and strategy, not power and force,” he said. By adopting the right techniques, tennis players can quickly improve their pickleball game.
Why It Matters
Tanner Tomassi’s tips are vital for tennis players new to pickleball. By avoiding these common mistakes, players can enhance their skills and become more effective on the court.
The adjustment might take time, but with consistent practice, tennis players can master pickleball and enjoy the game to its fullest.
News in Brief: Tanner Tomassi’s Crucial Tips
Tanner Tomassi recently shared key advice for tennis players transitioning to pickleball on Instagram. He highlighted three common mistakes: dinking with the paddle head up, muscling shots from midcourt, and using too much slice on soft shots.
Tomassi emphasized the importance of control and strategy over power and force in pickleball. By correcting these errors, tennis players can quickly improve their pickleball skills and elevate their game.
ALSO READ: Tanner Tomassi’s Must Know Pickleball Tips for 4.0 Skilled Players
