Mastering Pickleball Decisions: A top pickleball player revealed that decision making, not shot skills, is what separates great players from good ones. In a new video, PlayPickleball.com shared seven key tips to help players improve their choices on the court and announced a $1,000 Selkirk store credit giveaway to five lucky winners.
Choosing the Right Pickleball Third Shot
Players face two options after the return: a drop or a drive. Driving is better when the return is deep and hard or has backspin. “If the ball that the return gives you is really deep and hard typically I like to drive that ball,” the player said. Dropping is ideal when the return is slower, giving players more control to place a soft shot.
Avoiding Two Drives in a Row
Experts advise against hitting two drives back-to-back in the same rally. “You want to typically avoid hitting two drives back to back in the same point at all costs,” the player shared. After a drive, players should aim to hit a softer drop to control the point and win more rallies.
Speeding Up at the Kitchen Line
At the pickleball kitchen line, knowing when to attack is key. Dead dinks—balls with little spin or pace—help decide. Shallow dead dinks are harder to attack, while deeper dead dinks are easier to speed up. “The deeper the ball is in the kitchen the more pressure you should be putting with your dink,” the player explained.
Staying Balanced When Speeding Up
Balance is crucial when speeding up shots. Players must be stable on their feet before attacking. “It’s really important when you speed up the ball that you are equally balanced on your feet,” the player said. Rushing into a shot without balance can cause players to lose position quickly.
Reading the Opponent
Spotting an opponent’s weak position can create attacking chances. “If you see your opponent and their paddles down here or their bodies turned… these are all times to consider speeding up,” the player pointed out. For example, if the paddle is low, aiming at the opponent’s upper body can create mistakes.
Bonus Tips for Smarter Play
The video closed with two bonus tips. First, avoid trying drop volleys because they are risky. “Sure it might work one out of 10 times but that’s not a great percentage,” the player said. Second, use offensive lobs. Lobbing on offense has less risk compared to defensive lobs, where giving away a point can be costly.
The Bigger Picture
Improving decision making can turn a good pickleball player into a great one. By mastering shot choices, balancing attacks, and reading opponents, players can level up their game. PlayPickleball.com encourages viewers to apply these lessons and take part in the $1,000 Selkirk giveaway by following the link shared in the video.
News in Brief: Mastering Pickleball Decisions
PlayPickleball.com shared tips to improve decision making in pickleball. Key advice included third shot choices, avoiding two drives, speeding up smartly, and reading opponents. A $1,000 Selkirk store credit giveaway was announced for five winners.
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