Tanner Tomassi’s Pickleball Tips: Tanner Tomassi shared key pickleball tips that separate amateurs from pros during a recent instructional session. Speaking directly to players eager to improve, Tomassi explained four major secrets that, if mastered, could dramatically raise a player’s game.
Reading Speed-Ups and Anticipating Opponents’ Shots
Tomassi stressed the importance of predicting where an opponent’s speed-up will go based on shot setup.
He gave an example: if he hits a dink down the sideline, his opponent is more likely to flick the ball through the middle. “If I give him a ball that’s down the sideline here, he’s most likely going to flick it through the middle of the court,” Tomassi said. He explained that players should prepare their bodies to cover the middle, not the sideline, since a sideline poke is softer and slower.
Another key moment came when Tomassi discussed balls sped up off the bounce. If a ball lands near the opponent’s inside foot, it will likely be hit straight or through the middle. “My arm should never extend out,” he explained, showing how to limit reactions only to the body and middle court areas.
Fast Hands, Smart Speed-Ups, and Mastering the Midcourt
Tomassi emphasized that fast hands are critical in advanced play. He corrected a common mistake: “We’re taught when we’re in a hands battle we should be pushing at the ball with our shoulder like this and keeping our wrist locked — that’s completely wrong.”
Instead, he said players should hinge their elbow and explode using their wrist for quick strikes. This technique forces the ball down toward an opponent’s lower body, leading to easier follow-up shots. “The key to winning a hands battle is by hitting down on your opponent. It’s not about how hard you can hit it,” he said.
Making good decisions about when to speed up shots is another separator between amateurs and pros. Tomassi advised only attacking balls at net height or slightly below. For speeding up balls off the bounce, he said: “Every point before I can even think about speeding a ball up off the bounce I have to have hit at least 10 dinks.”
Finally, Tomassi explained that transitional errors often hold amateurs back. Many players move through the court without stopping, causing errors in midcourt resets. “After you hit your third shot drop and your ball is traveling through the air, take as much ground as possible but split step right when your ball crosses the plane of the net,” he explained. Stopping too late, he warned, makes it hard to reset the ball properly.
Why These Lessons Matter
Tomassi’s lessons highlight that skill alone is not enough to advance in pickleball. Decision-making, anticipation, fast hands, and smart movement are what truly separate pros from everyday players. As Tomassi continues posting weekly videos, players of all levels have an opportunity to sharpen their skills and close the gap with the pros.
News in Brief: Tanner Tomassi’s Pickleball Tips
Tanner Tomassi shared four critical pickleball tips to help amateurs play like pros. He emphasized anticipating shots, building fast hands, smart speed-up decisions, and avoiding midcourt mistakes. His simple techniques aim to boost players’ games by improving reactions, control, and strategic thinking on the court.
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