Pro Pickleball Singles Strategies: Pickleball singles can be a tough and exhausting game, even for the best athletes. Unlike doubles, singles require players to move more and make quick decisions. A professional player recently shared three top strategies that can help players improve their singles game.
The strategies focus on powerful serves, smart court movement, and the importance of the first few shots in a rally. These tips are useful for anyone looking to switch from doubles to singles or simply get better at playing alone.
Strong Serves Matter Most
In doubles, players often use safe serves just to start the rally. But in singles, the serve can change everything. A deep serve can keep the opponent back, giving the server more time to prepare for the next shot.
“I try to actively tell myself to try to miss two or three serves deep in every game to 11. Do I want to miss them? Of course not. But that is the mindset you must have when serving in singles,” the pro said.
The key to a good serve is not just power. Even a slow 10-mph lob that lands near the baseline can be more effective than a 60-mph flat serve that drops just past the kitchen line.
“The goal is to delay or even prevent your opponent from returning and coming in, and the key to executing that is depth.”
Should You Stay Back or Move Forward?
In the past, all singles players returned the serve and rushed to the net. But with better paddles and faster players now in the game, that idea is being questioned.
The professional said, “I am still of the old school philosophy – return and go in. I rarely ever stay back off the return in pickleball.”
Charging forward after a good return puts pressure on the opponent to hit a strong third shot. If they miss or hit a weak one, the net player can take control of the point.
“In other words, you should be in the driver seat for the rest of the point,” the player explained. They also added that this strategy takes less energy than staying back and running for balls.
But if the return is poor, coming forward could lead to a quick pass and give the opponent an easy point.
Some players, especially former tennis athletes, prefer to stay back at the baseline. This can push their opponents to come forward, which some are not comfortable doing.
“If they aren’t as comfortable doing so, you can play to their weakness and make them hit a tough volley or pass them altogether.”
In professional women’s singles, staying back is more common. In men’s singles, players usually return and rush forward.
“Staying back vs. coming in comes down to comfortability, fitness and stamina, and situation,” the player said.
The First Few Shots Decide Everything
The first three shots of a rally—serve, return, and third shot—are the most important in singles pickleball. A strong serve and return can set the tone for the whole point.
“Hit a good one, and you are in the driver seat of the point and put a ton of pressure on your opponent to come up with a spectacular or defensive third,” the pro explained.
They shared how some matches are won by strong returns alone: “I have been served off the court in matches, and I have also returned so well that my opponents struggled to make a decent third.”
When hitting the third shot, the most important thing is to keep it in play.
“You must be thinking – ‘yeah duh I know that.’ But you’d be surprised at how many players (especially amateurs) hit their third shot in the net, wide, or deep by two feet every often in singles,” the pro said.
Players often make the mistake of trying to hit risky shots just because there’s only one opponent.
“In singles, you will win more points by just making the third shot and forcing your opponent (who is likely moving forward off the return) to hit a volley,” the player explained. As the match goes on, players can aim for more difficult thirds as they build confidence.
Why These Strategies Matter
These tips show how much pickleball singles has changed in recent years. Strong serves, smart court choices, and careful shot-making are now essential.
Players who learn to control the serve and make safe but smart choices early in a rally can gain the upper hand. Whether staying back or moving in, the key is to know your strengths and stay consistent.
These simple strategies can help new and experienced players win more games by making smarter choices right from the start of each point.
News in Brief: Pro Pickleball Singles Strategies
A pro player shared three top strategies for pickleball singles: serve deep, decide whether to rush the net or stay back, and focus on the first three shots. These tips are easy to follow and help players control the point early, improve their game, and reduce errors.
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