Step by Step to Better Pickleball: Building Technique and Tactics the Right Way

How to improve your positioning in doubles, avoid typical mistakes, and follow the correct order when learning shots.

Many recreational pickleball players stagnate at their level because they try to learn difficult shots before mastering the basics. To systematically improve in pickleball, it all comes down to the correct order of skill progression, coordinated positioning in doubles, and avoiding typical mistakes in the transition zone.

The Pyramid of Success: First the Basics, Then the Show

According to reports by The Dink Media Team, many hobby players make the mistake of practicing the so-called "third shot drop" (the soft third shot into the opponent's kitchen zone) every month, even though they lack fundamental skills. However, a systematic build-up – a so-called skill progression – is crucial, as certain skills are prerequisites for others. For example, a long, soft ball can only be controlled once you have mastered the short ball at the net (dink).

The correct progression of skills should go from the bottom up:

Level 1: Grip and point of contact. Without the right grip (like the Continental grip) and a clean point of contact, no shot can be executed consistently.
Level 2: Positioning on the court.
Level 3: The soft game.
Level 4: The third shot.
Level 5: Speed.

Positioning in Doubles: Closing the Gaps

A common problem in doubles is that balls land right in the middle between both players and go through untouched. This is usually due to incorrect positioning, so-called "shading" (shifting). According to the Briones Pickleball Academy, shading means that both players move in coordination with the ball to cover the highest percentage of the court.

A simple basic rule applies here: the player standing diagonally to the ball (crosscourt) is responsible for the middle. The player directly opposite the ball covers the line. A common mistake is that the line player stays in the middle, leaving the line completely open. Just a small step towards the sideline is enough to make this passing shot impossible.

Avoiding Mistakes in the Transition Zone and on the Fourth Shot

The transition zone is the area where most points are lost in recreational play. Coach Mari Humberg emphasizes that the decision of whether to take a ball directly out of the air or play it after the bounce must be made as soon as it leaves the opponent's paddle. If you only react when the ball is there, you will find yourself under time pressure.

Mistakes also often occur on the fourth shot in the rally because players try to hit the ball with all their power deep to the opponent's baseline, even when it lands low at their own feet. Coach Tanner Tomassi advises in such situations to "concede the kitchen". This means not trying to force the ball deep, but returning it in a controlled and soft manner into the opponent's kitchen zone. This takes the pace out of the rally and allows you to reset.

Specialty Shots: When They Make Sense

Once the basics are stable, advanced techniques can enrich your game. These include:

The backhand flick: An attacking shot from the wrist at the kitchen line. According to pro Ashley Griffith, the key here is that the paddle tip points down before the shot to give the ball the necessary topspin.
The flick lob: A disguised lob at the kitchen line that looks like a fast attack but is lofted over the opponent's head at the last moment. According to Jack Sock, this shot works particularly well because the perforated plastic ball is difficult to handle as an overhead in the wind.
The shovel technique: For defending overhead smashes. Richard Livornese recommends not trying to do too much, but returning the ball with a short movement flat to the opponent's hip.

To practice these shots effectively, structured drills for two people are better than free play. In a drill like "Battleships", for example, you place cones in the opponent's kitchen zone as targets. This ensures precision and prevents unfocused hitting back and forth.

Your takeaway: In your next training session, focus first on a clean point of contact and correct shading in doubles before you try out complicated attacking shots.

Sources

This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.