Pickleball tips and tricks for leveling up your game in 2023!

Pickleball is a fun and fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, there's always room to improve your game. In this article, we'll be sharing some basic pickleball tips and advanced tricks to help take your pickleball skills to the next level.

Basic Pickleball Tips

Grip: The grip on your pickleball paddle is crucial to your success on the court. Experiment with different grips until you find one that feels comfortable and allows you to hit the ball with power and precision.

Footwork and body positioning: Good footwork and body positioning are key to being able to quickly get to the ball and make accurate shots. Practice shuffling your feet and staying low to the ground, and be sure to keep your knees bent and your weight centered over your feet.

Hitting the ball with power and precision: To hit the ball with power, you need to use your entire body, not just your arm. As you make contact with the ball, rotate your hips, shoulders, and arms to generate maximum force. For accuracy, aim for the center of the ball and follow through in the direction you want the ball to go.

Improving your serve: A strong serve can give you a big advantage in pickleball. To improve your serve, focus on hitting the ball with a firm and consistent motion, and aim for the non-volley zone on the opponent's side of the court.

Understanding the different types of shots: In pickleball, there are several different types of shots you can use to outmaneuver your opponent, including the serve, dink, volley, drop shot, overhead smash, and lob. Get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each shot, and practice using them in different situations.

Advanced Pickleball tricks

Dinking techniques: A dink shot is a soft, high-arcing shot that is used to keep the ball in play and disrupt your opponent's rhythm. To execute a successful dink shot, you need to keep your wrist relaxed and hit the ball with the center of the paddle.

Volley techniques: A volley is a quick, overhead shot that is used to keep the ball in play and put pressure on your opponent. To improve your volley skills, practice hitting the ball with your non-dominant hand and keeping your wrist firm.

Drop shot techniques: A drop shot is a soft, low-arcing shot that is used to tempt your opponent to come to the net and make a mistake. To execute a successful drop shot, you need to use a light touch and aim for the opposite side of the court from your opponent.

Overhead smash techniques: An overhead smash is a powerful shot that is used to end a rally and win a point. To improve your overhead smash, focus on using your entire body to generate power, and aim for the corners of the court.

Using spin in your shots: Spin can be a powerful tool in pickleball, allowing you to control the speed and direction of the ball. To use spin effectively, experiment with different types of spin, including topspin, backspin, and sidespin, and practice hitting the ball with different parts of your paddle.

Common Pickleball Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Standing in the non-volley zone: The non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen, is a 7-foot area at the net where players are not allowed to hit the ball after it has bounced. Standing in the non-volley zone while the ball is in play is a common mistake that can result in a fault. To avoid this mistake, be mindful of where you are on the court and always move outside of the non-volley zone before hitting the ball.

Hitting the ball out of bounds: Hitting the ball out of bounds is another common mistake in pickleball that can result in a point for your opponent. To avoid this mistake, practice hitting the ball with accuracy and be mindful of the court boundaries.