Pickleball is a game of strategy, skill and control. While flashy, aggressive pickleball shots are fun, winning matches is more about high-percentage plays—shots and moves that work more often.
This will help you reduce errors, optimize court positioning (feet shoulder width apart for stability), and use strategies that keep you in control and on the winning side of the pickleball court.
1. The Philosophy of High-Percentage Play
High-percentage pickleball is about playing smart not hard. The philosophy is:
Consistency: Keeping the ball in play is often more important than going for winners.
Control: Placement over power to stay in control of the rally.
Exploitation: Force your opponents into tough situations while you’re in control.
Why:
Most points are lost due to unforced errors not winners.
High-percentage strategies minimize giving away free points.
They allow you to control the pace and flow of the game and improve your pickleball game over time.
2. The Serve: Your First Chance
The serve is your first chance to take control of the rally. A good serve sets up the whole point. High-percentage serving is about consistency and depth.
Strategies for a High-Percentage Serve:
Target the Backhand: Most players are weaker on their backhand side. Serve deep to take advantage of that.
Mix it up: Alternate between topspin, slice and flat serves to keep pickleball players guessing.
Placement Over Power: Aim for the deep corners or centerline. A well placed serve is more effective than a powerful but wild one.
Low-Percentage Option: Aggressive serves that focus only on power are low-percentage plays because they increase the risk of faults and give away free points.
Drills:
Deep Target Serving: Place cones at the back corners and practice hitting them to improve accuracy.
Spin Variations: Practice serving with topspin, underspin and side spin to add control and unpredictability.
3. Return of Serve: The Equalizer
The return of serve is the opportunity to neutralize your opponent’s advantage and set yourself up for a winning shot with a good third shot.
High-Percentage Return Tips:
Deep and Middle: A deep return takes away your opponent’s attacking options and limits their angles, puts you in a better position to dictate the next shot.
Get in Position: After returning, move forward to get ready for the next shot and establish your kitchen line.
Controlled Power: Don’t hit the return too hard which can lead to errors. Instead focus on placement.
Low-Percentage Option: Trying to return a difficult shot with maximum power may seem smart but often results in more errors especially if the ball sails out or into the net.
Scenarios for Good Returns:
Against an aggressive server: Return deep into the backcourt.
Against a weaker server: Target the corners to push them out of position and create more space for the next shot.
4. The Third Shot Drop: The Great Equalizer
The third shot and drop shot is perhaps the most important skill in pickleball. It gets you out of a defensive position and into an offensive one by neutralizing your opponent’s advantage.
Key to a Good Third Shot Drop:
Arc and Depth: The ball should have a gentle arc and land softly in the non-volley zone (NVZ).
Target: Aim for areas that make your opponent move or hit up.
Controlled Swing: Use a short backswing to maintain precision.
Advanced Tips:
Cross-Court Drops: The longer court gives you more margin for error when hitting cross-court, makes it easier to execute a good third shot drop.
Mix Drop and Drive: Alternate between drops and low drives to keep opponents guessing.
Low-Percentage Option: Hitting a flat aggressive third shot with no control can give your opponents an easy opportunity to attack especially if the ball is hit high.
Drills:
Practice with a partner or against a wall to land drops in the NVZ.
Practice live-ball drills where you alternate between drop shots and drive shots to improve your shot selection.
5. Dinking: The Foundation of Control
Dinks are soft, controlled shots played at the net to outlast opponents and make them error. Dinking is the base of control at the kitchen line.
High-Percentage Dinking:
Stay Low: Bend your knees to stay balanced and in control.
Target Weaknesses: Aim at their backhand or make them move laterally which can make it harder for them to return the ball.
Cross-Court Dinks: These create longer rallies and reduce attack opportunities for your opponent.
Low-Percentage Option: Hitting a high aggressive dink that lands too high in the NVZ is a low-percentage play, gives your opponent the opportunity to smash the first ball hard.
Common Dinking Mistakes:
Hitting Too High: Allows opponents to smash.
Overreaching: Stay balanced and let the ball come to you.
Drills:
Dink Battles: Play cross-court dinks with a partner to build consistency.
Target Practice: Use markers in the NVZ to practice precision.
6. Volleys: Offense and Defense
Volleys are key to controlling the kitchen line. High-percentage volleys are about control not power.
Offense:
Aim at their body or feet to limit their response.
Use angled volleys to open up the court.
Defense:
Block hard shots softly back into the NVZ to reset the rally.
Focus on quick reflexes and paddle positioning, use the sweet spot.
Low-Percentage Option: Aggressive volleys hitting the ball at the baseline are low-percentage because they are harder to control and higher risk of going out of bounds.
Drills:
Reflex Volley Drill: Practice volleys with a partner to improve reaction time.
Directional Control: Practice placing volleys to different parts of the court.
7. Lobs: Strategic Use
Lobs can be a defensive tool and a surprise offense.
High-Percentage Lob:
Deep and High: Hit to the backcourt to prevent smashes.
Look for Opportunities: Lob when opponents are at the net or off-balance.
Low-Percentage Option: Lobbing against an opponent with great overhead skills is a low-percentage play, they may smash it back at you.
Defensive Lobs:
Use when pressured to create space and reset the rally.
Offensive Lobs:
Surprise your opponent by lobbing during a dink rally.
8. Cross-Court Shots: Angles
Cross-court shots are higher percentage because more fun because of the diagonal length of the court and lower net.
Benefits of Cross-Court Shots:
More Room for Error: Longer distances reduce the chances of errors.
More Angles: Force opponents to cover more ground.
Low-Percentage Option: Hitting down-the-line passing shots can be risky if you’re not in position, the margin of error on some shots is smaller than cross-court shots.
When:
During dink rallies to create opportunities.
On passing shots to exploit poor positioning.
9. Court Positioning: Kitchen Line
Winning pickleball is all about who controls the kitchen line.
High-Percentage Positioning:
Move Up: After serving or returning move forward to the NVZ. Move up to the non-volley zone line as soon as possible so you can cut off low-percentage shots from your opponent and control the pace of the rally.
Stay Balanced: Keep a low, athletic stance for quick reactions. Feet shoulder width apart, knees bent, weight on the balls of your feet. This ready position allows you to be ready for fast shots and adjust as needed.
Spacing with Partner: In doubles, move together as a unit. When one player intercepts a shot or poaches, the other should adjust to cover the open space. This prevents leaving holes on the court for opponents to exploit.
Communicate Often: Communication ensures you and your partner are in the right position at the right time. Use cues like “Yours”, “Switch”, or “Middle” to avoid confusion and cover the court.
Get Back to Center or NVZ: After hitting a shot that pushes you wide, get back to center or NVZ as soon as possible. This allows you to cover both angles if your opponent changes direction.
Low-Percentage Positioning: Staying too far back from the NVZ line during dink rallies is a low-percentage play. Gives your opponent more control of the rally and makes it hard for you to respond to well placed dinks.
10. Defensive Play: Reset the Rally
Defense in pickleball isn’t just about survival it’s about creating opportunities for many players to turn the rally around.
Key Defensive Shots:
Soft Blocks: Absorb the opponent’s power and reset the ball into the NVZ.
Defensive Lobs: Create space and give yourself time to reposition.
Low-Percentage Option: Trying to counter a strong drive with a strong shot back can be low-percentage if you’re off balance or not in position. Instead go for a controlled block or reset.
Drills for Defensive Skills:
Block fast shots against a ball machine or partner.
Return deep lobs under pressure.
11. Mental Strategies: Stay Sharp Under Pressure
Mental toughness is what separates good players from great ones. Staying calm and focused helps you make better decisions during matches.
Tips for Mental Success:
Stay Patient: Don’t hit shots early, wait for high-percentage opportunities.
Visualize: See yourself hitting shots perfect before the rally.
Stay Positive: Don’t beat yourself up after mistakes.
12. Adapting to Opponent Styles
Every other opponent has weaknesses. Adjusting your strategy is key to exploiting those weaknesses.
Against Aggressive Players:
Play soft, controlled shots to neutralize their power.
Dink to force errors.
Against Defensive Players:
Be patient and build points strategically.
Use angles and placement to stretch their defense.
13. Advanced Techniques and Strategies
As you get better, adding in advanced tactics will give you an edge over the other team.
Poaching in Doubles:
Anticipate cross-court shots and cut them off at the net.
Stacking:
Use stacking to play to your strengths and cover your weaknesses in doubles.
14. Drills for High-Percentage Play
Consistency is key to mastering these.
The Triangle Drill:
Practice 3rd shot drops, dinks and volleys in sequence to control.
Depth Control Drill:
Hit deep serves and returns consistently.
Reaction Time Drill:
Hit rapid volleys against a wall to practice footwork and paddle positioning. This helps with reaction time, a key to handling fast shots and unexpected returns.
3rd Shot Drop Repetition Drill:
Master the 3rd shot by practicing it from different areas of the court. Make sure you’re hitting different spots in the NVZ to increase accuracy and consistency.
Kitchen Line Movement Drill:
Work on your footwork along the kitchen line. Shuffle side to side while in position, practice defensive dinks and offensive volleys to improve mobility.
15. Physical Conditioning for Pickleball
Pickleball is not just a game of skill but physical endurance and agility. Building strength and conditioning in your key muscle groups will make a big difference.
Exercises to Improve Your Pickleball:
Leg Strength: Strong legs are key to explosive movement on the court. Squats, lunges and calf raises will help with stability so you can change direction and balance during the rally.
Core Work: A strong core helps with balance especially when hitting off-center shots or reaching for low balls. Planks, Russian twists and bicycle crunches will help with core strength.
Agility Drills: Cone drills are great for lateral quickness. Set up cones on the court and practice moving around them with your feet shoulder width apart, simulating game situations.
Reaction Time Training: Use a ball machine or a partner to practice rapid volleys to improve your reaction time, which is key when facing a hard hit shot.
Staying Hydrated and Injury Free:
Drink water before, during and after matches to stay hydrated.
Warm up before each match with dynamic stretches like leg swings, arm circles and lunges. Cool down with static stretches to reduce injury risk.
Footwork Drills for Court Coverage:
Split-Step Drill: Practice the split-step, the foundation movement for every shot. This drill helps you react to the opponent’s direction and get ready faster, so you can hit the shot better.
Side to Side Court Sprints: Set up markers on both sides of the court and sprint between them. This drill improves lateral movement and endurance for wide shots and cross-court attacks.
Conclusion: High-Percentage Play
High-percentage pickleball is about minimizing errors, making smart decisions and capitalizing on the opportunities when they come.
By being consistent, controlled and mentally tough you’ll become a more strategic player. Remember flashy winners look cool but high-percentage plays will win you matches.
Go practice! See you at the kitchen! 😉 🎾️️️️️️