Pickleball Advanced Tips

Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles, and it is suitable for players of all ages and skill levels. However, if you want to improve your game and take it to the next level, you need to learn some advanced pickleball tips and techniques that will give you an edge over your opponents.

In this article, we will share with you some of the best pickleball advanced tips that will help you win more games and have more fun on the court. Whether you are playing doubles or singles, these tips will help you improve your serve, return, dink, volley, lob, and strategy.

Consistently Serve Deep, to Backhands & in the Court

The serve is the first shot of every pickleball rally, and it is important to make it count. A good serve can set up the tone for the rest of the rally, and give you an advantage over your opponent.

One of the most basic but effective pickleball advanced tips for serving is to consistently serve deep, to backhands, and in the court. By doing this, you will achieve several goals:

• You will force your opponent to hit the ball from behind the baseline, which will make their return more difficult and give you more time to approach the net.
• You will target your opponent’s weaker side, which is often their backhand side, as most pickleball players have stronger forehand shots than backhand shots.
• You will avoid hitting your serve out of bounds or into the net, which will give away easy points to your opponent.

To serve deep, you need to hit the ball with enough power and topspin to make it land near the baseline of your opponent’s court. However, you also need to have enough control and accuracy to avoid hitting the ball too long or too wide. A good way to practice this is to aim for a target area near the baseline of your opponent’s court, and try to hit it as often as possible.

To serve to backhands, you need to hit the ball with enough angle and placement to make it land on your opponent’s backhand side. However, you also need to avoid hitting the ball too crosscourt or too down the line, as this will expose your court to your opponent’s forehand. A good way to practice this is to aim for a target area near the center of your opponent’s backhand side, and try to hit it as often as possible.

To serve in the court, you need to hit the ball with enough margin for error to avoid hitting it out of bounds or into the net. However, you also need to avoid hitting the ball too short or too high, as this will make it easy for your opponent to attack. A good way to practice this is to aim for a target area near the middle of your opponent’s court, and try to hit it as often as possible.

Return Deep, to Backhands & to the Opponent with a Weaker Third Shot

The return of serve is the second shot of every pickleball rally, and it is important to make it count. A good return of serve can neutralize your opponent’s serve advantage, and put you in a better position for the rest of the rally.

One of the most basic but effective pickleball advanced tips for returning is to return deep, to backhands, and to the opponent with a weaker third shot. By doing this, you will achieve several goals:

• You will force your opponent to hit their third shot from behind the baseline or near the non-volley zone line (also known as the kitchen line), which will make their shot more difficult and give you more time to approach the net.
• You will target your opponent’s weaker side or weaker player (if playing doubles), which will make their shot less effective and more predictable.
• You will avoid hitting your return out of bounds or into the net, which will give away easy points to your opponent.

To return deep, you need to hit the ball with enough power and topspin or slice (depending on your preference) to make it land near the baseline of your opponent’s court. However, you also need to have enough control and accuracy to avoid hitting the ball too long or too wide. A good way to practice this is to aim for a target area near the baseline of your opponent’s court, and try to hit it as often as possible.

To return to backhands or weaker players (if playing doubles), you need to hit the ball with enough angle and placement to make it land on your opponent’s backhand side or weaker player’s side. However, you also need to avoid hitting the ball too crosscourt or too down the line, as this will expose your court to your opponent’s forehand or stronger player. A good way to practice this is to aim for a target area near the center of your opponent’s backhand side or weaker player’s side, and try to hit it as often as possible.

To return to the opponent with a weaker third shot, you need to observe your opponent’s tendencies and skills, and identify which one of them has a weaker third shot. A weaker third shot can be a shot that is too short, too high, too slow, too predictable, or too easy to attack. A good way to practice this is to watch your opponent’s third shots during warm-up or previous rallies, and try to return to the one that has a weaker third shot as often as possible.

Move Your Feet & Bend Your Knees

One of the most important but often overlooked pickleball advanced tips is to move your feet and bend your knees. This will help you improve your balance, agility, speed, and power on the court.

Moving your feet and bending your knees will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to reach more balls and hit them in a better position.
• You will be able to generate more power and spin on your shots by using your legs and hips.
• You will be able to change direction and recover faster after each shot.
• You will be able to avoid injuries and fatigue by reducing the stress on your joints and muscles.

To move your feet and bend your knees, you need to adopt a good stance and footwork on the court. A good stance is one that is balanced, relaxed, and ready for action. A good footwork is one that is quick, efficient, and smooth. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve moving around the court in different directions and hitting different shots. Some examples of drills are:

• Side-to-side shuffle: Shuffle from side to side along the baseline or the non-volley zone line, hitting forehands and backhands alternately.
• Forward-backward shuffle: Shuffle from the baseline to the non-volley zone line and back, hitting volleys and groundstrokes alternately.
• Split-step: Take a small hop before every shot, landing on both feet with your knees slightly bent and your weight evenly distributed.
• Crossover step: Use a crossover step (stepping across your body with one foot) when you need to cover more distance or change direction quickly.

Watch the Pickleball & Hit the Pickleball Out in Front

One of the most simple but effective pickleball advanced tips is to watch the pickleball and hit the pickleball out in front. This will help you improve your timing, accuracy, and consistency on the court.

Watching the pickleball and hitting the pickleball out in front will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to see where the ball is coming from, where it is going, and how it is spinning or bouncing.
• You will be able to adjust your paddle angle, swing path, and contact point according to the ball’s trajectory and speed.
• You will be able to hit the ball at its highest point or before it drops too low, which will give you more control and options over your shot.
• You will be able to avoid hitting the ball too late or too early, which will cause errors or weak shots.

To watch the pickleball and hit the pickleball out in front, you need to focus your eyes on the ball from the moment it leaves your opponent’s paddle until it hits yours. You also need to position yourself well on the court so that you can hit the ball in front of your body with a comfortable extension of your arm. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve tracking the ball with your eyes and hitting it out in front with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Toss-and-hit: Toss the ball up in the air with one hand and hit it with your paddle with the other hand. Try different heights, angles, and spins for variety.
• Wall rally: Hit the ball against a wall or a rebounder net with different strokes. Try different distances, speeds, and angles for variety.
• Partner rally: Rally with a partner with different strokes. Try different locations, directions, and depths for variety.

Be in “Pickleball Ready” with Your Pickleball Paddle Up

One of the most essential but often neglected pickleball advanced tips is to be in “pickleball ready” with your pickleball paddle up. This will help you improve your reaction time, anticipation, and preparation on the court.

Being in “pickleball ready” with your pickleball paddle up will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to react faster and more effectively to any incoming ball.
• You will be able to anticipate what your opponent is going to do next by reading their body language and paddle position.
• You will be able to prepare for your Every Shot in Every Scenario.

Make a Decision on Shot Selection & Commit to It

One of the most important but often challenging pickleball advanced tips is to make a decision on shot selection and commit to it. This will help you improve your confidence, consistency, and execution on the court.

Making a decision on shot selection and committing to it will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to choose the best shot for the situation, based on your strengths, your opponent’s weaknesses, and the court position.
• You will be able to execute your shot with more accuracy, power, and spin by having a clear intention and focus.
• You will be able to avoid hesitation, doubt, or second-guessing, which will cause errors or missed opportunities.

To make a decision on shot selection and commit to it, you need to have a good understanding of the different shots in pickleball and their pros and cons. You also need to have a good awareness of your own skills and limitations, as well as your opponent’s tendencies and vulnerabilities. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve making different shot choices and sticking to them. Some examples of drills are:

• Shot selection game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to call out your shot before you hit it (e.g., “dink”, “drive”, “lob”, “drop”, etc.). If you hit the shot that you called out, you get a point. If you hit a different shot or don’t call out your shot, you lose a point.
• Shot execution game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to hit a specific shot that they call out for you (e.g., “dink crosscourt”, “drive down the line”, “lob over their head”, “drop in the kitchen”, etc.). If you hit the shot that they called out, you get a point. If you hit a different shot or miss the shot, you lose a point.

Play to Your Strengths & Your Opponents’ Weaknesses

One of the most basic but effective pickleball advanced tips is to play to your strengths and your opponents’ weaknesses. This will help you improve your performance, strategy, and results on the court.

Playing to your strengths and your opponents’ weaknesses will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to use your best shots and skills more often and more effectively.
• You will be able to exploit your opponent’s worst shots and skills more often and more easily.
• You will be able to avoid playing into your opponent’s strengths or your own weaknesses.

To play to your strengths and your opponents’ weaknesses, you need to identify what they are and how to use them or avoid them. You also need to adapt your game plan according to the situation and the score. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve playing with different strengths and weaknesses. Some examples of drills are:

• Strengths vs weaknesses game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to use only one of your strengths or one of their weaknesses for each rally (e.g., “forehand only”, “backhand only”, “volley only”, “dink only”, etc.). If you win the rally using your strength or their weakness, you get a point. If you lose the rally or use a different shot, you lose a point.
• Strengths and weaknesses game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to use both one of your strengths and one of their weaknesses for each rally (e.g., “forehand drive vs backhand dink”, “backhand volley vs forehand lob”, “dink crosscourt vs drive down the line”, etc.). If you win the rally using both your strength and their weakness, you get two points. If you win the rally using only one of them, you get one point. If you lose the rally or use different shots, you lose two points.

Keep the Pickleball Low

One of the most simple but effective pickleball advanced tips is to keep the pickleball low. This will help you improve your control, consistency, and pressure on the court.

Keeping the pickleball low will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to hit the ball with more margin for error over the net, which will reduce your chances of hitting it into the net or out of bounds.
• You will be able to make it harder for your opponent to hit an offensive or aggressive shot, as they will have less time and space to swing their paddle.
• You will be able to force your opponent to hit up on the ball, which will give you more opportunities to attack or counterattack.

To keep the pickleball low, you need to hit the ball with enough speed and spin (topspin or slice) to make it clear the net but drop quickly before reaching your opponent’s court. However, you also need to avoid hitting the ball too fast or too slow, as this will make it easy for your opponent to return or attack. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve hitting the ball low with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Low net game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to hit the ball below a certain height over the net (e.g., 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches, etc.). If you hit the ball below the height, you get a point. If you hit the ball above the height, you lose a point.
• Low bounce game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to hit the ball so that it bounces below a certain height on your opponent’s court (e.g., 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches, etc.). If you hit the ball below the height, you get a point. If you hit the ball above the height, you lose a point.

Let the Out Balls Go

One of the most common but costly mistakes that pickleball players make is to hit balls that are going out of bounds. This will not only waste your energy and time, but also give away easy points to your opponent.

One of the most simple but effective pickleball advanced tips is to let the out balls go. This will help you improve your judgment, patience, and discipline on the court.

Letting the out balls go will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to save your energy and time for balls that are in play, which will improve your performance and endurance.
• You will be able to avoid hitting balls that are out of bounds, which will reduce your errors and increase your points.
• You will be able to frustrate your opponent by making them hit more balls and work harder for each point.

To let the out balls go, you need to watch the ball carefully and judge its trajectory and speed. You also need to trust your instincts and resist the temptation to hit balls that are close to the lines or that look easy to hit. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve letting go of out balls. Some examples of drills are:

• Out ball game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to let go of any ball that is going out of bounds. If you let go of an out ball, you get a point. If you hit an out ball or miss an in ball, you lose a point.
• Out ball challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to let go of as many out balls as possible in a row without hitting any of them. See how many out balls you can let go before you hit one or miss an in one.

Over the Pickleball Net, Between the Lines & Mostly Down the Middle

One of the most fundamental but essential pickleball advanced tips is to hit the ball over the net, between the lines, and mostly down the middle. This will help you improve your consistency, accuracy, and strategy on the court.

Hitting the ball over the net, between the lines, and mostly down the middle will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to avoid hitting balls that are into the net or out of bounds, which will reduce your errors and increase your points.
• You will be able to hit balls that are within your opponent’s court, which will force them to play and return your shots.
• You will be able to hit balls that are in the middle of your opponent’s court or between your opponents (if playing doubles), which will create confusion and communication problems for them.

To hit the ball over the net, between the lines, and mostly down the middle, you need to hit the ball with enough speed and spin to make it clear the net but drop quickly before reaching your opponent’s court. However, you also need to avoid hitting the ball too fast or too slow, as this will make it easy for your opponent to return or attack. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve hitting the ball over the net, between the lines, and mostly down the middle with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Over, between, and middle game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to hit the ball over the net, between the lines, and mostly down the middle. If you hit the ball over, between, and middle, you get a point. If you hit the ball into the net, out of bounds, or too far from the middle, you lose a point.
• Over, between, and middle challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to hit as many balls as possible over the net, between the lines, and mostly down the middle in a row without missing any of them. See how many balls you can hit over, between, and middle before you miss one.

Want More Pickleball Strategy Tips and Techniques?

If you enjoyed reading this article and learned some useful pickleball advanced tips, you might be interested in learning more pickleball strategy tips and techniques that will help you improve your game even further.

Here are some more topics that you can explore:

Your Equipment Matters!

One of the factors that can affect your pickleball performance is your equipment. Having the right paddle, ball, shoes, and clothing can make a big difference in your comfort, confidence, and skill on the court.

Here are some tips on how to choose and use your equipment wisely:

• Paddle: Choose a paddle that suits your playing style, skill level, and personal preference. Consider factors such as weight, size, shape, grip, core material, face material, edge guard, and color. Try different paddles before buying one and see how they feel in your hand and how they perform on the court.
• Ball: Choose a ball that matches the playing surface, weather conditions, and tournament rules. Consider factors such as color, size, weight, bounce, hardness, durability, and number of holes. Try different balls before buying them and see how they behave on the court.
• Shoes: Choose shoes that are comfortable, supportive, stable, and durable. Consider factors such as size, fit, cushioning, arch support, heel support, ankle support, traction, breathability, and style. Try different shoes before buying them and see how they fit your feet and how they perform on the court.
• Clothing: Choose clothing that is comfortable, breathable, flexible, and protective. Consider factors such as size, fit, fabric, moisture-wicking, sun protection, and style.

Try different clothing before buying them and see how they fit your body and how they perform on the court.

Dink Crosscourt (Most of the Time)

One of the most common and effective shots in pickleball is the dink. A dink is a soft shot that barely clears the net and lands in your opponent’s non-volley zone (also known as the kitchen). A dink is used to keep your opponent at bay and set up an opportunity for a winning shot.

One of the most important pickleball advanced tips for dinking is to dink crosscourt (most of the time). By doing this, you will achieve several goals:

• You will be able to hit the ball with more margin for error over the net and within the court, as the crosscourt distance is longer than the down-the-line distance.
• You will be able to hit the ball with more angle and placement, as the crosscourt angle is wider than the down-the-line angle.
• You will be able to create more distance between you and your opponent, as the crosscourt distance is longer than the straight-ahead distance.
• You will be able to create more confusion and communication problems for your opponents (if playing doubles), as they will have to decide who will take the crosscourt dink.

To dink crosscourt (most of the time), you need to hit the ball with a soft and controlled swing, using your wrist and forearm. You also need to aim for a target area near the center of your opponent’s non-volley zone, and try to hit it as often as possible.

However, you should not always dink crosscourt, as this will make your game too predictable and easy to counter. Sometimes, you should dink down the line or straight ahead, especially when you see an opening or a weakness in your opponent’s position or shot. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve dinking crosscourt and down the line with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Crosscourt vs down-the-line game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to alternate between dinking crosscourt and down the line. If you hit the correct dink, you get a point. If you hit the wrong dink or miss the dink, you lose a point.
• Crosscourt vs down-the-line challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to hit as many crosscourt and down-the-line dinks as possible in a row without missing any of them. See how many dinks you can hit before you miss one.

Dink down between your opponents

Another important pickleball advanced tip for dinking is to dink down between your opponents (if playing doubles). By doing this, you will achieve several goals:

• You will be able to hit the ball with more margin for error over the net and within the court, as the middle area is usually the safest and widest area to aim for.
• You will be able to hit the ball with more angle and placement, as the middle area is usually the most vulnerable and exposed area for your opponents.
• You will be able to create more confusion and communication problems for your opponents, as they will have to decide who will take the middle dink.

To dink down between your opponents, you need to hit the ball with a soft and controlled swing, using your wrist and forearm. You also need to aim for a target area near the center of your opponent’s non-volley zone, and try to hit it as often as possible.

However, you should not always dink down between your opponents, as this will make your game too predictable and easy to counter. Sometimes, you should dink crosscourt or down the line, especially when you see an opening or a weakness in your opponent’s position or shot. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve dinking down between your opponents and crosscourt or down the line with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Down-the-middle vs crosscourt or down-the-line game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to alternate between dinking down the middle and crosscourt or down the line. If you hit the correct dink, you get a point. If you hit the wrong dink or miss the dink, you lose a point.
• Down-the-middle vs crosscourt or down-the-line challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to hit as many down-the-middle and crosscourt or down-the-line dinks as possible in a row without missing any of them. See how many dinks you can hit before you miss one.

Aim for your opponent’s feet

Another effective pickleball advanced tip for dinking is to aim for your opponent’s feet. By doing this, you will achieve several goals:

• You will be able to hit the ball with more margin for error over the net and within the court, as your opponent’s feet are usually close to the ground and near the lines.
• You will be able to make it harder for your opponent to hit an offensive or aggressive shot, as they will have to bend low and lift their paddle to reach the ball.
• You will be able to force your opponent to hit up on the ball, which will give you more opportunities to attack or counterattack.

To aim for your opponent’s feet, you need to hit the ball with a soft and controlled swing, using your wrist and forearm. You also need to aim for a target area near your opponent’s feet, and try to hit it as often as possible.

However, you should not always aim for your opponent’s feet, as this will make your game too predictable and easy to counter. Sometimes, you should aim for other parts of your opponent’s body or court, especially when you see an opening or a weakness in your opponent’s position or shot. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve aiming for your opponent’s feet and other targets with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Feet vs other targets game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to alternate between aiming for your opponent’s feet and other targets (e.g., chest, head, paddle, corners, etc.). If you hit the correct target, you get a point. If you hit the wrong target or miss the target, you lose a point.
• Feet vs other targets challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to hit as many balls as possible aiming for your opponent’s feet and other targets in a row without missing any of them. See how many balls you can hit before you miss one.

Add depth to your serve

One of the ways to improve your serve in pickleball is to add depth to it. A deep serve is a serve that lands near the baseline of your opponent’s court, making it harder for them to return and giving you more time to approach the net.

Adding depth to your serve will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to hit the ball with more power and spin, as you will have more room to swing your paddle and generate momentum.
• You will be able to force your opponent to hit the ball from behind the baseline or near the non-volley zone line, which will make their return more difficult and give you more time to approach the net.
• You will be able to avoid hitting your serve too short or too high, which will make it easy for your opponent to attack.

To add depth to your serve, you need to hit the ball with enough power and topspin to make it clear the net but drop quickly before reaching your opponent’s court. However, you also need to have enough control and accuracy to avoid hitting the ball too long or too wide. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve hitting deep serves with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Deep serve game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to hit your serve as deep as possible without hitting it out of bounds. If you hit a deep serve that lands within the court, you get a point. If you hit a short serve or an out serve, you lose a point.
• Deep serve challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to hit as many deep serves as possible in a row without hitting them out of bounds. See how many deep serves you can hit before you hit one out.

Keep opponents away from the kitchen line

One of the most important pickleball advanced tips for strategy is to keep your opponents away from the kitchen line. The kitchen line is the line that marks the non-volley zone (also known as the kitchen), which is the area where you are not allowed to volley (hit the ball in the air) unless the ball bounces first.

Keeping your opponents away from the kitchen line will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to prevent your opponents from hitting offensive or aggressive shots, such as volleys or slams, which can end the rally in their favor.
• You will be able to create more space and opportunities for yourself to hit offensive or aggressive shots, such as dinks or drops, which can put pressure on your opponents or end the rally in your favor.
• You will be able to maintain control of the net and the rally, which will give you an advantage over your opponents.

To keep your opponents away from the kitchen line, you need to hit the ball with enough speed and spin to make it land deep in your opponent’s court, near the baseline or the corners. However, you also need to avoid hitting the ball too long or too wide, as this will give away easy points to your opponents. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve hitting deep balls with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Deep ball game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to hit the ball as deep as possible without hitting it out of bounds. If you hit a deep ball that lands within the court, you get a point. If you hit a short ball or an out ball, you lose a point.
• Deep ball challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to hit as many deep balls as possible in a row without hitting them out of bounds. See how many deep balls you can hit before you hit one out.

Take more dinks out of the air

One of the ways to improve your dink game in pickleball is to take more dinks out of the air. A dink out of the air is a dink that you hit before it bounces on the ground, also known as a volley dink. A volley dink is usually faster and more aggressive than a groundstroke dink, which can give you an edge over your opponent.

Taking more dinks out of the air will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to hit the ball with more power and spin, as you will have more momentum and leverage from your paddle and body.
• You will be able to reduce the time and space for your opponent to react and return your shot, as you will hit the ball earlier and closer to the net.
• You will be able to maintain your position at the net and the rally, as you will avoid moving back and forth between the non-volley zone and the baseline.

To take more dinks out of the air, you need to hit the ball with a soft and controlled swing, using your wrist and forearm. You also need to position yourself well at the net, with your paddle up and ready, and anticipate your opponent’s shot. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve taking more dinks out of the air with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Volley dink game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to take every dink out of the air. If you take a dink out of the air, you get a point. If you let a dink bounce or miss a dink, you lose a point.
• Volley dink challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to take as many dinks out of the air as possible in a row without missing any of them. See how many dinks you can take out of the air before you miss one.

Return the serve deeply

One of the most important shots in pickleball is the return of serve. A good return of serve can neutralize your opponent’s serve advantage and put you in a better position for the rest of the rally.

One of the most effective pickleball advanced tips for returning is to return the serve deeply. A deep return is a return that lands near the baseline of your opponent’s court, making it harder for them to approach the net and hit their third shot.

Returning the serve deeply will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to hit the ball with more power and spin, as you will have more room to swing your paddle and generate momentum.
• You will be able to force your opponent to hit their third shot from behind the baseline or near the non-volley zone line, which will make their shot more difficult and give you more time to approach the net.
• You will be able to avoid hitting your return too short or too high, which will make it easy for your opponent to attack.

To return the serve deeply, you need to hit the ball with enough power and topspin or slice (depending on your preference) to make it clear the net but drop quickly before reaching your opponent’s court. However, you also need to have enough control and accuracy to avoid hitting the ball too long or too wide. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve returning deep serves with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Deep return game: Play a game with a partner or an opponent where you have to return their serve as deep as possible without hitting it out of bounds. If you hit a deep return that lands within the court, you get a point. If you hit a short return or an out return, you lose a point.
• Deep return challenge: Challenge yourself or a partner to return as many deep serves as possible in a row without hitting them out of bounds. See how many deep returns you can hit before you hit one out.

Move together with your partner

One of the most important pickleball advanced tips for doubles is to move together with your partner. Moving together with your partner means that you and your partner should always be on the same side of the court, at the same distance from the net, and at the same distance from each other.

Moving together with your partner will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to cover more of the court and reduce the gaps and openings for your opponents to exploit.
• You will be able to communicate and coordinate better with your partner and avoid confusion and collisions.
• You will be able to support and complement each other’s shots and skills and create more pressure and opportunities for yourselves.

To move together with your partner, you need to watch your partner’s position and movement and adjust yours accordingly. You also need to communicate verbally or non-verbally with your partner and signal your intentions and expectations. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve moving together with your partner with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Side-to-side drill: Move from side to side along the non-volley zone line with your partner, hitting forehands and backhands alternately. Try to keep the same distance from each other and from the net at all times.
• Forward-backward drill: Move from the non-volley zone line to the baseline and back with your partner, hitting volleys and groundstrokes alternately. Try to keep the same distance from each other and from the net at all times.
• Switch drill: Switch sides with your partner after every shot, hitting forehands and backhands alternately. Try to keep the same distance from each other and from the net at all times.

Play low

One of the most effective pickleball advanced tips for playing is to play low. Playing low means that you should bend your knees, lower your center of gravity, and keep your paddle close to the ground.

Playing low will help you achieve several goals:

• You will be able to reach more balls and hit them in a better position.
• You will be able to generate more power and spin on your shots by using your legs and hips.
• You will be able to change direction and recover faster after each shot.
• You will be able to avoid injuries and fatigue by reducing the stress on your joints and muscles.

To play low, you need to adopt a good stance and footwork on the court. A good stance is one that is balanced, relaxed, and ready for action. A good footwork is one that is quick, efficient, and smooth. A good way to practice this is to do some drills that involve playing low with different strokes. Some examples of drills are:

• Low stance drill: Maintain a low stance throughout the rally, with your knees bent, your weight evenly distributed, and your paddle close to the ground. Try to hit every ball in a low position, without straightening your legs or lifting your paddle.
• Low swing drill: Swing your paddle low to high on every shot, using your wrist and forearm. Try to hit every ball with a low contact point, without raising your paddle or hitting the ball too high.
• Low bounce drill: Hit the ball so that it bounces low on your opponent’s court, using speed and spin. Try to hit every ball with a low trajectory, without hitting the ball too fast or too slow.

Pickleball doubles strategy vs pickleball singles strategy

Pickleball can be played as doubles or singles, and each format has its own strategy and tactics. While some of the pickleball advanced tips mentioned above apply to both doubles and singles, there are some differences that you should be aware of and adjust accordingly.

Here are some of the main differences between pickleball doubles strategy and pickleball singles strategy:

Hitting

In doubles, you have a partner who can cover half of the court and help you with your shots. This means that you can hit more aggressively and creatively, as you have less area to cover and more options to choose from. You can also hit more crosscourt shots, as they are more effective and safer in doubles.

In singles, you are alone on the court and have to cover the whole court by yourself. This means that you have to hit more conservatively and strategically, as you have more area to cover and less options to choose from. You also have to hit more down-the-line shots, as they are more effective and safer in singles.

Serving

In doubles, you have two chances to serve before the serve goes to the other team. This means that you can serve more aggressively and creatively, as you have less pressure and more margin for error. You can also serve more crosscourt shots, as they are more effective and safer in doubles.

In singles, you have only one chance to serve before the serve goes to your opponent. This means that you have to serve more conservatively and strategically, as you have more pressure and less margin for error. You also have to serve more down-the-line shots, as they are more effective and safer in singles.

Return-of-serve

In doubles, you have a partner who can help you with your return-of-serve by moving together with you and covering the middle of the court. This means that you can return more aggressively and creatively, as you have less area to cover and more options to choose from. You can also return more crosscourt shots, as they are more effective and safer in doubles.

In singles, you are alone on the court and have to cover the whole court by yourself. This means that you have to return more conservatively and strategically, as you have more area to cover and less options to choose from. You also have to return more down-the-line shots, as they are more effective and safer in singles.

Final Thoughts

Pickleball is a fun and exciting sport that can be enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. However, if you want to take your game to the next level, you need to learn some pickleball advanced tips that will help you improve your skills and strategies on the court.

In this article, we have shared with you some of the best pickleball advanced tips that will help you win more games and have more fun on the court. Whether you are playing doubles or singles, these tips will help you improve your serve, return, dink, volley, lob, and strategy.

We hope that you found this article helpful and informative. If you did, please share it with your friends and fellow pickleball players who might benefit from it. Also, feel free to leave us a comment below if you have any questions or feedback.