Table of Contents
- Strategy 1: The Third Shot Drop – Your Golden Ticket to the Net
- Strategy 2: Master the Dink – Patience is a Virtue
- Strategy 3: The Serve and Return – Setting the Tone for the Point
- Strategy 4: Court Positioning and “Owning the Middle”
- Strategy 5: The Art of the Reset – Escaping a Firefight
- Strategy 6: Identify and Target Your Opponent’s Weaknesses
- Strategy 7: Stacking and Positional Play (Advanced)
- Strategy 8: Vary Your Shot Selection – Keep Them Guessing
- Strategy 9: The Mental Game – Stay Calm and Play On
- Strategy 10: Know the Rules Inside and Out
- Conclusion: From Player to Strategist
You’ve mastered the basics. You know how to serve, you can hold a rally, and you understand the sacred rules of the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ), or “the kitchen.” You’re having a blast on the courts, perhaps at a local community center in PJ, Subang or your neighborhood park. But you’ve hit a plateau. You’re winning some games, losing others, and you can’t quite figure out how to get to that next level—the level where you’re not just playing the game, but you’re dictating it.
Welcome to the real game of pickleball. It’s a sport often described as “easy to learn but difficult to master,” and that mastery lies not just in physical skill, but in strategy. Pickleball is a game of chess, not checkers. It’s about positioning, patience, and percentage plays.
If you’re ready to move beyond simply hitting the ball back and start controlling the rally, creating opportunities, and winning more points, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to break down ten essential pickleball strategies that will transform your approach and help you dominate the court.
Strategy 1: The Third Shot Drop – Your Golden Ticket to the Net
This is arguably the most crucial shot in pickleball and the one that separates intermediate players from advanced ones. The “third shot” is the third shot of any rally (Serve -> Return -> Third Shot). The serving team is at a disadvantage because they must stay back behind the baseline while the returning team has already advanced to the NVZ line. The purpose of the third shot drop is to neutralize this disadvantage.
What it is: A soft, arcing shot from the back or mid-court that is intended to land gently in your opponent’s kitchen.
Why it’s a game-changer: A successful third shot drop is an un-attackable shot. Because it bounces low in the kitchen, your opponents cannot volley it. They are forced to let it bounce and then hit the ball on an upward trajectory. This pause gives you and your partner the precious time needed to run forward and establish your position at the NVZ line. Once both teams are at the net, the point becomes neutral, and the dink rally can begin.
How to execute it:
- Grip and Stance: Use a soft, continental grip. Bend your knees—the shot comes from your legs and body, not your arm.
- The Motion: Think of it as a gentle “lift,” not a “hit.” Your paddle face should be slightly open, and the swing should be compact and low-to-high. Imagine you’re trying to softly toss a ball over a small fence.
- The Target: Aim for the peak of the arc to be on your side of the net, so the ball is descending as it crosses. The ideal drop shot lands near the opponent’s kitchen line, forcing them to take a step back or hit a difficult, low shot.
Resist the urge to drive every third shot. While a powerful drive has its place, a well-executed drop is the higher-percentage play that sets you up for success in the long run.
Strategy 2: Master the Dink – Patience is a Virtue
Once you’ve used your third shot drop to get to the net, the dinking rally begins. This is where most points are won and lost at higher levels. Dinking is not just a defensive shot; it’s an offensive setup.
What it is: A soft shot hit from your NVZ line that travels low over the net and lands in your opponent’s kitchen.
The Strategic Goal: The goal of dinking is to hit an un-attackable ball, forcing your opponents to do the same. You are patiently waiting for one of two things to happen: 1) Your opponent makes an unforced error and hits the ball into the net or out of bounds, or 2) Your opponent gets impatient or makes a technical mistake, popping the ball up too high. A ball that floats above the net is an invitation to attack and end the point.
How to dink effectively:
- Stay Low: Keep your knees bent and your paddle out in front of you. A low center of gravity is key.
- Cross-Court is Key: While dinking straight ahead is useful, the cross-court dink is your primary weapon. It travels a longer distance, giving you more margin for error. It also forces your opponents to move, which can open up a gap in the middle of the court.
- Aim for the Feet: A dink that bounces at an opponent’s feet is incredibly difficult to return effectively.
- Patience, Patience, Patience: The first player to get impatient and try to attack a low dink usually loses the rally. Be willing to hit 5, 10, or even 20 dinks while waiting for the right opportunity.
Strategy 3: The Serve and Return – Setting the Tone for the Point
The first two shots of the rally are foundational. A weak serve or return immediately puts your team on the defensive.
The Serve: Your primary goal is consistency. However, a strategic serve is a deep serve. Aim to land your serve as close to the baseline as possible. A deep serve pushes the returner back, making their return more difficult and giving them a longer path to run to the net. As you advance, you can add variety with spin or by targeting a player’s backhand, but depth and consistency are always paramount.
The Return of Serve: This is the single most important shot for the returning team. Your one and only goal for the return of serve should be to hit it deep. A deep return, ideally to the center of the court or at the feet of the incoming server, accomplishes several things:
- It keeps the serving team pinned to the baseline.
- It gives them less time to set up their third shot.
- It makes their third shot drop or drive significantly more difficult.
- It gives you and your partner ample time to get into position at the NVZ line.
Resist the temptation to hit a hard, “winning” return. A powerful return that lands in the mid-court is far less effective than a softer, deeper return.
Strategy 4: Court Positioning and “Owning the Middle”
Pickleball is a game of angles and positioning. You and your partner should move like you’re connected by a string.
Move as a Unit: When your partner moves to the right to cover a shot, you should shift a few steps to the right to cover the resulting gap in the middle. When the ball is in front of you, you should both be at the kitchen line. If you get pushed back, your partner should generally move back with you to maintain a strong defensive line.
Control the Center: The highest percentage shots in pickleball are hit down the middle of the court. Why?
- Highest Margin for Error: The net is lowest in the middle.
- Creates Confusion: It can cause hesitation between opponents as they decide who should take the shot. This often results in a weak return or a complete miss.
- Reduces Angles: Hitting down the middle limits the angles your opponents have for their next shot.
Generally, the player with their forehand in the middle should take the shot, as a forehand is typically stronger and more consistent. Communicate this with your partner before the game (“I’ll take the middle forehands!”).
Strategy 5: The Art of the Reset – Escaping a Firefight
You’re caught in “no-man’s land” (the mid-court) and your opponents are blasting shots at your feet. The natural instinct is to panic and try to hit a hard shot back. This is a low-percentage play that usually ends in an error. The advanced strategy is to hit a “reset.”
What it is: A defensive, soft shot designed to slow down the rally and give you time to get back to the kitchen line. You are essentially hitting a drop shot from a defensive position.
How to execute it:
- Absorb the Pace: Instead of swinging forward, your motion is more of a catch. Use soft hands and an open paddle face to absorb the energy of your opponent’s hard shot.
- Aim for the Kitchen: Your goal isn’t to hit a winner. It’s to dink the ball back into the opponent’s kitchen, neutralizing their attack and allowing you to regain your position.
Mastering the reset is the key to turning defense into offense. It’s a get-out-of-jail-free card that frustrates aggressive players.
Strategy 6: Identify and Target Your Opponent’s Weaknesses
During the warm-up and the first few rallies, you should be scouting. Every player has tendencies and weaknesses. Your job is to find them and exploit them.
What to look for:
- A Weaker Wing: Does a player have a weak backhand? Target it. Make them hit their less comfortable shot over and over.
- Immobility: Is a player less mobile? Hit shots at their feet, make them move side-to-side, and use lobs to push them back.
- The “Popper”: Does one opponent consistently pop up their dinks? Be patient and dink to that player until they give you the attackable ball you’re waiting for.
- Impatience: Does a player get frustrated easily and try to attack low balls? Dangle the carrot. Give them low dinks and let them make the error.
Don’t just hit to the weaker player relentlessly. Good opponents will adapt. Instead, set up the point by hitting a shot or two to the stronger player, then attack the weaker player when they are unprepared.
Strategy 7: Stacking and Positional Play (Advanced)
Stacking is a positioning strategy used to ensure both players can be on their preferred side of the court (e.g., keeping a right-handed player on the left side to have their forehand in the middle). It involves coordinated movement after the serve or return.
Simple Stacking Example (On Serve): Let’s say Player A (right-handed) wants to be on the left court. When Player A serves from the right side, immediately after contact, they will shift to the left side of the court, and their partner (Player B) will shift from the left side to the right.
It requires excellent communication and practice, but at higher levels, stacking is essential for maximizing your team’s strengths and creating the most favorable matchups.
Strategy 8: Vary Your Shot Selection – Keep Them Guessing
Even the most perfectly executed shot becomes less effective if it’s predictable. The best players mix up their shots to keep their opponents off-balance.
- Mix Drops and Drives: If you’ve hit five third-shot drops in a row, surprise them with a hard third-shot drive down the middle.
- Change Dink Direction: Don’t just dink cross-court. Hit an occasional sharp-angle dink or one straight ahead to catch them leaning.
- Vary the Pace: Not every attackable ball needs to be smashed. Sometimes, a medium-paced “roll volley” to an open spot on the court is more effective.
- The Strategic Lob: The lob is a low-percentage shot, but a well-disguised, occasional lob can be a winner, especially against opponents who creep too far into the kitchen.
Strategy 9: The Mental Game – Stay Calm and Play On
Pickleball is a game of errors. You will make mistakes. Your partner will make mistakes. The team that wins is often the one that can manage their emotions and focus on the next point.
- Short-Term Memory: Forget the last point immediately, whether you won or lost it. Focus only on the current rally.
- Positive Communication: Always encourage your partner. A simple “great try” or “we’ll get the next one” goes a long way. Discuss strategy between points, not faults.
- Breathe: When the pressure is on, take a deep breath before you serve or return. It calms the nerves and helps you focus.
Strategy 10: Know the Rules Inside and Out
This is an underrated strategy. Deep knowledge of the rules can save you points and help you make confident calls. Understand the nuances of NVZ foot faults, the correct server/receiver positions, and legal serves. For example, knowing you can step into the kitchen after a volleyed ball has bounced allows you to take the next shot more aggressively. Knowing the rules prevents you from being taken advantage of and solidifies your confidence on the court.
Conclusion: From Player to Strategist
Dominating the pickleball court is about elevating your thinking. It’s about understanding that every shot has a purpose and every position has an advantage or disadvantage. Start by incorporating one or two of these strategies into your practice sessions. Focus on the third shot drop for a week. Then, dedicate the next week to patient dinking.
As you begin to layer these strategies into your game, you’ll see a dramatic shift. You’ll move from reacting to your opponents to making them react to you. You’ll control the pace, create opportunities, and, most importantly, you’ll win more games.
Now grab your paddle, head to the courts, and start playing smarter. We’ll see you out there!
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