A fun, fast-paced paddle game, Pickleball plays like a combination of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Competitors take to a badminton-sized court, except with a low net, and use rackets similar to table-tennis paddles to swat a plastic perforated ball back and forth like tennis. The following tips can help improve your Pickleball game.
Ready Position
Each Pickleball player needs to find a comfortable stance from which to hit and receive shots. The standard ready position features standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, your knees slightly bent, your weight balanced equally on the balls of the feet and your paddle pointed toward the net, allowing for easy transition to either forehand or backhand. However, because of the small court, some players may find this position doesn’t provide enough time to react to shots, especially when close to the net. If that’s the case, try standing with the paddle on your backhand and held in front of your chest. This enables quick backhand returns and easy body rotation to the forehand.
Head Movement
When striking the ball, make certain to keep your head still. Your eyes will want to instinctively follow the ball after contact, but moving your head to do so will throw you off balance and produce errant shots. Focus on the ball and not the intended target. This can be particularly difficult when charging the net, when many players lift their heads before hitting the ball.
Backhand
Borrowed from tennis, the typical Pickleball backhand stroke starts with your shoulders square to the court’s sideline. Then you swing a smooth, level stroke parallel to the ground with your wrist locked as you extend your arm. A more advanced backhand technique features an arcing stroke, with the racket swinging low and then high. The wrist is also kept loose throughout the follow-through. By hitting the backhand with this arcing stroke and loose wrist, you generate more power and spin, making it difficult for the opponent to read the shot.
Volleying
Many Pickleball shots can be volleyed out of the air for greater effectiveness. To hit a strong volley, remember to take your time and aim the face of your paddle at the target. Step toward the target and follow through. Don’t forget to pause and aim the shot first. Rushing into a volley or simply guessing at its destination will lead to unforced errors.
Poaching
In doubles Pickleball, poaching refers to crossing into your teammate’s side of the court to play a shot. Poaching can be an effective defensive technique to surprise your opponents, keeping them guessing and unsure which shot to play next. Poach as much as possible, jumping on easy returns and anticipating weak efforts from troubled opponents to steal valuable points.
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