What are the most important skills needed to become a high level pickleball player?
What are the 9 most important unique skills needed to be an advanced pickleball player?
Pickleball is a sport that has grown in popularity over recent years to the extent that it is now North Americans fastest growing sport. To be successful at this rapidly evolving requires a combination of unique skills.
Here are some of the most important unique skills needed to become an excellent pickleball player:
1. Dinking: Dinking is a soft, controlled finesse shot that is used to keep the ball low, near the net and unattackable. This shot requires touch and accuracy, and it is a critical skill in pickleball especially at a higher level. A series of good dinks can be used to keep the opposing team on the move and off balance and set up your partner for a put-away shot.
2. Third Shot Drop: The third shot drop is used to ‘buy a ticket to the net’, the most advantageous position on the court, usually after the serve. It is a slow, dropping low shot that lands in the kitchen (the non-volley zone), and it is an essential shot in advanced pickleball. A great third shot drop is difficult to attack and gives your team the opportunity to move forward and take control of the net and then hopefully dictate the tempo of the point.
3. Volleys: Volleys are shots hit in the air before they bounce, and require good hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and good positioning. In pickleball, volleys take time away from your opponent and they are an essential shot for players looking to control the net and potentially finish points quickly.
4. Footwork: Good footwork is essential in pickleball, as it allows players to quickly move to the ball and get into position for optimal stroke execution. Players need good footwork to move quickly forwards, backwards, sideways and comfortably moving while staying balanced and in control. Good footwork also helps players get in position quickly for volleys and other speciality shots near the net like poaching and ernes.
5. Strategy: Great pickleball players understand the importance of strategy and are able to read the play, their opponents and modify their game accordingly. This includes knowing when to be defensive, play more offensively, as well as understanding when to change up the play. Players who are able to think tactically and play smarter usually win more points and matches, as they can exploit their opponents' weaknesses and capitalise on their own strengths.
6. Soft Game: In addition to power and pace, the more you advance the more your pickleball game requires the soft finesse game as it opens up more tactical options. This means being able to hit shots with touch and delicate control to better utilise the strategic benefits of dropping the ball in the kitchen (NVZ), rather than just relying one dimensionally on power. Soft shots are effective near the net, as create non-attackable shots for the opponents, and are an essential pickleball players looking to apply pressure with patience and winning points via frustrating consistency and unforced errors.
7. Consistency & Patience: Consistency and patience are key in pickleball, as depending on the level of play, 50% or more of points are won through unforced errors as the game often requires long rallies. Advanced players are able to maintain a high level of concentration and quality of shots over the course of a match, avoiding unforced errors and playing high percentage patient pickleball. Players who are consistent are more likely to win, as they are able to patiently wear down their opponents and capitalise on their mistakes.
8. Mental Toughness: Pickleball can be a psychologically challenging game, and great players are able to stay focused and calm in high-pressure situations. They are able to quickly recover from mistakes and setbacks, maintain a positive attitude with themselves and their partner, and stay focused on their process and game plan. Mindset and mental resilience are especially important in recovering from an injury or long sessions of play, as players must be able to stay positive, focused and maintain their self-belief even when they feel impatient, under stress or fatigued from a long tournament.
9. Persistence & Diligence: Like in any sport, diligently putting in the training hours and being persistent are key traits to achieving excellent. The journey to success will always have ups and downs, highs and lows, but remember “A winner is just a loser that never gave up”. Even if you have natural ability, you still need to put in the hours to maximise those talents. On the flip side, if you feel you weren’t naturally blessed from birth, then that simply means you might have to ‘train smarter’ and more effectively, get pickleball coaching a little more often and drill more than others are willing to do.
In summary, the most important unique skills needed to be a great pickleball player include dinking, third shot drops, volleys, footwork, tactics, mental toughness, soft game, and consistency. These skills are essential for players looking to improve their game and compete at a high level, and they can be developed through drilling practice, persistence, and a constant willingness to learn.
As with all emerging and top athletes these skills can be fast-tracked with the help and guidance of a pickleball coach. For more information on pickleball coaching go to pickleball lesson bookings as Pickleball Coaching Australia is here to help you be the best you can and want to be.
