If you’re playing pickleball consistently — whether socially or competitively — continuing to improve your skills is key to growing in the sport and advancing as a player.
“It’s important to keep progressing in your pickleball game to unlock new potential for yourself and your involvement in the sport,” says Sabrina Palavra, pickleball leader at Life Time North Shore. “The more you refine your skills, the more people you’ll be able to play with, and the better your games will be. Plus, who doesn’t want an impressive DUPR score to their name?”
Palavra, along with Daniel Roditi, lead pickleball pro at Life Time Rancho San Clemente, share their top tips for improving your pickleball skillset.
1. Train with a drilling partner. Commit to drilling on the court with a partner at least once or twice a week. “Repetition with drills can create muscle memory in those skills, so when you’re playing next you don’t have to think, you just react,” says Roditi.
Palavra recommends focusing on improving your soft game from the baseline and midcourt with your drilling partner. “Your soft game is how you control the ball while you dink and perform drop shots,” she says. “The goal is to play focused and determined, waiting for your opponent to make a mistake, and that composure and confidence can come from practice.”
She suggests a drill in which your partner stands in the kitchen on the opposite side of the net to mimic the returner’s positioning while you focus on hitting drop shots from the baseline and midcourt areas. “It’s important to play well when you’re the serving team in order to win points,” she says.
2. Practice receiving hard drives. With a drill partner or ball machine, practice your counter volleys against hard drives and speed ups.
“It’s important to get comfortable dealing with the pace of the ball if you want to improve,” says Palavra. “Drives and speed ups only get faster as you compete against higher-level players; if you don’t want to pop the ball up when returning it, it’s necessary to work on drilling the counter shots.”
3. Pay attention to your opponent’s DUPR rating. As much as possible, play with opponents whose DUPR rating is similar to yours, or with those who have a higher rating than you, advises Roditio. “You’ll be challenged by their level of and ability in play.”
However, he also encourages players to play against opponents with a lower rating from time to time. “Use it as practice for certain shots,” he suggests. “If you want better players to play with you, be willing to do the same for others. It’s good pickleball karma.”
4. Compete in tournaments. “Tournament play helps you grow as a player and learn what you need to improve by exposing you to new game styles, high-pressure situations, and highly competitive environments,” says Palavra. Even if you don’t consider yourself a serious competitor, tournaments can help you test your skills, build confidence, and gain valuable experience.
5. Include regular strength training and recovery in your routine. Endurance and agility are obvious staple skills for anyone who plays pickleball. But, as it is for many sports, strength is also integral for improving abilities and preventing injury. Your body also needs support to rebuild and grow after a demanding pickleball session.
“A great way to minimize injuries and improve your game is to strengthen your body off the court and on the workout floor, as well as to spend time recovering,” says Roditi. “The older you are, the more this is true. Trust me, I know!”
(Learn more: “8 Strength Exercises for Pickleball Players” and “Go-To Recovery Methods for Pickleball Players.”)
6. Don’t underestimate the importance of your mental game. “Practice positive, constructive self-talk,” encourages Roditi. “Becoming an expert in speaking to yourself in a productive, healthy way can greatly improve your game.” Over time, that mindset can help you endure long rallies, challenging games, and high-stake situations.
7. Be a good partner. The old adage is true: Treat your partner like you’d want them to treat you. “When you’re on the court, you are your partner’s biggest cheerleader,” says Roditi. “If you’re being negative, coaching excessively, blaming them, or displaying poor body language when they make a mistake, you’ll find yourself with less and less people wanting to play with you, regardless of your level.”
