Winners For Beginners: 5 Tips for New Picklers

With the help of several pickleball professionals, here are 5 key tips and tricks for new picklers looking to perfect their game.

If you are a new pickleball player, welcome to the club! You’ve boarded the PB train, and you're probably never getting off. While joining the pickleball community is super exciting, you might be a little nervous starting out.

Fear not—we've got you covered! We spoke with seven pickleball professionals, and they’ve provided some tips and tricks on how to improve your game. Here are our 5 key tips for new pickleball players:

/en-us/pickleball

Tip #1: Less IS More

One of the most common mistakes made by beginner players is too much movement, both in footwork and paddle motion. All the big swings and added steps decrease your efficiency and take time away from hitting the ball. An important concept for pickleball is consistency: the less motion you have, the more consistent you will be when hitting your shots. Be efficient in how you move to the ball and take the paddle back to hit. The court you play on is much smaller than other racquet sports, so you want to reduce any unnecessary movements.

Tip #2: Placement Over Power

Slow it down, young pickler. We know it can be tempting to swing for the fences, but this game is more about touch and precision.

“Don’t try and do too much with the ball,” stresses Dale Zwack, Wilson’s Senior Racquet Engineer and professional pickleball player. “I always preach placement over power. If you hit the ball in the right place, that puts a lot of stress on your opponent. You don't always have to hit the ball hard. You move the ball around a little bit until you get that ball popped up, where you can really put it away with a high percent of success.”

/en-us/pickleball

Tip #3: Keep the Wrist Firm

Tying back to the notion that pickleball is about consistency and control, another common mistake players make is using too much wrist to hit the ball. The more you use your wrist, the more the ball will fly all over the court. When first starting out, work on keeping your wrist firm and limiting excessive movement. The spin will come with your swing path as you hit the ball, not by flicking your wrist. With a firm wrist, you can hit more controlled, consistent shots, even on more challenging balls.

Tip #4: Learn One Shot at a Time

There is a wide variety of shots to hit in pickleball, from the third shot drop to the serve to the dink. We know you want to be good at hitting all of them… we know. But it's important to focus on one shot at a time. Take your time and concentrate on each shot and understand how you can improve it. Once you master that shot, move on to the next. This will make perfecting your technique so much easier.

/en-us/pickleball

/en-us/forms/pickleball/pickleball-newsletter-signup

Tip #5: Pickleball Strategy ≠ Other Racquet Sports’ Strategy

Having a background in other racquet sports is very beneficial, don’t get us wrong. Your hand-eye coordination and movement on the court are probably close to being on point. That being said, pickleball is its own unique sport. The tactics and strategies involved with pickleball will not be the same as other racquet sports, and it’s important that you adjust accordingly. What works in tennis, badminton, or table tennis will not necessarily work in pickleball. Keep this in mind when you first pick up a paddle and begin hitting shots across the net.

SHOP OUR PICKLEBALL PADDLES & ACCESSORIES

You Are Ready!

New picklers, you are ready for the challenge of learning how to play this exciting, addicting sport. With these 5 tips provided by the pros, you are on your way to improving your game and enjoying it with friends and family. As always, practice makes perfect, so get out on the court and use these tips to improve your game!

For more pickle advice, check out these blog posts:

/en-us/forms/pickleball/pickleball-newsletter-signup