Serve, Volley, Score! Tips for Learning Pickleball Like a Pro

Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport, has surged over 158% in participation in just three years. As the game grows, now’s the perfect time to jump in and master the basics before competition heats up. This guide covers everything from affordable gear and unique rules to techniques that elevate your game. Whether you’re aiming to dominate local courts or simply join the excitement, these strategies will fast-track your progress.

Essential Gear for Beginners

Starting your pickleball journey doesn’t require a massive investment, but choosing the right equipment can significantly impact your learning experience and enjoyment of the game.

Selecting Your First Paddle

Your paddle is your most important piece of equipment, and the good news is that excellent beginner options exist at every price point. Look for paddles weighing between 7-8.5 ounces—heavy enough for control but light enough to maneuver quickly during fast exchanges.

The grip size matters more than many beginners realize. Hold the paddle with your dominant hand and check if you can fit your non-dominant hand’s index finger in the gap between your fingers and palm. If the space is too tight or too loose, try a different grip size.

Composite paddles offer the best balance of power and control for beginners, typically costing $40-80. Avoid the cheapest wooden paddles, as they’re heavier and less forgiving. Popular beginner-friendly brands include Selkirk, Paddletek, and Engage, all offering quality entry-level options.

Court Shoes Make a Difference

Tennis shoes or dedicated court shoes provide the lateral support essential for pickleball’s quick side-to-side movements. Running shoes, designed for forward motion, can increase injury risk during the sudden directional changes that define pickleball strategy.

Look for shoes with non-marking soles, especially if you’ll be playing on indoor courts. The sole should provide good grip without being so sticky that it catches during pivots and quick movements.

Balls and Accessories

Pickleball uses perforated plastic balls that come in indoor and outdoor varieties. Outdoor balls have smaller holes and are more durable, while indoor balls have larger holes and fly slower. Most beginners start with outdoor balls since they’re more versatile.

Consider investing in a small bag to carry your gear. Many players also appreciate having a towel and water bottle, especially during longer playing sessions or hot weather.

Affordable Starter Kit Recommendations

Several companies offer complete beginner sets that include two paddles, balls, and carrying cases for $60-100. These kits provide everything needed for two people to start playing immediately and often represent significant savings compared to buying items separately.

Basic Rules and Scoring System

Understanding pickleball’s unique rules is crucial for developing proper technique and strategy from the beginning. The rules might seem complex initially, but they become intuitive with practice.

The Serving Rules

All serves must be made underhand with the paddle below your waist at contact. The serve must clear the net and land in the diagonal service court, similar to tennis. However, the ball must bounce once before you can serve it—no toss-and-hit like tennis.

The serving team continues serving until they commit a fault. In doubles play, both partners get to serve before the serve passes to the opposing team, except at the start of the game when only one player serves.

When serving, you must keep both feet behind the baseline and serve from the right side when your score is even, left side when it’s odd. The serve must be directed diagonally across the court.

Understanding the Kitchen

The seven-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net, nicknamed “the kitchen,” creates pickleball’s most distinctive strategic element. You cannot hit the ball in the air while standing in this zone or while your momentum carries you into it after hitting a volley.

This rule prevents powerful overhead smashes at the net, making the game more about placement and strategy than raw power. You can enter the kitchen to play balls that have bounced, but you must exit before attempting any volleys.

Many beginners struggle with kitchen violations. A good rule of thumb: if you’re going to hit the ball in the air, make sure you’re completely outside the kitchen and won’t step into it during your follow-through.

Scoring System Explained

Pickleball uses a unique three-number scoring system that confuses many newcomers but becomes logical with understanding. The score is announced as three numbers: the serving team’s score, the receiving team’s score, and which server is serving (1 or 2).

Games are typically played to 11 points, and you must win by two. Only the serving team can score points. If the receiving team wins a rally, they don’t score—they just earn the right to serve.

At the start of each game, the score is called “0-0-2,” meaning the serving team starts with their second server. This ensures both teams get equal serving opportunities throughout the game.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

The double-bounce rule catches many tennis players off guard. After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before players can hit volleys. This means the receiving team must let the serve bounce, and the serving team must let the return bounce.

Foot faults during serving are common among beginners. Both feet must be behind the baseline when serving, and many players inadvertently step on or over the line during their serving motion.

Kitchen violations occur frequently as players get excited during net play. Remember: you can’t hit the ball in the air while any part of your body is in the kitchen or while your momentum carries you into it.

Fundamental Techniques and Drills

Mastering basic techniques early will accelerate your improvement and make the game more enjoyable as you face increasingly skilled opponents.

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The Serve: Your Foundation Shot

A consistent serve sets the tone for every point. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart, paddle low, and body facing the target diagonally. The motion should be smooth and controlled, not powerful.

Focus on consistency over power. A reliable serve that lands in the service court every time is infinitely more valuable than a powerful serve that goes out of bounds half the time.

Practice serving to different areas of the service court. Being able to serve deep, short, or to either side will give you tactical options as you advance.

The Dink: Your Strategic Weapon

The dink shot—a soft, controlled shot that lands in the opponent’s kitchen—is perhaps the most important skill in pickleball. This shot slows down the game’s pace and creates opportunities for more aggressive shots.

Practice dinking with a gentle, controlled motion. The goal is consistency and placement, not power. Good dinking requires excellent touch and the ability to keep the ball low over the net.

Set up dinking practice by standing at the kitchen line with a partner and hitting soft shots back and forth. Focus on keeping the ball low and landing it consistently in the kitchen.

The Volley: Quick Reactions

Volleys are shots hit in the air before the ball bounces. They require quick reflexes and good positioning. Keep your paddle up and ready, with your grip firm but not tense.

Practice wall drills to improve your volley consistency. Stand about six feet from a wall and hit gentle volleys, focusing on control rather than power. This drill develops hand-eye coordination and paddle control.

During actual play, position yourself properly for volleys. Stay light on your feet and maintain good balance. Many beginning players tend to reach for volleys instead of moving their feet to get into the proper position.

Essential Drills for Improvement

The cross-court dinking drill improves accuracy and consistency. Set up diagonally across from a partner at the kitchen line and practice hitting soft, controlled dinks cross-court. This drill develops touch and precision.

The baseline rally drill builds consistency and endurance. Rally with a partner from the baseline, focusing on keeping the ball in play rather than hitting winners. This drill improves your groundstroke reliability.

Practice the third shot drop—arguably the most important shot in pickleball. This shot, hit by the serving team after the return of serve, should arc high and land softly in the opponent’s kitchen. It’s challenging but essential for advancing your game.

Advanced Strategies for Competitive Play

As you progress beyond the basics, understanding strategic concepts will elevate your game from recreational to a competitive level.

Strategic Positioning

Court positioning in pickleball is dynamic and depends on the situation. The general principle is to advance to the kitchen line when possible, as this position offers the most offensive opportunities.

However, don’t rush to the net recklessly. Good players advance methodically, using the third shot drop or other transitional shots to move forward safely. Running to the net immediately after serving is a common mistake that better players will exploit.

In doubles play, maintain proper spacing with your partner. Move as a unit, both advancing or retreating together. Avoid creating gaps that opponents can exploit with well-placed shots.

Shot Placement and Selection

Power has its place in pickleball, but placement and selection are more important. Learn to hit to open spaces and move opponents around the court. A well-placed soft shot often creates better opportunities than a powerful shot hit directly at opponents.

Develop the ability to change the pace of play. Sometimes you’ll want to slow things down with dinks and drops, other times you’ll want to speed up the game with drives and volleys. Reading the situation and selecting appropriate shots is crucial.

Target your opponents’ weaknesses. If someone struggles with backhand shots, direct more balls to their backhand side. If they’re uncomfortable at the net, try to keep them back with deep shots.

Learning from the Pros

Professional pickleball players like tennis veteran Genie Bouchard, who has embraced the sport, demonstrate the importance of consistency over flashy shots. Watch how pros construct points methodically rather than going for outright winners.

Study professional matches to understand court positioning and shot selection. Notice how pros use the entire court, vary their shots, and maintain patience during long rallies. These tactical concepts apply at every level.

Professional players excel at the mental game. They stay composed under pressure, maintain focus during long points, and make smart decisions even when physically challenged. Developing this mental toughness is as important as physical skills.

Reading Opponents and Controlling Pace

Successful pickleball players learn to read their opponents’ tendencies and adjust their strategy accordingly. Pay attention to patterns in your opponents’ play—do they favor certain shots or struggle in specific situations?

Controlling the pace of play is a crucial advanced skill. Sometimes you’ll want to slow things down with soft shots and dinks, forcing opponents to create their own pace. Other times, you’ll want to speed up the game with aggressive shots to prevent opponents from setting up.

Use timeouts strategically. If opponents are building momentum, a well-timed timeout can disrupt their rhythm and give you time to regroup and adjust your strategy.

Teamwork in Doubles Play

Effective doubles play requires constant communication and coordination. Develop simple signals with your partner for serving strategy and court positioning. Call shots early and clearly to avoid confusion.

Complement your partner’s playing style. If your partner is aggressive, you might focus on consistency and court coverage. If they prefer a steady game, you might take more risks and look for aggressive opportunities.

Support your partner both tactically and emotionally. Pickleball is a game of momentum, and maintaining positive energy and encouragement keeps both players performing at their best.

Conclusion

Becoming great at pickleball takes practice, dedication, and the right mindset. Start with good equipment, learn the basics, and build advanced strategies as you grow. Success comes from combining skills, strategy, and mental toughness—consistency beats power, and patience trumps aggression. Join local clubs or tournaments to practice and learn from others. Pickleball’s inclusive community makes it easy to improve while having fun and building connections.