To be a good Pickleball player, there are several skills that are important to have. Here are some skills that are mentioned by most Pickleball instructors:
- Consistency: A high level of consistency is important for a good Pickleball player. This means being able to hit shots with accuracy and control. See https://usapickleball.org/tournaments/tournament-player-ratings/player-skill-rating-definitions/.
- Strategy: A good Pickleball player has mastered Pickleball strategies and can vary strategies and styles of play in competitive or tournament matches. They are successful at turning defensive shots into offensive shots and can easily and quickly adjust their style of play and game plan according to the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and court conditions.
- Control: A Pickleball player’s skill level is determined by looking at physical and strategic abilities, namely control, consistency, and adaptability. See https://www.paddletek.com/blogs/news/pickleball-ratings-guide.
- Adaptability: A good Pickleball player is adaptable and can adjust their game to their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. See https://www.pickleballmax.com/2020/04/pickleball-skill-ratings/.
- Footwork: A good Pickleball player has efficient footwork and effective use of weight transfer for improved quickness on the court.
- Understanding of rules and strategy: A good Pickleball player has a good understanding of the rules and strategy of Pickleball. See https://thepickler.com/blogs/pickleball-blog/pickleball-ratings-skill-levels-rankings.
- Ability to sustain a rally: A good Pickleball player can sustain a rally with players of equal ability.
- Ability to hit various shots: A good Pickleball player can hit drives, serves, and returns with pace, as well as dinks and drop shots.
- Consistency and control: A good Pickleball player has some consistency and control, including consistently hitting serves and returns in play.
- Ability to hit forehand and backhand shots: A good Pickleball player has both forehand and backhand shots, including drop shots.
- Ability to keep score: A good Pickleball player has a basic ability to keep score.
Overall, a good Pickleball player needs to have a combination of physical and strategic abilities, including consistency, control, adaptability, and an understanding of the rules and strategy of Pickleball.
The #1 skill, according to most Pickleball instructors is consistency, and how do you improve consistency? PRACTICE!
There are several ways to practice and develop consistency in Pickleball. Here are some tips:
- Participate in drill sessions or find a partner to practice with: This will help you get more repetition and hit the ball more often than during drop-in play or a league. See https://www.pickleballuniversity.com/home/you-wont-like-the-answer-on-how-to-play-more-consistently
- Focus on mechanics: Great mechanics can help you be more consistent. Instead of having a large backswing, focus on using your shoulder more in your swing. See https://www.pickleballuniversity.com/home/top-8-pickleball-tips-to-be-more-consistent
- Apply practice skills to competitive games: Consistency is about being able to take your practice skills and apply them to competitive games with confidence, trust, and composure. See https://successfulpickleball.ca/2022/05/23/improve-your-consistency/
- Master Pickleball strategies: A good Pickleball player has mastered Pickleball strategies and can vary strategies and styles of play in competitive or tournament matches. They are successful at turning defensive shots into offensive shots and can easily and quickly adjust their style of play and game plan according to the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and court conditions. See https://usapickleball.org/tournaments/tournament-player-ratings/player-skill-rating-definitions/
- Use pace and depth: A good Pickleball player has a high level of consistency on their forehand and uses pace and depth to generate opponents’ errors or set up the next shot4.
- Direct the ball effectively: A good Pickleball player can effectively direct the ball with their backhand.
Overall, practicing with a partner or in drill sessions, focusing on mechanics, and mastering Pickleball strategies can help you develop consistency in Pickleball.
The information in this blog post comes from my research and experience playing pickleball and can be found in my books — HOW TO GET STARTED PLAYING PICKLEBALL and HOW TO IMPROVE FROM BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE IN PICKLEBALL — both available on Amazon. I hope you learn something from this post that you can take onto the courts to help you improve your game.