As the serving team, your goal is to reach the kitchen line quickly to neutralize the point. That, however, does not give you permission to sprint to the line with reckless abandon. Your approach should be strategic. It depends and multiple factors including the quality of the third shot, placement of the third shot, and your partner’s willingness to move forward.
If you’re not using two hands on your backhand, then the game might be passing you by. Many pros and high-level players use two hands to add power and stability to their backhand shots. But how do you decide when to add that second hand?
Pickleball is evolving into a faster-paced game that emphasizes offense over the traditional soft game. While the soft game is still an important tool, it’s no longer the cornerstone of winning strategies.
A new video from the Pickleball Playbook explains how players can embrace modern techniques and adjust their approach to have a significant edge in 2025 and beyond. Here’s how you can stay ahead:
Mari Humberg broke out onto the pro scene in 2024. One of the biggest reasons for her success is her killer backhand flick.
In this instructional video from Ed Ju, Mari Humberg shares expert insights into her signature backhand flick, a deceptive and effective shot. Key takeaways include:
Coming off a paddle rack cold and only having a 30-second warm-up for a challenge court can be a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, top 20 PPA Pro Eric Roddy shared with us some strategic advice on how to start your games off the right way to maximize your chances of winning.
In pickleball, knowing when to hit a topspin drop versus a slice drop can make a big difference in your control and strategy on the court. Here’s a quick guide – with tips from Selkirk pro James Ignatowich – to help you decide when to use each shot and tips for executing them effectively.
Your serve is one of the most underrated and overlooked aspects in pickleball. A strong serve can lead to easy thirds and make the rest of your skillset irrelevant. A new video from Austin at the Pickleball Playbook offers a ton of tips to improve your serve. Let’s look at a few tips varying in level of difficulty.
The third shot drop is widely referred to as the hardest shot in pickleball. If it’s hit too high it’s smashed for a putaway. A little too low, and it’s straight into the net.
Senior Pro Dayne Gingrich argues that the time to prioritize the third shot drop has come and gone. He says “The 3rd shot drop should be put on the back shelf and only used when absolutely necessary. The drive/drop combo is a much better play for all levels.”
The forehand takes the middle. It’s a solid rule that should be adhered to MOST of the time.
Ben Johns is known for making the impossible possible on the pickleball court. But what might be more impressive is his consistency in maintaining his status at the top of the game month after month. On the PicklePod, Johns identified a major mistake that is detrimental to the consistency of amateur players: trying to control or add to your shot with wrist movement.
It’s always nice when your opponent compliments you after a game. It’s even sweeter when they ask for your advice. Here was mine to this person asking about improving their backhand third shot:
A consistent ready position is a hallmark of top-level pickleball players. It enables them to react quickly and easily handle fast-paced exchanges. But many players overlook this crucial habit, leaving them vulnerable. Let’s explore what players get right and where they go wrong when maintaining a strong ready position. Here's what Selkirk-sponsored pickleball instructor Jordan Briones has to say.
A key trait of advanced pickleball players is their ability to use patterns to control a game. If you've ever wondered how some players always seem to be one step ahead, this Up Your Game is for you. We’ll break down three attacking patterns that top players rely on in nearly every match. Master these, and you’ll win more rallies and dominate your opponents.
There’s no doubt that the right-side player's role has changed. They can no longer sit back in a passive role. In order for the team to compete at the highest level, the right-side player needs to attack and be aggressive to create more offense. James Ignatowich dives deep into the intricacies of the doubles game in a new podcast episode. He says, “If the left-side player doesn’t have a strong two-handed backhand counter, you can pretty liberally speed it up down the line.”
We all admire that smooth two-handed backhand dink James Ignatowich makes look effortless, right? Well, spoiler alert: waking up and whipping out ‘twoeys’ like James doesn’t just happen—it’s all about technique and training. If you’ve been wondering why your backhand dinks aren’t quite there yet, pickleball trainer Connor Derrickson has pinpointed three key areas you must work on. And no, it’s not just about hitting more balls.
Mark Twain said, "The Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." The same could be said about dinking in pickleball because if you were to watch any 4.0-5.0-level rec game, you’d think dinking is dead. However, analytics show dinks are still the most common shot hit in games. So, while dinking might be less popular than it was a few years ago, they’re still a massive part of the games we play daily.
