How to Quickly Get Better at Pickleball: The Ultimate Improvement Guide
Get better at Pickleball quickly and improve your game. With more players joining local clubs, competing in tournaments, and looking for ways to improve their game fast. If you’re serious about stepping up your skills and winning more matches, you need a structured approach to practise smarter, not just harder.
This ultimate guide will give you proven strategies, drills, and key techniques to help you quickly improve your pickleball game, whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate player looking to reach the next level.
🔹 The Fastest Way to Improve at Pickleball
Getting better at pickleball isn’t just about playing more—it’s about practising with purpose. The best players focus on:
✔ Better shot selection – Mastering dinks, drops, and volleys.
✔ Smart positioning – Knowing where to stand and when to move.
✔ Consistency – Reducing unforced errors to win more rallies.
✔ Strategy over power – Controlling the pace of play and forcing errors.
If you follow the right training methods, you can shave months off your learning curve and start winning more matches sooner.
1️⃣ Master Your Serve – The First Step to Winning More Points
Many beginners underestimate the serve, thinking it’s just a way to start the rally. But a strong, strategic serve can immediately put pressure on your opponent and set up an easy win.
How to Improve Your Serve Fast:
✅ Mix up your serves – Use deep, short, and spin serves to keep opponents guessing.
✅ Aim for the back corners – Make it harder for your opponent to return aggressively.
✅ Use a low, powerful stroke – Keep your serve just above the net for more control.
✅ Practise consistency – Work on hitting 20+ serves in a row with precision.
🔥 Pro Tip: A deep serve pushes your opponent back, making it harder for them to get to the kitchen line quickly.
2️⃣ Perfect the Third Shot Drop – The Most Important Shot in Pickleball
If you want to win more rallies, you need to master the third shot drop. This soft shot lands in the opponent’s kitchen, stopping them from smashing and allowing you to move up to the net.
How to Master the Third Shot Drop:
✅ Hold the paddle loosely to control touch and finesse.
✅ Aim for a gentle arc that just clears the net.
✅ Practise hitting 50 drops in a row to build consistency.
✅ Stay balanced and move forward after executing the shot.
🔥 Pro Tip: A well-executed third shot drop is your ticket to controlling the kitchen line and dominating rallies.
3️⃣ Get to the Kitchen Line Faster & Stay There
The Non-Volley Zone (kitchen) is the most powerful position on the court. If your opponents are at the kitchen and you’re stuck at the baseline, you’re in trouble.
How to Get to the Kitchen Line Quickly:
✅ Move forward immediately after hitting your serve return.
✅ Practise split-stepping to be ready for fast volleys.
✅ Stay low and balanced to react to shots quickly.
✅ Keep your paddle up in front of you for quick volleys.
🔥 Pro Tip: The team that controls the kitchen wins 80% of rallies. If you get pushed back, fight to reclaim your position!
4️⃣ Improve Your Dinking Game – The Key to Winning More Points
Dinking is an essential skill in pickleball. It keeps rallies going, forces errors, and sets up easy put-away shots.
How to Become a Dinking Pro:
✅ Keep the ball low and soft so your opponent can’t attack.
✅ Use crosscourt dinks to extend rallies and create angles.
✅ Practise dinking with a partner for 3-5 minutes every session.
✅ Vary your shots – mix deep, short, and spin dinks to force errors.
🔥 Pro Tip: Out-dinking your opponent forces them into mistakes, giving you easy smash opportunities.
5️⃣ Stop Hitting the Ball Too Hard – Play Smart Instead
Many beginners think power wins games, but pickleball is a game of placement and patience. If you keep smashing every shot, you’ll make too many unforced errors.
When to Use Power & When to Use Control:
✔ Use soft shots (dinks, drops) to control the rally.
✔ Attack only when your opponent makes a mistake.
✔ Keep your shots low – high balls get smashed back.
✔ Make your opponent move instead of just hitting hard.
🔥 Pro Tip: Patience wins in pickleball—control the rally until your opponent makes a mistake!
6️⃣ Train Smarter with Drills & Practice Routines
If you want to improve quickly, don’t just play random games—use focused drills to develop skills faster.
Best Pickleball Drills to Improve Fast:
🏓 Third Shot Drop Drill – Hit 50 third shot drops in a row.
🏓 Dinking Drill – 5-minute crosscourt dink rally with a partner.
🏓 Volley Reaction Drill – Rapid volley exchanges at the net.
🏓 Deep Serve & Return Drill – Practise 20 deep serves and returns.
🔥 Pro Tip: 10 minutes of structured drills is more valuable than an hour of casual play!
7️⃣ Develop a Winning Doubles Strategy
If you’re playing doubles pickleball, teamwork is everything. The best pairs work together to cover the court effectively and attack strategically.
How to Win More Doubles Matches:
✅ Move as a team – Stay side-by-side with your partner.
✅ Cover the middle – Most shots land in the centre.
✅ Communicate – Call shots clearly (“Mine!” or “Yours!”).
✅ Use stacking – Keep your stronger player’s forehand in the middle.
🔥 Pro Tip: If you and your partner keep hitting the same ball, you’re not communicating enough!
8️⃣ Watch & Learn from Better Players
One of the fastest ways to improve at pickleball is to watch top players and study their strategies.
Ways to Learn Faster:
✔ Watch Pickleball England tournaments to see pros in action.
✔ Ask advanced players for tips or advice at your club.
✔ Record your own games and analyze mistakes.
✔ Follow UK pickleball news on Dink Quest to stay updated!
🔥 Pro Tip: The best players aren’t necessarily the strongest—they’re the smartest. Learn from them!
Final Thoughts – How to Improve Quickly at Pickleball
If you want to get better at pickleball fast, focus on smart training, better positioning, and consistency.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Improve your serve – A deep, well-placed serve gives you control.
✅ Master the third shot drop – It’s the most important shot in the game.
✅ Get to the kitchen line quickly – The strongest position on the court.
✅ Work on dinking – Soft play wins games.
✅ Train with structured drills – Practise with intention, not just repetition.
✅ Play smarter, not harder – Placement and patience beat power.
✅ Watch & learn from better players – Study and adapt their strategies.
With focused training and smart play, you’ll improve faster than your competition and start winning more matches.
Want to take your game to the next level? Keep reading Dink Quest for the best pickleball tips, drills, and news in the UK! 🏓🔥
