A Scientifically Proven Way to Improve Your Pickleball Play
How often do you find yourself playing at your peak level, making all of your shots, and feeling completely confident in your game? Once a week? Once per month? Every time you stroll on the court? Not often enough?
Before answering the question, consider this: is it easier to play confidently when you are ahead in a match? Obviously, the answer here is yes, but have you considered how that confidence was built? It may have something to do with the match score, your opponent’s inability to handle your game, or something else. Confidence is based on your belief that you can win/defeat your opponent.
Confidence and Pickleball Matches
What if we played a little game of semantics – is it easier to play under pressure when you are ahead in a match? Let’s say you are up 8 to 6, but your opponent has suddenly scored six unanswered points in a row. Where is your confidence level, and what affects it during these types of games?
Here are a few common confidence boosters and stealers:
Confidence Boosters
1. Making shots at will
2. Opponent making unforced errors
3. Handling and winning high-pressure rallies
Confidence Stealers
1. Frequently being forced to make difficult or defensive shots
2. Making unforced errors
3. Missing the serve
4. Frequently being slammed in the kitchen due to poor returns
Now, going back to the semantics question - with the ebb and flow of a match, my confidence varies based on the situation. Typically, if my confidence is down, my chances of winning the match are also down. So, an understanding of my confidence level is critical to winning matches. Having just lost 6 points in a row is a red flag for me to pause and regroup.
How to Recover from a Loss of Confidence on the Court
When my confidence is low, I literally stop for a moment to recover. I breathe and run through my game plan in my head, visualizing the shots I want to make. These are the same shots I’ve made during practices and drills that I am confident in. I then take those visualizations and make them a reality in the game.
As an example, during one of these regrouping moments, I visualize my next serve, which will be in and to the opponent’s weak side, or my next return that will be a deep cross-court drive, letting me get to the kitchen easily.
After thinking through these short scenarios and actually making the first shot, my confidence level will grow. Focusing on what improves my confidence means playing my game and making my shots.
Scientific Proof for Visualization and the Planned Approach
Believe it or not, there is science behind that last paragraph. A study by Anders Ericsson from Florida State University found that practice and execution of that practice can build an athlete’s confidence. The study found that deliberate practice is key to building confidence and improving any skill.
Ericsson defined deliberate practice as: “Activities that are explicitly intended to improve performance that reaches for objectives just beyond one’s level of confidence.”
Their study found that repetitive practice, activities that pressed a player’s fundamental abilities, helps improve skills and builds confidence. This exercise will set you up to make the shots you need when you need them. Making these shots will improve your confidence during matches and your chances of winning.
Of course, to have the confidence to make the shots you visualize, you must be able to confidently perform the shots in both practice and pickleball game settings.
What are Some Good Pickleball Drills?
There are many drills out there that can help you improve your skill level. Focus on a shot selection when practicing drills, so you have multiple types of shots at your disposal rather than just focusing on one drill at a time. In addition to mastering shots like the lob, and 3rd shot drop, having a solid pickleball serve will help you take your overall game to the next level.
Being a better player requires being well-rounded, and if you have hopes or ambitions of being a pro pickleball player, you’ll need to be able to beat experienced players. With this in mind, watching tutorials from better players can help you learn from their experience.
Forehand and Backhand Drill With Wes Gabrielsen
Footwork Drills with Pro Tennis Player Joanne Russell
PrimeTime Pickleball Figure 8 Dink Shot Drill
What is the Best Way to Improve Pickleball Skills?
Pickleball players learning to improve their skills require a good foundation as beginners and a lot of practice. Learning pickleball strategy is helpful for knowing how to play the game and when to take certain types of shots.
Reaction Time Skills
To play better pickleball, you’ll need more than just power shots at your disposal. Your reaction time and having fast hands at the net will be invaluable in your pickleball journey to being a better player.
Spend time switching grips and hands as you play to adjust for different shot types. If you normally use a continental grip, switch to an eastern grip and back until you can do this without thinking about it.
In addition to practicing pickleball drills during matches with friends, consider using a training tool such as the Slam Master to help you improve your response time at the net. There are also pickleball machines you can rent that will hit balls at high speed so you can work on your reaction time.
Best Pickleball Strategy Tips
Developing a pickleball strategy for upcoming matches can help you feel more confident - having a plan and following it is easier than winging it, particularly if you have a partner you need to communicate with.
Approach each game and each opponent as a puzzle that needs to be solved
Adjust your approach as needed if unexpected patterns emerge
After serving, move to the kitchen line quickly and stay at the non-volley zone line as much as possible
Create openings when you can by forcing your opponent to be off-balance
Don’t be afraid to take a shot when you spy an opening
Keep yourself in the ready position at all times - don’t get lazy
Keep your paddle positioned out in front of your body
Try to pin your opponent to the baseline by hitting deep returns to force them away from the NVZ
Understand your strengths and weaknesses - if necessary, practice poaching with your partner to avoid missing shots
Final Thoughts
As you advance on your pickleball journey, you’ll realize that there is always more to learn and new skills to master. The secret to playing well on the pickleball court is more than just making a winning shot because that’s short-lived; it’s the lasting confidence that comes with practice, dedication, and planning
Want to dive a little deeper? Check out one of my favorite TEDx talks on confidence and elite athletes.
