Drop-in Pickleball Etiquette

It's funny how many pickleball players like to play with people of the same skill level. But, if you are playing drop-in pickleball, in most locations, you can have beginners playing with intermediate and advanced players. So, the question is… How do you get the most out of these situations and make the experience a reciprocal relationship?

If you are the better player on the court, then it really is an opportunity to both help others on the court and to get some practice on improvements to your game. So, I usually handle this situation by waiting until the lower level players have a question and then I answer it. Many times, players don't like unsolicited advice and as professional player Vicki Foster said in a recent Pickleball Fire Podcast interview, you want to be a good partner. So, unless someone asks for some help, you should probably stay quiet. Still, you can take the opportunity to practice some shots you need to work on to improve your game. I know I always like to work on the precision and consistency of my third shot drop. So, I'm going to practice this softer shot rather than a third shot drive against weaker players. In recently talking to professional player Altaf Merchant, he mentioned he doesn't mind drilling against 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 players. In fact, he will drill with two players of this level so it is two against one.

Ultimately, pick-up or drop-in pickleball is about having a good time, meeting new players, and bettering everyone’s game. So enjoy it!