Pickleball is taking the United States and the entire world by storm. It’s gradually becoming the sport of choice for a range of people.
Excitingly, age doesn’t matter in Pickleball. People of all age groups play it. However, if you’re yearning to play the sport professionally, building a good foundation should be a top priority.
Even if you only want to play Pickleball for recreational purposes, getting sound knowledge of the game would still be beneficial. It might help you enjoy the game more and avoid injuries. You’ll also play like a pro.
This post provides hot tips for pickleball beginners. So, grab a seat and read from start to finish.
8 Pickleball Tips Every Beginner Should Know
You want to play at a high level and avoid injuries. That’s every pickleball player’s wish. Now let’s discuss some ways to achieve that.
Tip1#: Always Warm Up Before Games:
It doesn’t matter your age, skill level, or if you only plan to play for a few minutes. Don’t ditch your warm-up routine before games.
Warming up before games is highly beneficial. It will help lessen your likelihood of sustaining injuries and boost your chances of performing at a top-level.
You may discover that you are more flexible, mobile, and sharp when you warm up before games. So, please don’t joke with it.
Why would someone not warm up before a game? Most people might ask. Well, if you think this can’t happen, you’re entirely wrong.
The excitement of playing takes over most people the moment they hit the court. And then they may forget they haven’t warmed up or give silly excuses to forgive themselves.
So, what warm-up exercises make sense for pickleball? Here are some of them below.
Loosen up the body: Stand up on your toes. Perform some lunges, bends, and twists to loosen up areas like your arms, back, legs, hips, and wrist. Rising on your tiptoes and taking a brisk walk around the court is an impactful warm-up exercise too.
Light jogging: Please do not skip this. Jogging gets your heart rate up and fires up your nervous system. It informs and prepares the body to get ready for action.
Balance exercise: Here comes a warm-up exercise no pickleball player should skip. Balance involves standing on one leg for a while, then switching to the other.
Players who don’t have proper balance are most likely to get injured in games, especially when backing up for a lob.
Dynamic stretches: Examples include bodyweight squat, big arms circle, knee to chest, core twist, and leg kicks.
Tip#2: Be Conscious of Your Limits:
Pickleball is fun to play. Sometimes, you’ll have the urge to keep playing or the push to defeat an opponent by any means possible. However, don’t forget this—everyone has a limit. Know what your limit is and respect it.
Whether you’re playing a competition or just keeping fit, don’t exceed your limit. If the ball is too far from you and you know it would take something extraordinary to rescue the point, let it go!
It is far better to lose points than get injured. You may not even be fit to play for a while after sustaining specific injuries. Therefore, don’t play superman or try to impress anyone by rescuing every ball played to you.
Tip#3: Don’t Be Afraid To Use The Word “No”:
Who says Pickleball is not addictive? The sport is highly addictive. Most people play several times a week the entire month. Pay a visit to neighbors where the game is widespread, and see things for yourself.
Your friends, relatives, and neighbors may want you to accompany them to play. However, if you’re ill, injured, or still recovering from the last games played, be bold enough to reject their offer.
Listen and understand your body. It will help you prevent avoidable injury or health risks. You can explain to those asking you to play the reason you’re refusing their offer. If they insist you must accompany them, stand your ground.
It is better to hurt a few friends or neighbors by saying no to their demands than putting your health at significant risk. Be bold to say no whenever you feel like not going to the court to play or even watch.
Tip#4: Make Communication With Your Partner Effective:
Pickleball is a double racket sport where communication is highly essential. Players need to practice and perfect their communication skills. Unfortunately, many fail to try to improve this side of their game.
Synchronizing your movements with your partner is as crucial as communicating with them effectively. Two top players can lose a game woefully if they don’t understand each other.
Let’s walk through some pro tips on communication.
Master the act of calling shots: Some shots will be for you, while your partner would be responsible for some. You need to know which are yours and the ones that are your partner’s.
Many players end up losing valuable points in games owing to missed shots. They would assume their partner would take it while their partner would be thinking the same of them. In the end, no one would take the shot. You can eliminate such confusion by calling shots.
Master the act of using sign language: Communication during games doesn’t have to be orally alone. You can communicate with your partner via simple signals.
You and your partner have to agree on the signs to use. It doesn’t matter if both of you are professionals. Improved communication skills can boost your chances of winning games.
Tip#5: Move-In Synchronization With Your Partner:
Positioning is vital in Pickleball. If you and your partner fail to cover the width of the court adequately, you’ll be giving winning opportunities to your opponents. Therefore, work on improving movement and sync with your partner.
Additionally, there should be space between you and your partner to avoid bumping into each other when striking the ball. However, watch the different sides of the court. Do you feel like you’re too exposed? If you are, please adjust at once.
Consequently, moving forward, if you notice your partner isn’t positioning themself appropriately on the court, show them what to do. You may also correct them from time to time, in between games.
Tip#6: Choose The Perfect Paddle For You:
Don’t focus on aesthetics when buying your paddle. Those are only necessary if your primary interest is to show off. Your paddle needs to complement you and make playing enjoyable.
You can identify the best paddle for you in several ways. One way is to check your performance. Did you perform better while playing with the same opponent when you changed your paddle? Well, other factors could be responsible.
Another way to assess a paddle is to take note of how you felt after using it. Did you experience fatigue on your arm, wrist, and elbow? If so, then that paddle might not be the right fit for you.
The weight is another feature that can help you decide if a paddle is the right one for you. If the paddle is lightweight but fires powerful shots, then that’s the proper one for you.
Therefore, choose a paddle that complements your playing style, strength, age, and physical fitness.
A Pro Tip: You can sample other people’s paddles to have an idea of what is ideal for you. Doing so will help you avoid the mistake of making the wrong choices. You’ll be able to acquire the perfect paddle that will elevate your performance whenever you hit the court.
Tip#7: Deliver Consistent And Accurate Serves:
Pickleball and tennis are not the same sports. Players are advised to hit aces whenever they serve in tennis. However, that isn’t the case in Pickleball. Consistency and accuracy are crucial in Pickleball.
Therefore, as a beginner, you should focus on getting your services across the net and into the service box. Don’t try to use too much power when serving. Remember that players don’t have the opportunity to serve for the second time in Pickleball.
A Pro Tip: Avoid skimming serves over the net. Even if your serve arc is high, ensure they’re still accurate.
Tip#8: Hit The Ball To Open Spaces Between Your Opponents:
Studying opponents’ positioning and sync during games can place you a step ahead. It can boost your chances of winning games.
Therefore, when you hit balls, remember not to send them directly to your opponent. Place your balls in open spaces where both players (opponents) will struggle to get to and return your shot.
Conclusion
These Pickleball tips for beginners can also benefit pro players. They can help anyone play at the top level and avoid injuries while doing so.
The sport is fun to play and boasts a shallow learning curve. However, if you don’t follow the right tips, you might not enjoy the game as you wish. It could probably be due to injuries or fatigue within a short time.
Therefore, go through the tips highlighted here and abide by them. You can also study the game and think about other points that can help make Pickleball playing interesting.
