Playing pickleball singles is rising in popularity with younger, new players coming into the sport. In addition to being physically more demanding, playing singles can be a completely different game than playing doubles. If you’re looking to start playing singles, here are some pickleball singles strategies for beginners.
Pickleball Singles Strategies For Beginners
Go For High-Percentage Shots
As a beginner, your goal is to make each shot with consistency, staying within the bounds of the court. At this stage, go for the high-percentage shot that will keep the point going. Unless you have the touch and control coming from other racket sports, avoid going for low-percentage shots, such as close sideline shots.
As a beginner, you want to be able to hit one more ball than your opponent. Every additional shot that your opponent has to make is one that could be their unforced error. Hit each shot with pace and power to make it harder for your opponent to make their next shot.
Hit To Your Opponent’s Backhand
Generally, you will find that most people’s backhands are weaker than their forehands. Many beginner players do not have a strong backhand shot if any. By targeting their backhand, the point could easily be over. Or you will get a weak return that you can put away.
If your opponent comes from other racket sports and has a strong backhand, always anticipate and be ready for the ball to be coming back. You will want to especially cover the area that is crosscourt from your opponent’s backhand since that will most likely be the area that the ball will be coming back to. Don’t assume that the point is over until your opponent hits a ball into the net, out of bounds, or out of their reach.
Look For Opportunities To Move Up
You may already know that in pickleball doubles, you want to move up to the kitchen as soon as you can. But that is not necessarily the case for pickleball singles, especially as a beginner.
You should not be moving up to the kitchen right away if you gave your opponent a weak shot. A weak shot may be a short return or a return to their forehand. With a weak return, you will want to stay back at the baseline to give you more time to react.
Once you hit a stronger return, such as one that is deep to your opponent’s backhand, you can move up to the kitchen. If your opponent hit a weak short return, you can move up and drive the ball to pass them. At the net, you will have more angles to aim at the corners away from where your opponent is standing.
Make Your Opponent Move
No matter what level of pickleball you’re playing, your primary goal in playing singles is to make your opponent move as much as possible. That means putting the ball in the area that they’re not in. So you will have to vary your shots from one side of the court to the other, avoiding hitting to your opponent’s forehand.
You will also want to take time away from your opponent to react. That means not always letting the ball bounce first. If you can hit a ball in the air, it will make it harder for your opponent to be ready and move fast enough to return the ball to you.
More Pickleball Tips
Basic groundstrokes are very important in playing singles. That is why warming up and practicing every shot is essential before a game. Strong drives are extremely handy in putting pressure on your opponent and making passing shots. That is why you will want to drill those shots with a friend and a basket of balls.
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