Primary Skills
These five skills are non-negotiable. They separate recreational players from competitive ones. Focus on achieving 70%+ consistency with each before moving to secondary skills.
Dinking Consistency
The foundation of competitive pickleball
Why This Is Critical
The team that can dink consistently controls the pace. Dinking forces opponents to stay patient and creates opportunities when they pop the ball up. Most points at intermediate+ levels are won or lost during the dinking exchange.
Key Points
- Height control: Keep the ball just 6-12 inches over the net
- Landing zone: Target opponent's kitchen consistently
- Soft hands: Absorb pace, don't add it
- Patience: Wait for your opponent's mistake rather than forcing winners
- Footwork first: Position determines control more than paddle technique
Practice Drill
Cooperative Dinking: With a partner, aim for 20+ consecutive dinks without errors. Start stationary, then add lateral movement. Track your longest streak. Advanced: Add crosscourt angles and varying depths within the kitchen.
Watch Out For
- Hitting too hard - most dinking errors come from adding pace
- Standing too far back - you should be just behind the kitchen line
- Looking at the paddle - watch the ball all the way to contact
- Trying to end points too early - the best dink is the one that comes back
Third Shot Drop
The transition from defense to offense
Why This Is Critical
After serving, you're at the baseline while opponents are at the kitchen. The third shot drop neutralizes this disadvantage by landing softly in their kitchen, preventing attacks and allowing you to advance. This is the skill that separates beginners from intermediate players.
Key Points
- Arc trajectory: Ball should peak well above the net (think rainbow)
- Contact point: Hit when the ball is dropping, below waist level
- Paddle face: Slightly open, lifting through the ball
- Target zone: Land in opponent's kitchen, ideally mid-court depth
- Follow through: Move forward immediately after hitting
Practice Drill
Baseline Drop Reps: Stand at baseline with bucket of balls. Practice 50 drops, focusing on consistent arc height. Mark success rate. Advanced: Have partner at net hit your drops back for continuous rally practice.
Watch Out For
- Hitting too flat - needs upward arc to clear net and drop into kitchen
- Too much pace - this is a touch shot, not a power shot
- Not moving forward after hitting - you must close to the kitchen
- Giving up after one miss - be ready to hit 2-3 drops in sequence
Kitchen Line Position & Movement
Court position is half the game
Why This Is Critical
The kitchen line is the strongest position in pickleball. It gives you offensive angles and lets you cut off balls early. Moving in sync with your partner prevents gaps. Players who retreat unnecessarily get punished.
Key Points
- Distance from line: 1-2 feet behind kitchen line, not in it
- Partner sync: Move together laterally - stay roughly parallel
- Ball follows you: When ball goes to one side, both players shift
- Hold your ground: Don't back up unless ball is overhead
- Split step: Small hop as opponent contacts to be ready for any direction
Practice Drill
Shadow Movement: With your partner, practice moving side-to-side without a ball. Call out "together!" as you shift. Video record to verify you're actually staying parallel. Advanced: Add random feeds to react to while maintaining sync.
Watch Out For
- One player advancing while partner stays back - creates exploitable gap
- Backing up on hard shots - hold the line and reset instead
- Standing too close to partner - need 8-10 feet between you
- Flat-footed stance - stay on balls of feet, ready to move
Soft Hands / Touch
Control pace, don't create it
Why This Is Critical
Soft hands enable dinks, resets, and drops - three of the most important shots. Players who can only hit hard are limited to banging. Players with touch control the pace, neutralize attacks, and create winning opportunities through placement.
Key Points
- Grip pressure: Hold like a bird - firm enough not to drop, loose enough not to crush
- Wrist give: Let wrist "give" slightly on contact to absorb pace
- Compact swings: Shorter backswing = more control
- Paddle stability: Keep paddle face stable through contact zone
- Feel the ball: Maximize contact time - "catch and release" not "hit"
Practice Drill
Reset Practice: Have partner drive balls at you with pace from baseline. Practice "resetting" them softly into the kitchen. Focus on feeling the ball stay on your paddle longer. Track success rate. Advanced: Reset while moving laterally.
Watch Out For
- Death grip on paddle - tension kills touch
- Rigid wrist - needs to be firm but not locked
- Big backswing - reduces control and reaction time
- Pushing at the ball - think absorption, not deflection
Return of Serve Depth
Set up every point for success
Why This Is Critical
A weak return puts you immediately on defense. The serving team can attack or easily advance. A deep return forces them to stay back and hit a third shot drop, neutralizing their serve advantage and giving you control of the point.
Key Points
- Target zone: Back third of court, near baseline
- Controlled aggression: Enough pace for depth, not so much you lose control
- Depth > placement: Deep anywhere beats short anywhere
- Move forward: Immediately advance to kitchen after returning
- High percentage: Consistency matters more than aces
Practice Drill
Target Practice: Place cones or targets in back third of court. Practice 50 returns, tracking how many land in target zone. Aim for 70%+ deep. Advanced: Have server vary serves to practice adapting contact point.
Watch Out For
- Hitting too short - gives opponents easy third shot attacks
- Going for too much - winners from return are low percentage
- Poor footwork to the ball - rushing or reaching reduces control
- Not moving forward after - you need to get to kitchen immediately