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How to be a smarter pickleball player
Paul from Pickleball Daily
February 23, 2026
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Tip of the day
Coach Cliff works with Anna, a powerful banger, to help her develop the soft game necessary to move beyond simply hitting every ball hard.
The first step in mastering the reset is learning how to manage tension in your body to absorb the energy of an incoming attack.
Remaining calm while an opponent prepares to smash the ball is a mental skill that is just as important as physical technique.
When resetting in the midcourt, you must identify whether the ball is coming to your forehand, backhand, or directly at your body.
Resets can be hit either off the bounce or out of the air, and practicing both ensures you are prepared for any type of pace.
Many players struggle with drops because they are too focused on adding offensive spin rather than simply clearing the net.
To improve your third-shot drop, focus on getting the paddle under the ball and creating a high, slow trajectory into the kitchen.
Adjusting your paddle to a forty-five-degree angle helps the ball move forward through the court while still maintaining enough height to clear the net safely.
Understanding how to drop the ball effectively gives you the confidence to choose between a drive and a drop based on the situation.
Muscle memory through consistent drilling is the only way to replace the habit of over-hitting with a more strategic, controlled approach.
Key Points:
Reduce body tension to absorb power when resetting aggressive shots from your opponents effectively.
Focus on staying calm and still when facing a smash to improve your defensive accuracy.
Practice hitting resets both off the bounce and out of the air to handle different ball heights.
Prioritize getting under the ball for third-shot drops to ensure you clear the net consistently.
Use a forty-five-degree paddle angle to give your soft shots the depth they need to reach the kitchen.
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That’s it for today! As always, thank you for reading. 🙏
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Happy pickling,
Paul