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Quick tips to get better fast

Quick tips to get better fast

Paul from Pickleball Daily
February 06, 2026

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Tip of the day

Tips to See IMMEDIATE Improvement

Professional player Tanner shortcuts your learning curve with 15 rapid-fire techniques designed to instantly upgrade your consistency, defensive skills, and overall court awareness.

Lower your body position as your opponent's paddle goes higher; this "seesaw effect" makes you a smaller target and prepares you for overhead smashes.

Angle your paddle tip toward 11:00 at the kitchen line to "cheat" toward your backhand, which allows you to cover about 90% of incoming shots more effectively.

Keep your third-shot drives at 70% power to focus on making the ball dip over the net, forcing your opponent to volley upward and giving you an easier next shot.

Position yourself behind the baseline after serving so you can step forward into your third-shot drop, using your momentum for better control and depth.

Handle sharp, aggressive dinks by using an inside-foot cross-step and a sideways paddle angle to bunt the ball safely back toward the center of the court.

Ensure your paddle never leaves your peripheral vision during soft shots like dinks and drops to prevent over-swinging and accidental pop-ups.

Target the extended backhand of opponents who use a one-handed backhand, as this is the most difficult area for them to cover accurately under pressure.

Avoid drop shots when your opponents are back at the baseline; hitting deep volleys keeps them back and maintains your tactical advantage at the kitchen.

Keep your neutral ready position at belly-button height; if an attack is high enough to require lifting your paddle to your shoulders, it’s likely going out.

Step your lead leg directly behind the ball for any speed-up off the bounce to ensure you can get your paddle head down for maximum spin manipulation.

Pause and become perfectly still before your opponent strikes the ball during your transition to the kitchen to improve your reaction time and balance.

Push your resets in the transition zone rather than slicing them, as the extra under-spin from a slice reduces your control and consistency.

Lob opponents who consistently take your dinks out of the air; their forward weight distribution makes it nearly impossible for them to retreat quickly enough.

Retreat as much as possible the moment you pop a ball up, then stop and get low right before your opponent hits the overhead to maximize your defensive coverage.

Track the ball with your paddle tip pointed directly at it during dink rallies to eliminate the "chicken wing" and stay ready for sudden speed-ups.

Key Points:

Use the "seesaw effect" to dynamically adjust your height based on your opponent’s paddle position.
Prioritize backhand readiness at the net to cover the majority of your body with minimal movement.
Focus on ball "dip" rather than raw speed for more effective third-shot drives.
Stop your forward motion entirely during transitions to the net before the opponent hits the ball to stay balanced.
Use a simple "push" motion for mid-court resets to maintain the highest level of consistency.

Watch the full tutorial here.

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