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This skill will make you better instantly
Paul from Pickleball Daily
February 16, 2026
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Tip of the day
Roscoe Bellamy identifies decision-making as the single most important skill that separates winning players from those who struggle, regardless of their physical power or technique.
Effective serving decisions begin with observing the opponent's positioning to identify if they are hiding a weakness or standing too close to the baseline.
You can use the placement of your serve to influence which partner on your team will be more likely to receive and hit the third shot.
The choice to drive or drop the third shot should be dictated by the quality of the return, with high and slow balls being the green light for an aggressive drive.
When playing against opponents with exceptional hands, a drop shot is often the smarter decision to neutralize their power and force them into a dinking rally.
Deciding to poach requires evaluating your partner's shot; if the ball is hit low and toward the line, it creates a safer opportunity to cross and cut off the next ball.
An aggressive dink should only be attempted when you are in a balanced body position and receiving a relatively high, slow ball from your opponent.
Defensive dinking is necessary when you are pushed out of position and need to hit a neutral, dead ball to reset the point and regain your balance.
Knowing whether to cover the middle or the line during an attack depends entirely on which opponent is hitting the ball relative to your position on the court.
Key Points:
Master the ability to choose between driving and dropping based on the speed and depth of the incoming return.
Use your serve strategically to target weaknesses or manipulate which teammate handles the third shot.
Evaluate the height of your partner's third shot before committing to a poaching move across the middle.
Differentiate between aggressive and defensive dinks to avoid making unforced errors when you are off-balance.
Coordinate with your partner to ensure either the middle or the line is covered depending on where the attack originates.
Deal of the day
Meme of the day
Gotta work on that backhand 🤣
That’s it for today! As always, thank you for reading. 🙏
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Happy pickling,
Paul