Singles Pickleball Strategy for Beginners

Picture Kerry Pittenger

Hey guys, it’s Kyle from ThatPickleballGuy. I’m gonna give you five tips so you can get the edge over the person that you play next in singles. Let’s go!

Tip 1: Stand Middle, Serve Big

One of the first things to consider is your position when serving. Instead of standing wide, position yourself in the middle (Figure 1).

Figure 1

This minimizes the amount of running you have to do after serving. By standing in the middle, you are already in a prime position to cover the court effectively.

Serving big is equally important. A strong serve puts your opponent on their heels, setting you up for a more advantageous third shot. As you push them back with your powerful serve, you gain the upper hand right from the start.

Tip 2: Return Deep

When it comes to returning the serve, returning deep is essential for gaining control of the point. A short return allows your opponent to move forward and apply pressure (Figure 2), giving them more options for their next shot. By returning deep, you force them to stay back, reducing their ability to dominate the net.

Figure 2

Tip 3: Target Their Backhand

Most players, especially beginners, have a weaker backhand compared to their forehand. Exploit this weakness by consistently hitting to their backhand. This strategy forces errors and gives you more opportunities to control the game.

Most players, maybe a majority (I’d say 80% plus) at the beginner level, have a weaker backhand than they do a forehand. Their forehand is typically stronger, they can typically hit the ball harder, and place it in better spots. By targeting the backhand, you can effectively disrupt their rhythm and win more points.

Tip 4: Control the Net

Have courage and control the net, because the player that controls the net often controls the point. This is particularly true at the beginner level.

After returning the serve deep, immediately move forward to the kitchen line to control the net, forcing your opponent to hit difficult passing shots (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Tip 5: Use a Third Shot Drop

A common strategy in doubles, the third shot drop, is also effective in singles. After serving and receiving the return, hit a third shot drop to your opponent’s backhand. If you hit it soft enough and in a way that’s not too high, they can’t just run around and pound it. Try to land the ball in the kitchen (Figure 4). This slows the game down and gives you a chance to regain your offense.

Figure 4

Then you immediately approach the kitchen the moment you hit the ball.

To Wrap Things Up

By implementing these five tips—standing middle and serving big, returning deep, targeting the backhand, controlling the net, and using a third shot drop—you can significantly improve your singles game in pickleball.

Think you know pickleball inside and out? Challenge yourself with ThatPickleball IQ Test and see if you can score a perfect 10 out of 10! And don’t forget to share the name of the first person you beat in pickleball singles in the comments below!