7 Strategies ALL 5.0 players use (So you can become one)

[@LeanneSchultz-x3y]

Win the decision battle. The human brain doesn't like making a lot of decisions. So if you can raise your own tolerance to making a lot of decisions, and play in such a way that you constantly force your opponents to make decisions, i.e. resets and taking pace off the ball, you will win. Most lower level players like a high paced game because there are no decisions, only reactions. I've noticed they will actively avoid hitting to the player who will reset, change the pace, and force them to start making decisions.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Great advice! I've never heard of the psychology of it before. Makes TOTAL sense. Thank you for that, I will be using that!

[@blommy224]

Exactly, great way of breaking it down. Be the one creating and dictating the flow and movement on the court. Reactive works when you are disciplined, and working back into a creative dictate of play. Thanks for the perspective and reminder.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Absolutely! Thank you for watching!@@blommy224

[@michelledelaney4271]

Next-level video. The bonus tip is esp useful to me. Coming from a high level vball background, where controlled aggression is often rewarded. I took your advice of 'playing not to lose' and modified it to my own situation. Personally, when I play 'not to lose', I become tentative so instead of thinking 'don't lose this point!' I think 'play one more ball than they do'. A minor modification and it works great for me. Similar to your tip about positioning when defending overheads, small adjustment, big results!!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks Michelle! I appreciate your generosity, many more videos like this to come!

[@allenronaldson4381]

Love your approach T! I’m retired PGA professional who taught for 34 years. You’re a great communicator and you’re energy is great. An instructor has to bring it every day. You can have bad days when people are giving you their discretional income. Last thing. Instruction is 25% teaching and 75% coaching. Cheers!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks brother!! Great message!!

[@johnnmusic]

This is one of the best advice videos I've ever seen, Great job!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Wow, thanks! That means so much :)

[@sbinsdca]

If a 4.0 player at the kitchen line has a 30% chance of winning a point by dinking or a 50% chance by speeding up the ball, they will usually choose the higher percentage shot for their current level. Decision making at each level is relative and improves as skills improve. When reaching 4.5, you hit a wall when playing 5.0-5.5 teams. Their drops, dinks, defense and resets are only slightly better. They win by better decision making comprised of patience, percentages and point construction. Also notice 5.0 players take balls out of the air if possible (dinks, mid-court and overheads). They rarely let the ball bounce if it's reachable. Their hand speed is also slightly quicker at the kitchen line vs 4.5+ players.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Great input! I must say, I totally agree with you and appreciate this outlook!

[@eddie_pickleball]

It was super useful. I am bookmarking this video in my Pickleball folder right away. Always great lessons from Tanner.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@channinghatcher8580]

Thank you!!! This is the best strategy and skills video I have found on KZbin. Clear, simple instructions on the areas that can make the difference between winning and losing . Keep up the awesome work 👍🏻

[@tanner.pickleball]

You're very welcome! That is a very meaningful comment, Channing!

[@krismraz10]

The minor adjustment tip to cover slams was worth the whole video. 👍Looking forward to more videos.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you so much Kris! I appreciate your message! They will be coming!

[@myravirgil5302]

All the tips were great and what hit home for me the most was, who covers the middle.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bufenuf642]

This Coach is so intense! I love it. His gift is in communication of ideas, so you get it. Best of the best.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you so much!

[@bufenuf642]

Bro. Honestly. You are the top of the shelf. You are going to the top. Keep your vision and grow your career in this wonderful game. Here is my tip for you. Focus on the value you bring to humanity. This is a game that all humans should play. All ages. It is good for physical fitness and mental health. So here is my prayer for you. That you achieve all your dreams because you have 100% commitment to your goals!

[@IRWE905]

Great Tip on Who Covers the middle. In our Drop In Play Group we have all abilities together. When two stronger players are together I see them both trying to cover the Middle because each one them is use to doing it with Weaker players. Now we know who's responsible ;)

[@tanner.pickleball]

Yep exactly! I am so glad I was able to cure any confusion :)

[@sLasHeRxXx07]

And here I thought whoever has the hot hand gets mid

[@rjsophia3712]

I just found your channel and I think your videos are fantastic! My two favorite tips from this video are to stand at the corners for an overhead and letting the person who is diagonal to the hitting opponent take the ball if it comes through the middle. And your explanations of why these things should occur are very understandable!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Love your entire message!! Thank you so much Sophia! I will see you around :)

[@afterthesmash]

My indoor court has side walls tight to one side. No matter where you stand you can't get those balls if you have to run wide.

[@FrancisTankana-jw6of]

Sounds like a shitty court

[@chubacabra88]

You're the best teacher on KZbin dude. Quick and to the point.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad you think so! That is my plan!!

[@mddale]

Brilliant tips! Now, to remember to do them!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you Dale!

[@edplay4153]

Clear and very useful for immediate improvement on my game. Thank you!

[@tanner.pickleball]

My pleasure, thank you for watching, ED!

[@montetown8836]

Great video I need to show 95% of the people I play with your strategy on the diagnol return shot. Nearly EVERYONE believes the forehand should take that shot but you are 100% correct it opens up a lane for the opponent if not played correctly.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks brother! Glad you found this useful!

[@abdelgonzalez8430]

Wow, excellent video with tons of valuable guidance. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Absolutely, thank you for this generous comment! :)

[@DavidTexas340]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS I LEARN MORE FROM YOU IN ELEVATING MY GAME!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you!!!

[@yangxiang684]

One of the best! Thanks, Tanner.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks Y!

[@8wwwww879]

I've watched countless PB videos the last year, this is one of the best and one I wished I had viewed earlier! Great Job!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks again!

[@davegenet]

One of the best strategy videos I’ve seen. Maybe the best.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Wow!! Great bold statement :)

[@davegenet]

It was very practical and succinct. And I’ve played enough to understand the validity. Good stuff.

[@MichaelKada]

This video helped me so much ❤. Simple rules and principles that make a huge difference in improving my game.

[@tanner.pickleball]

No problem Michael! Thanks for the comment!

[@jisforjoy3314]

I usually could return quite a few smashes until one opponent hit it at a sharp angle. So I found that one pointer very helpful. I need to practice that one. Thanks ❤

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks for sharing! Love that!

[@sheelavishwanath8681]

Great video, thank you Tanner!

[@tanner.pickleball]

My pleasure!

[@jillsdancer]

My focus this year is decision making. Great video. I liked and subscribed :)

[@tanner.pickleball]

Welcome aboard! Thank you so much, this REALLY means a lot and helps so much!

[@picklerun361]

Wow---so glad your reels came through my facebook page. Your explanations are spot on and I've saved so many to refer to! All the best in your quest for the pro tour--you really have that energy. Hope to see you here in the NE.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!!!!

[@weswes5876]

Awesome video! So much good info and great examples!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Cacheola]

I appreciated the shading chapter, especially the diagonal responsibilities - sub'd

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks brother!!!

[@clintroberts1]

More like this! Excellent ADVANCED content.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks Clint!

[@donnarenee2252]

You are awesome! I love your simple explanations that make a lot of sense🥰 please keep going!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you so much Donna!

[@FinalFlameXD]

Just found your channel, and I love it so far. This was very informative and something I didn't know before. Thanks for the tips!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you so much. Many more coming :)

[@mariacopre4106]

Tanner...these are sooo good! esp pattern recognition, transition tips & deception! Thanks 🎉

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad you like them!

[@Leaann111]

Holly Cow! Great advice! Thanks!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Yessss

[@fogflyer]

Nice video! Haven't seen your channel before. Glad I found it, you have a new sub! As a 4.0-4.5 player, you gave me some things to think about. It's nice to see a video aimed at the slightly higher level player. I found your tips well reasoned and well explained. Thanks man!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks for that generous comment! Absolutely! Many more where that came from!

[@zzw26n]

Best video to date Tanner....

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks!!

[@rosborne2055]

Excellent video. Lots of good tips. Much appreciated.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SadHippo100]

Great video Tanner! I really like your channel and its content. You provide a lot of great tactical stuff that is frankly hard to find. Keep up the great work!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you very much! Much much more where this came from in the future!

[@mker1436]

Like it so much! Very good tips! Thank you so much!

[@tanner.pickleball]

You're so welcome!

[@frank88ster]

Masterclass!!! Many thank.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Yessir! No problem!

[@sergenoel007]

I really really appreciate your videos, help me a lot to get better and faster. Thanks

[@tanner.pickleball]

You are so welcome!

[@sergenoel007]

Man, I learned so much with your video. What you showing are exactly what I needed to improve my game, and it works. Whishing New Brunswick, Canada, wasn't so far away from you because you will be my future coach hahaha

[@CliffPickleball]

Awesome video keep them coming!!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks! Will do! What would you like to see next?

[@fjgj99]

Go Tanner. Thanks for your tips.

[@tanner.pickleball]

You bet!

[@pats300zx]

Fantastic video. Love your channel.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you so much 😀

[@joysilverburg7020]

Watched your video, great job on tips, subscribed to help you on vedios endeavors, good luck. Many thanks

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you very much Joy! I really appreciate that! Many more just like this coming!

[@kewinfo3229]

great video. good luck in your pursuit. subscribed:)

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you!!

[@good2freelance1]

Good advice, i gave thumbs up and subscribed ;)

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you so much on that! That is what helps my channel grow!

[@roman2011]

Amazing tips.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks Roman!

[@CheekyEdits-qu1bm]

Great videos. Keep it up.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks brother!

[@SinCityAMG]

Very useful, again!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad you think so!

[@ronbroberg3022]

Great stuff, thank you!

[@tanner.pickleball]

My pleasure! :)

[@kimw.5369]

These are fantastic 🙌🙏

[@tanner.pickleball]

:)

[@Chadius_Thundercock]

I started playing pickleball with my dad around a month ago, and were really starting to improve but I don’t understand the point of long dinks in a singles game. Doubles makes sense but wouldn’t speeding up be more advantageous in singles since it’s one person covering the entire court instead of two? Since you can manipulate your opponent better when they’re alone

[@tanner.pickleball]

Yes totally if you can get it by them without them anticipating it!

[@Charles-lz2tz]

great explanation on being patient and allow opponent to self destruct. 👋 👋

[@tanner.pickleball]

Yep!

[@aznsuperman32]

Excellent

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you so much 😀

[@robertpilat1685]

Some Smart Cool tips !!! I can give you more !!( Still training )

[@tanner.pickleball]

Woo! Lets go!

[@mex5341]

good explanations about who covers the middle !

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad it was helpful!

[@edcenter4]

This was great. Thanks!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ericlauzon5675]

Who would be covering the lob when you’re hitting a crooscourt shot…if both are at the net. The lob is over my partner who is in line with the bounce. Thanks! Good video…continue the great work!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you! If you hit the cross court shot, the ball is diagonal from you. Wherever the opponent decides to lob it, the opposite person goes!

[@ericlauzon5675]

@@tanner.pickleball So he covers the down the line and crosscourt lob? What I usually do is put both my shoulders toward the bounce so I can move diagonally. With that I cut the angle of a short angle, I’m ready to run across and back to cover the lob, and… on many occasions I was able to recover a down the line shot. I’m the base of the triangle created by my shot and his two directions. I divide the angle in two..what I’m not doing if my shoulders are parallel to the kitchen…tougher to intercept the short crosscourt shot. What do you think about that? I do that in tennis also, and still get great results. Thanks for your quick response. Good luck with videos…I’m a member now! Eric

[@IRWE905]

Since your a Lefty Playing mostly all Righties. Please do the following Videos. 1. Advantages of playing being Lt Handed and when to use it. 2. The Strategy when a Rt and Lt are playing together (ie. Stacking, etc.)

[@tanner.pickleball]

Absolutely! Love these ideas, I will make a video on the following you mentioned, thanks for the ideas!

[@davidhancock6629]

As a lefty I second this idea

[@KeilikoGreg]

Great video!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks Greg!

[@rdwilander]

Excellent tips! Looking forward to implementing them into my play. I am really struggling with recognizing when play is switching from us being in an offensive or neutral position to defensive and taking the required hop step or two backwards to create time and space. I end up basically "stuck" in a squat 'n ready position as opponents attack is imminently coming. Any tips welcome

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thank you for the kind comment! My advice would be, take a mental step back.. Go to the basics of being able to recognize a dead dink / aggressive dink.. then once you have that, this will make taking that step back LIGHTYEARS easier. If you are confused about what a dead vs aggressive dink is, check out my first ever video on my Instagram page tanner.pickleball

[@Tri6888]

Thanks ❤

[@tanner.pickleball]

You're welcome 😊

[@GaryMLive]

Great video!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@errettatv5690]

Nice video. I noticed that on the timers of the video, there was decision-making up to 1:45, dissecting opponents' weakness to 2:01, and then bait ball for the rest of the video. You may want to fix that if you have the time so that if other people watch, they can click on each strategy. Hope this helps!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Wow! Thanks, I did not notice that, I am on it now! Thank you.

[@jc3431]

thank you for all the helpful ideas, please set up the camera on the side so we can see better =)

[@tanner.pickleball]

No problem! And yes great input!

[@marklnj7224]

Pickleball gold. Just subscribed.

[@tanner.pickleball]

So kind of you!! Much more of these coming!

[@WeLearnTogether]

Very helpful video! If you could do the similar video for singles, I’d be great!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Great idea! I will get on this!

[@Shayala11]

This was the best!

[@tanner.pickleball]

:)

[@amazed4999]

1. Be comfortable with long dink rallies and play high percentage game. 2. Dissecting opponents' weaknesses individually and capitalize. 3. Mastery of transition zone. 4. Adding deception and be unpredictable. 5. Running around and hit a forehand (speed up). 6. Position adjustment defending an attack on a lob. 7. Who covers the middle. You never really spelled out "number 5" like you did for other numbers. I guessed it. Was I correct? How did I do on this "assignment", Coach Tanner? 😜😜😜

[@tanner.pickleball]

Perfect!! Love this!!!!

[@melanyephipps4561]

One of the best videos ever!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Let’s gooo

[@miniskys2]

I love your videos. I’m a 3.5 player. My problem is I’m constantly hitting the net. Can you do a video to help me and others with this problem. Thanks!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Absolutely I can be on the lookout in the near future!

[@sbinsdca]

Give the ball more shape - work on hitting with topspin and aim slightly higher.

[@t.rich.pictures2197]

Great video, thanks. New subscriber...

[@tanner.pickleball]

Let’s go!

[@rosariarose4181]

On #6, where would I stand being right handed? Your example is great for a leftie. Thank you!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Hey Rose! Thank you for the kind comment. If you are a right hander, I recommend the advice in the video, however, make sure you are using two hands on your backhand to cover the middle. This will be VITAL for you to have power.

[@rosariarose4181]

Ok, thank you Tanner. Now only we need a video on two handed backhands! ;)

[@tanner.pickleball]

I will make that!@@rosariarose4181

[@allenronaldson4381]

The average player can learn more from this 12:00 minute instructional than they can from playing for a week with lower level players.

[@tanner.pickleball]

My favorite type of comment

[@zigggy345]

Wow, this is gold!

[@tanner.pickleball]

:)

[@arrowrod]

I play "pick-up" Pickleball. The better players don't crush the lesser players. Could we? Of course. It's a social experience. My tournament experience, high powered couples matched against lesser talented couples. All for paying a tournament fee, showing up and waiting.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Great info!

[@sbinsdca]

Most pickleball is divided into at least two levels and usually three, beginning/intermediate and advanced. It would suck as 4.5+ playing 3.0 players in a pickup game. Hopefully, that's not your case.

[@DominationRD]

Thanks for the video! Quick question: is there a reason you put your offhand on your thigh on backhand dinks?

[@tanner.pickleball]

Great question! For some reason, if I don't do it, I feel WAY less consistent and miss many dinks. Give it a shot, it helps me feel more compact.

[@DominationRD]

@@tanner.pickleball Thanks I’ll give it a shot :)

[@tanner.pickleball]

:)@@DominationRD

[@sbinsdca]

It also gives additional support to squat lower.

[@TheVortex-vq2ro]

Having dabbled with this concept in martial arts, I believe that neurologically the hand on your body creates a “circular” connection that helps the brain know where the body actually is in space making our body more stable. We often think (our brain) we know what our body is doing but in fact the brain and body sometimes aren’t in sync. I see this in coaching. Player hits ball out. “Tell me what you were intending” the mind and the body are out of sync. Which is what drilling, training and pattern recognition all do ie bring the mind and body together.

[@eddiemas6788]

Catherine Strong, Nice Place see you there sometime

[@tanner.pickleball]

Yessir you know it!

[@DannyBPlays]

dude, look at the camera, it's weird that you're talking to the side

[@tanner.pickleball]

I have multiple cameras setup to film.

[@tommyjenkins4107]

Question, I'm a little confused. That scenario only shows that shot on the court. What if the shot is a foot off the center line and goes middle? What I'm seeing and confused on is a dink let's say is cross court and hits the middle, they do a speed up cross court that's right next to the player in front of them. So you're saying it's the cross courts job to hit those. I hope you can picture my scenario. I mean the ball us so close to the player in front that they lean away from the shot. Lol. I'm thinking just hit that back hand and cut it off.

[@tanner.pickleball]

It’s still your job to come over and cover it!! Helps reduce grey area!

[@LearnAtMyExpense]

I wish everyone at my club would watch this video, particularly the section on who covers the middle. It annoys the heck out of me how many people insist that "the forehand always covers the middle".

[@tanner.pickleball]

Yep no kiddidng!

[@DixonChannel787]

where is this court located?

[@tanner.pickleball]

Delray Beach Florida!

[@JJ_aka_Hayden]

Where do u play at Tanner?

[@tanner.pickleball]

I play in Delray Beach Florida!

[@HM-gm1kn]

You want to go pro? Didn’t you start recently? Either way, hope to see you get there!

[@tanner.pickleball]

I've been playing since the pandemic! Yes, that is my goal!

[@bray3345]

My favorite Fortnite streamer!!!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Hehehe

[@derrick031072]

Uhuh…a pickle ball player will dink forever… the tennis player playing pickleball will win coz he/she knows how to volley. SLICE your volleys folks. NOT LIFT volleys… Oh and please work on your footwork, and bend your knees.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Wow!

[@kittou-f6i]

I don't think low-level players are bailing themselves out of a dinking rally. They are bailing themselves out of a boring rally.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Ahhh

[@baseballgenius3]

Why frame everything as if it is doubles. Singles pickle is much more entertaining and physical. Doubles is brain dead pickle ball.

[@tanner.pickleball]

Doubles is 99% of gameplay for doubles, I will make singles in the future :)

[@good2freelance1]

I wish singles are more popular. Doubles are just too crowded and you can blame your partner for the lost 😄

[@tanner.pickleball]

Haha good point, I love singles also!

[@michaelpoindexter8886]

Good instruction but the uptalking in annoying? I stopped watching?

[@tanner.pickleball]

Sorry, uptalking? How can I make it better in the next one!

[@rosariarose4181]

What? No! Your videos are perfect Tanner. Don’t change a thing. If 99% of people like the videos, then you’re good!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Thanks rose!@@rosariarose4181

[@sbinsdca]

What the hell is uptalking?

[@michaelpoindexter8886]

@@tanner.pickleball - You say every sentence as a question? Even when it is not a question? It gets annoying because it sounds like the speech pattern of a high school girl? A simple search on the word "uptalking" would provide a complete explanation for you?