Top 10 Most Actionable Pickleball Tips For Aspiring Advanced Players

If you’re an intermediate player looking to break in to the the level of play that will make you a regular on the top courts then you need to ramp up your skills all while keeping an eye on what’s working in the modern game and where things are headed.
In this video, we get into the 10 most actionable tips for those aspiring to be advanced level pickleball players. I think some some of the things I’m going to cover today are going to surprise you. Let’s get into it!
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[@jimkazmarek5302]

Speed with a purpose! Power with precision. Footwork and balance. And PRACTICE. Thanks Nicole, you nailed it!

[@primetimepickleball]

Appreciate that Jim! Yes, good mantra 😉

[@ranadalaughlin7226]

Love the focus on what WE can improve (instead of focusing on partners, etc.) Work on those fundamentals when frazzled!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks! Yes, ultimately you only have control over yourself. That’s where to focus.

[@denisehouck1970]

Nicole, THIS!! You have made a video, put into words, what I have suspected is wrong with my game. You have laid out a plan for improvement going forward. Thank you!!!❤

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you! Appreciate your kind words and I'm very happy you enjoyed the video.

[@alohaleslie9407]

I have been doing lobs as far back as a few years ago, when it was poopooed by everybody as low skill level shot. LOL Not anymore! I have a pretty consistent lob and use it often. I am not called the "Lobster." :) Great video, Nicole. Lots of great advice, as usual.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks so much! Glad you're making good use of the lob.

[@afterthesmash]

I've watched many of Nicole's videos and I always get something out of them, but this is the first one I've actually loved.

[@primetimepickleball]

Cool! thx.

[@bretwallach9863]

Your videos are just getting better and better and better! As usual I have a couple of comments... 😀 On "Dominate with your Forehand" I certainly hit significantly more shots with my forehand because my backhand tires out my shoulder much faster due the bio-mechanical advantages that you mentioned the forehand has. However, if I want to hit a really fast ball that's really accurate with moderate top spin I run around my forehand to hit my backhand. I believe that for accuracy the bio-mechanical advantage is with the backhand because your shoulder is leading your body instead of trailing your body and being a large male I can still hit my backhand more than hard enough. My observation is that my opponents are more likely to miss one of my hard hit backhands than hard hit forehands (admittedly I think that's partly because few expect a backhand to come rocketing at them). For me that was true in tennis too - my backhand has always been my most accurate wing though I could not hit a tennis backhand quite as hard as a tennis forehand. Regarding "Fusion 3rd Shot," I loved it! I'm doing that more and more and it really works well when the service return is hit deep to me. I'm trying to optimally modulate speed and spin and what's holding me back most at the moment it better awareness of what my opponents are doing. I'm focused (often too focused) on just watching the ball and not dedicating any focus to where my opponents are. I feel so stupid when I hit a drop shot and look up to see that my opponent would not have made it to the net if I had hit a "fusion" drive.

[@primetimepickleball]

Always love your insightful and thoughtful comments! Yeah, the fusion is a real problem for your opponents. Tough to dig those shots off your shoelaces in transition. My backhand has historically been my more reliable wing as well but that just tells me I have more work to do on my forehand. All the best players (in both sports) have great forehands that they generally run around to hit as much as they can. They have good backhands too but if they have a choice, they’re going with the FH. Part of the reason you can hit with more power on FHs is because the shoulder is in the back at the start of the stroke and you have room to rotate with it which is not available to you on the BH side.

[@BGK2223]

Great tips, and very well described with both your words and the people demonstrating. Thank you!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you Greg! 😁

[@soosieyoutube3510]

You are so inspiring. Awesome tips that you are willing to share 😊

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you like them! 👍

[@loricharvat]

Love this lesson, Nicole! Thank you !

[@primetimepickleball]

Happy to hear that Lori! Thanks for the comment.

[@kbotelho27]

Wow, great job with this instruction! I'm saving it to share with my students. I recognize my bucket leaks around your point #3. I don't practice handling pace enough. I'll be working on maintaining my fundamentals when things get sped up.

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you liked this video and thanks for sharing. Fundamental work 👏👏👏. love it!

[@jaycohen5482]

Outstanding, thanks for posting.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Jay!

[@HelenHomann]

Always look forward to your videos Nicole.

[@primetimepickleball]

Happy to hear that!

[@BikerTechTC]

NIcole, your videos are ones of the best out there.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Stephan! So glad you find value in them.

[@steveguinsler4451]

Good stuff well presented!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Steve! Appreciate the comment.

[@admranger]

Thanks for another great video!

[@primetimepickleball]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@galaxy_mosaic3587]

such great tips. thanks! I was feeling like my fundamentals were getting sloppy and had to skim review videos recently (that tip was on point)...

[@primetimepickleball]

😎 Yes, don’t sleep on the fundamentals. They’ll come back to bite you. Good catch.

[@rayhebert3522]

Video was definitely helpful and shared it with two of my playing partners.

[@primetimepickleball]

Awesome! Glad you liked it and thanks for sharing.

[@pttrainer212]

Great tips on improving your game. There is always room to improve

[@primetimepickleball]

Absolutely! Thanks for tuning in.

[@lizlemon9632]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@primetimepickleball]

You bet Liz! Thx.

[@Magoo71]

Thanks PT love your thoughts on improvement! Middle Middle solves the riddle!

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you enjoy the video!

[@JBird2ful]

EXCELLENT!

[@primetimepickleball]

Many thanks!

[@anthonyt0808]

Thanks!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you so much!

[@romanhernz3839]

Thank you! Nicole.

[@primetimepickleball]

You are so welcome!

[@ronicrum]

Thanks for the kick in the butt...I need to practice the fundamentals.

[@primetimepickleball]

Yes, It ALWAYS comes back to the fundamentals.

[@tristeele9457]

Nicole, I am a newish player. Everything you are pointing out here is helping. Bad ass!

[@primetimepickleball]

So happy to hear :)

[@carolzanoff5628]

Sure wish you would do some camps-totally following these tips!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you! I hope to get back on court for coaching one day.

[@mddale]

I wish I could remember this stuff during play!

[@primetimepickleball]

Focus on one at a time until they become automatic one by one.

[@micahfaas]

What are your thoughts on switching hands (hitting a forehand with your non-dominant hand) for groundstrokes as opposed to a 2-handed backhand?

[@primetimepickleball]

If you’re on the stretch maybe. I wouldn’t recommend it as a staple shot that’s used point in and point out.

[@daveharter6469]

My guess is that if switching hands is a normal thing, it may be saying your footwork is slow, I have seen a few older people switch hands and was surprised how good they were at it. Age changes everything, dought a coach would teach switching hands to a 55 --. If a 60 + is doing it, maybe it's hard to change?

[@downieduck2414]

@@daveharter6469 i am doing it, basically to strengthn my left arm (I am right handed) as it is the power on a two handed back hand, not your right hand -

[@sandracarlson6381]

I love the way YOU teach this game!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks so much Sandra! 😄

[@daveharter6469]

All good stuff. I am a formula guy. find the formula, and it works in many different scenarios . also noticing people are not hitting to the open court, amazed at people hitting the ball hard back to the base line, getting it returned, where a dink in the kitchen wins the point outright.

[@primetimepickleball]

I’m a formula fan too! 🙌

[@ScottT109]

Yes, hitting a drop/or cut volley shallow into the kitchen can be a winner when it’s unexpected and the players are slow. But if it’s done repeatedly your quick, agile opponents will simply get your invitation to the neutral zone which is where they want to be anyway so you’ve helped them out. It takes a ton of practice to slow the heck out of a hard hit ball and drop it for a winner in the kitchen. I’m a much bigger fan of keeping my opponents back away from the kitchen and as uncomfortable as I can make them as they try to hit drops/resets.

[@afterthesmash]

I turned 60 last summer, and I certainly don't brag about the speed of my first step. But at 6'5" and still using my bicycle as a primary form of transportation, my second step eats half the court. I get many of these-from almost all the way back-when they are completely unexpected, and almost all of them once I suspect it's a routine element. Now you have my nearly unlobable condor-like wingspan patrolling 12 feet of the net front. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Edit: I make a point of tapping my paddle on the court floor before every service return to help me get my paddle under the ball with only an inch to spare. Muscle memory for the floor gives me another tenth or two tenths of second on a routine basis for fetching the dribblers.

[@claudetteleger5836]

Bravo! Très très intéressant mais je préférerais la traduction française ou vidéo similaire en français, merci!

[@primetimepickleball]

Desole qu'il ny a pas une traduction.

[@AlphaTennisinPittsburgh]

Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport and we like it #Pickleball

[@primetimepickleball]

🙌

[@brianpolet4043]

I had an instructor tell me that you don't have to look at the ball hitting the paddle. Yet, when I watch the pros, it appears to me that they visually watch the ball hit the paddle or at a minimum keep their head down. What should be done here? Should I see the ball hit my paddle? Does it improve my game?

[@primetimepickleball]

Up at the NVZ line it’s not possible to maintain you eyes on your contact and still keep up with the next shots coming to you. You will have to rely on your peripheral vision a lot more. However, when you’re back or they’re back then you have more time and try to keep your eyes on the ball in to contact as much as you can. Keeping your head still will also help the stability of your shot.

[@RogerGauthier-qy6oq]

Merci !

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you so much!

[@ronicrum]

Thanks!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it 😁