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Singles strategy

Pickleball / Popular

Build points and cover the court in singles.

What coaches agree on

  • Serve and return deep, pinning your opponent behind the baseline so they can't attack your next shot.
  • Target your opponent's backhand — for most players it's the weaker side, and attacking it consistently wins points.
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  • Get to the kitchen line first and control it — most singles points are decided at the net.

Common mistakes

  • Copying the doubles habit of returning and immediately sprinting to the net — with no partner to cover the space you leave open, you get passed.
  • Swinging all-out on passing shots instead of placing them with spin and angle — overpowering the ball sails it long or sets up an easy volley when your opponent is already set at the net.
  • Going for too much on serves, returns, and other shots instead of playing the percentages — the free points you give away by missing outweigh what you gain by trying to end the point early.