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7 Essential Pickleball Shots You Need to Know— From Kyle Koszuta

Hey everyone, it’s Kyle Koszuta from ThatPickleballGuy. Remember when you first started playing pickleball and all that terminology was thrown around? It was fun, but confusing, right? Today, I’m covering the seven shots every beginner must know, plus one tip to improve each. Ready? Let’s go!

• The Serve: The serve is the first shot that starts each point. It must go diagonally across the court and land beyond the kitchen line on the opposite side. If it hits the kitchen line or lands inside the kitchen, it doesn't count.

• The key tip for serving in singles is to get it in and aim deep. Avoid serving short, into the net, or too long, as this gives away the point. By hitting it deep, you make it harder for your opponent to return effectively.

• The Return: The return shot is your response to the serve. The deeper you hit the return, the better. This forces your opponents further from the net, increasing their chances of making an error on the third shot. Focus on getting the return in play, then quickly move to the kitchen line to be ready for the next shot. A deep return makes it tougher for your opponent to execute their third shot.

• The Drive: The drive is a powerful shot where you hit the ball hard. Staying low is crucial, especially if you have a tennis background, because pickleballs don’t bounce as high as tennis balls. By staying low, you can generate top spin and prevent the ball from going out of bounds. Turn your body, close your stance, and swing through the ball while maintaining a low position to execute an effective drive.

• The Drop Shot: Often referred to as the third shot drop, the drop shot aims to land the ball softly in the kitchen area. Beginners should use a cornhole toss method instead of a big swing to achieve better control. This involves pushing the ball with less wrist action, similar to tossing a cornhole bag. The drop shot helps you neutralize your opponent’s power and regain control of the point.

• The Dink: Dinking is a soft shot played at the kitchen line. It slows down the game and reduces mistakes, making it a key strategy at higher levels of play. The method for dinking is similar to the cornhole method, using a gentle, shovel-like motion for forehands. Staying strong at the kitchen line and maintaining a soft touch helps you win more points through patience and precision.

• ATP (Around The Post): The ATP, or around the post shot, is a next-level move typically executed during a cross-court dink. This shot involves hitting the ball around the net post rather than over the net. It’s a cool shot to master because it can catch your opponent off guard. Beginners don’t often get into dink games, but knowing the ATP adds an exciting element to your skill set.

• The Ernie: Named after a player named Ernie, this is another advanced shot. The Ernie is executed when your opponent is off balance with their head down. This is your trigger to jump the kitchen line and take the shot down the line. It’s a satisfying move when done correctly and can surprise your opponent, giving you an edge in the game.

Bonus – The Lob: Hit the ball over your opponent’s head from the kitchen area. It’s effective, especially when they’re expecting a dink.

Quick Recap & Challenge: We covered the serve, return, drive, drop shot, dink, ATP, Ernie, and lob. Practice these to improve and engage better on the court. Check out my YouTube channel, share your first ATP experience, and happy playing!

The Reset: When to Move to the Kitchen Line— From James Ignatowich

Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich, and today I’m going to talk about when to come in off of a reset shot. FYI, in pickleball, a “reset” is a defensive shot aimed at neutralizing the opponents’ aggressive play by softly dropping the ball into the non-volley zone (kitchen). This slows down the rally, allowing players to regain control and move forward to a more advantageous position.

I’ve seen players in my clinics hitting good resets but not advancing, and sometimes hitting bad resets and still rushing in.

The key is simple: if your reset or drop shot looks like a dink that you wouldn’t back up from, follow it in and head to the kitchen line. This is a higher percentage play than waiting for the perfect reset or drop shot. Spending too much time trying to work your way to the kitchen is riskier, especially at lower levels.

At these lower levels, getting to the kitchen is crucial. So, if your reset looks decent, run in and establish yourself at the kitchen line. For more tips.

Thoughts on the New Paddletek Tempest— From Hank Hagood

If you're an intermediate pickleball player like me, looking to improve your finesse game, the Paddletek Tempest Wave is a paddle worth considering. This paddle excels in control, making precise shots and dinking at the kitchen line a breeze. One thing to note, though, is the narrow grip, which can get slippery, especially in warmer climates like Florida, where I play. But if you value control and enjoy experimenting with serves like the screwball, the Tempest Wave could be a great addition.

I’ve been using this paddle for about 3.5 hours across multiple games, and it’s been a good match for my skill level. It’s effective for dinking, and its softer face helps keep the ball low over the net. However, it doesn’t pack much power, so if you're looking to smash balls, this might not be the paddle for you.

For more details and a discount, check it out at Pickleball Central with code PORTAL10.

That's it for this week's roundup! Stay tuned later in the week for insights from analyst David Boyle on singles pickleball.