7 Pro Pickleball Tips You Need to Steal From the Best Players in the Game

Main Points

• Avoid “hitching” in your serve — keep it one smooth motion for maximum momentum and spin.
• Serve strategically: aim down the T for aggressive serves or crosscourt for safe plays under pressure.
• Hit your speedups across your opponent’s body to control the next shot and set up your winner.
• Choose your third shot wisely — drop deep, low returns instead of driving them.
• Use compact punch volleys to counter powerful drives with better control and quicker recovery.
• Add heavy topspin rolls to stay aggressive when your opponent drops the ball.
• Vary paddle angles and aim third shot drops at your opponent’s backhand for safer, more effective play.

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Summary

This video breaks down seven game-changing pickleball tips straight from the pros — showing you how to play smarter, not just harder. It begins with a crucial lesson from world-class players on serving technique. Many amateurs lose power by “hitching,” or pausing mid-serve. Instead, pros treat their serve like a fluid forehand motion, generating consistent momentum and spin. Targeting also matters: serving down the T creates faster, harder-to-reach shots, while crosscourt serves offer safer margins during high-pressure points.

Next, viewers learn a key attacking strategy from the pros: when speeding up the ball, aim across your opponent’s body, not at their paddle side. This makes their return predictable and sets you up for a winning shot. Zane Navratil’s insight emphasizes placement over power — less speed, more spin, and better positioning for the next rally.

The video then shifts focus to shot selection, especially on the critical third shot. Pros know when to drop versus drive based on ball depth and height. Deep and low returns should be dropped softly to regain position, while high, short returns can be driven to apply pressure. Compactness and timing also shine in Cali Smith’s advice: replace long swings with controlled punch volleys for faster reaction and recovery against hard drives.

Aggression isn’t just about pace — it’s about precision. Brandon demonstrates how brushing and rolling the ball adds topspin, keeping it low and forcing weak pop-ups. The video also highlights Ben Johns’ nuanced control over paddle angles, adapting his wrist and paddle position depending on whether contact happens in front, beside, or behind his body — helping players achieve smoother, more consistent drops.

Finally, coach Kyle Kazuda reveals the ideal placement for your third shot drop: toward your opponent’s backhand, avoiding the sidelines and middle where they can attack. This not only reduces their offensive options but also forces communication errors and limits ernie opportunities.

By combining these seven pro-level insights — from smoother serves to smarter targets and controlled aggression — this video gives you a complete roadmap to play like the best in the world. Each adjustment brings your pickleball game closer to the precision, consistency, and confidence that define professional-level play.

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Tags: Counter | Cracked Pickleball | Serve | Speed Up | Third Shot