LEARN PICKLEBALL.
Structured paths for every level — from first rally to competitive play. Pick your level and follow the steps in order.
Never picked up a paddle? Start here.
Everything you need to play your first real game — rules, scoring, gear, and the habits that separate a fun beginner from a frustrating one.
Understand the court and basic setup
Know where you're standing and why before you touch a paddle.
Learn how to score
The 3-number callout confuses everyone. Get this right early.
Master the kitchen rules
The #1 source of disputes on any recreational court.
Understand all the rules
Serve, two-bounce, faults — what's legal and what gets you called out.
Choose your first paddle
Don't overspend. Know what actually matters at your level.
Avoid the 10 beginner mistakes
Most new players make the same errors. Skip the learning tax.
Understand open play
How the paddle rack works and what to expect at your first drop-in session.
Learn the unwritten rules
Etiquette is what gets you invited back. Know it before you play.
Know the basics. Ready to level up.
The skills that unlock the next rating tier. The third shot drop, dinking strategy, and how to stop being pushed around by better players.
Understand your current skill level
Know exactly what skills define 3.0 vs 3.5 vs 4.0 — and what to target.
Get (and understand) your DUPR rating
Self-ratings are notoriously inflated. DUPR tells you where you actually sit.
Master the two-bounce rule
The rule that shapes every transition from baseline to kitchen.
Learn the third shot drop
The single highest-leverage shot for players below 4.0. Non-negotiable.
Know when to attack vs. when to reset
Poor shot selection — not poor shot-making — is the #1 cause of lost points at 3.5.
Build your dinking game
Points at the kitchen line are won with patience and placement, not pace.
Stop losing to bangers
Hard drivers beat soft-game players who don't have a counter-strategy.
Understand singles vs. doubles
Playing both formats accelerates improvement in each.
Drilling, not just playing. This is where ratings actually move.
Pro-backed improvement frameworks, advanced techniques, and the mental and physical habits that separate a strong club player from a competitive one.
Build a real improvement plan
Advice from Ava Ignatowich, Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters, and Simone Jardim on how pros actually practice.
Add the erne to your arsenal
Pickleball's most spectacular shot — and more accessible than it looks.
Protect your body
The fastest players are rarely the strongest — they're the most durable.
Master pickleball serve rules (2025)
Know exactly what spin is legal, what isn't, and how to exploit the rules.
Follow the pro tours
Watch Ben Johns reset under pressure and your own reset mechanics will improve.
WHAT THE PROS SAY.
Directly attributed tips from PPA Tour players and coaches.
Ava Ignatowich
PPA Tour Pro
“Wall drills are the highest-ROI solo practice you can do. You get four times the reps, and because you don't know where the ball will come back, it makes your hands faster automatically.”
Read full improvement guide →
Ben Johns
Former World #1
“To stay good at pickleball, you have to be good at learning. I got good by copying stuff from other people and adapting it. Watch pro matches with the intent to steal one specific habit.”
Read full improvement guide →
Anna Leigh Waters
World #1 Women's
“After you make an error, slow everything down deliberately. Bounce the ball extra times. Walk slowly. That break resets your state before the next point — it's the opposite of what your instincts say to do.”
Read full improvement guide →
Simone Jardim
Coach & Former World #1
“Two hours of court time should be one hour of drilling and one hour of playing. Players who rely only on open play plateau for years. Deliberate drilling is the only thing that reliably moves your rating.”
Read full improvement guide →
Browse all guides
Every guide, organised by category — rules, gear, strategy, and basics.