7 Pickleball Shortcuts to Reach 5.0 Faster

None of these shortcuts are revolutionary on their own. But stacked together, they create an entirely different player.

Pickleball's rapid rise has created a hunger for rapid improvement. Everyone wants to climb the ranks faster, and they're looking for shortcuts to do it. Honestly, that's understandable.

But what separates players who plateau from those who keep improving? Often it's not flashy technique or expensive gear. It's the small, deliberate adjustments that compound over time.

Tanner Tomassi recently shared seven shortcuts designed to accelerate your path to 5.0 level play, and they're worth your attention whether you're grinding at 3.5 or already competing at 4.5.

Love pickleball? Then you'll love our free newsletter. We send the latest news, tips, and highlights for free each week.

Your Ready Position Is Everything

Most players don't think much about where their paddle sits when they're waiting at the kitchen line. Tanner breaks down why that's a mistake. Your paddle should hover around belly button height when you're up front, ready to react to attacks coming at you.

But here's the secret sauce: as you back up toward the middle of the court, your paddle gradually lowers. By the time you're in the middle, it should be much lower than when you're at the net. This positioning makes you a smaller target and lets you react faster without having to jump down to defend.

Footwork, Footwork, Footwork

Bad footwork is the silent killer of consistency. If you're hitting balls into the net or missing easy shots, nine times out of ten it's lazy feet, not a broken swing.

The fix is simple but requires discipline: get your body behind the ball and stay active with your feet.

When you do this, you're not just more stable, you're also adding deception because your opponent can't read where you're going with the shot.

6 Amateur Pickleball Mistakes That Make You Look (and Play) Like a Beginner

Pickleball is all about timing and positioning – fix these common mistakes and you’ll stop looking like an amateur and start playing like a pro

The Dink PickleballThe Dink Media Team

The Deceptive Speed Up Nobody's Using Yet

Tanner claims this is the most deceptive speed up he's ever seen, and he's not exaggerating. When you get a dead middle ball during a dink rally, angle your paddle face sideways and punch side spin instead of a straight attack.

Your opponent won't know where the ball is going because your paddle face isn't pointing at the target. It's a setup move that creates confusion and opens the door for clean winners through the middle on the next shot.

Subtract, Don't Add

This one's a mental shift. Instead of adding more drills, more gym sessions, or more practice hours to your routine, focus on removing negatives from your game.

Pick two bad habits and eliminate them. Stop rolling your eyes when your partner misses. Cut out those early speed ups that don't work. Be a positive partner. These subtractions compound faster than you'd think, and they cost you nothing but intention.

Instead of Adding New Skills, Try Subtracting Your Two Worst Habits

If you can remove the negativity from your side of the net, you’ll be amazed at how much better the team performs as a whole

The Dink PickleballThe Dink Media Team

Run Around Your Dinks

When you have time on the ball during a dink rally, don't just stand there. Run around and find your forehand. This simple move does two things at once.

1. First, it lets you be deceptive because your opponent can't tell what's coming when your body is sideways.
2. Second, it sets up the triangle theory, which means you can speed up in one direction and know exactly where the next ball is coming back. Your opponent is caught off guard while you're already positioned for the attack.

Master the Middle Court Reset

Struggling with consistency in the middle of the court? The reset is your foundation, and most players get it wrong.

When you're hitting resets in the middle, use a backhand between your legs. Keep your paddle sideways, not vertical. This lets your whole body absorb the ball instead of just your wrist. Treat it like a baseball catcher absorbing a 100 mph fastball, not like you're hitting it. Keep your grip loose. Let the ball die on your paddle and float back over the net low and soft.

Heads up: hundreds of thousands of pickleballers read our free newsletter. Subscribe here for cutting edge strategy, insider news, pro analysis, the latest product innovations and more.

Think Two Steps Ahead

The gap between a 4.0 and a 5.0 often comes down to anticipation. A 4.0 player is thinking "hit ball, put it over the net." A pro is thinking two shots ahead.

When you hit an aggressive dink, lean in immediately because you know your opponent might pop it up. When you work the ball crosscourt, target the inside foot because that's the most vulnerable spot. This forward thinking gives you fast hands and positioning that looks like magic but is really just preparation.

Inside Gabe Tardio’s Pickleball Bag: Lots of Paddles, Not Much Else

Top PPA pro Gabe Tardio recently opened up his Facolos gear bag – and it reveals a lot about his play style, and maybe even his psyche.

The Dink PickleballThe Dink Media Team

The Compound Effect

None of these shortcuts are revolutionary on their own. But stacked together, they create a different player. Better positioning, cleaner footwork, smarter shot selection, and mental discipline all working in concert.

The players climbing fastest aren't necessarily the ones with the best genetics or the most court time. They're the ones making small, intentional adjustments and repeating them until they become automatic. That's how you get to 5.0.