Smart Shot Decisions Beat Power in Advanced Pickleball

What really separates advanced pickleball players from beginners isn't flashy shots or raw power. It's decision-making.

Every rally is a series of small choices, and those choices determine whether you win or lose.

PlayPickleball.com breaks down exactly how to make smarter decisions from every area of the court, and the insights are game-changing.

The Backhand Dink: It's Not Defensive or Offensive, It's Situational

Many players learn that slice dinks are defensive and roll dinks are offensive. That's backwards. The real difference comes down to your positioning and the ball you receive.

If you're balanced and your feet are set behind the ball, you can roll it with topspin and apply pressure. Let the ball rise to its apex first, then attack it. But if the ball pulls you outside your contact zone, abandon the roll and slice instead. You get more reach, and you stay in control.

The slice also works when you need loft to clear the net or when you want to add a flat, pushing motion to create pressure from a compromised position. The key is reading the situation, not following a rigid rule.

When to Attack and When to Stay Patient

Speedups look flashy, but most players don't understand when to actually pull the trigger. Here's what separates good attacks from bad ones:

• Your position on the court matters. If you're pulled wide or your partner is pulled wide, it's not the time to attack.
• Your balance is critical. Good attacks happen when you're on balance and prepared for the next ball.
• The attack itself doesn't win the point. What happens after the attack does.

If you're off-balance, running, or in a vulnerable court position, hit a defensive dink to the middle instead. Wait for a better opportunity. Patience wins more points than panic.

Understanding the Pickleball Transition Zone: When to Play Safe vs. When to Attack

The best players in the world aren’t just comfortable in the transition zone – they actively use it to their advantage

The Dink PickleballThe Dink Media Team

High-Percentage Dinking at the Kitchen Line

Ben Johns, widely considered the best male player in the world, doesn't hit the fanciest shots. He hits the smartest ones. Nine out of ten times, he picks the highest-percentage shot available.

When your opponent hits an aggressive angle and pulls you wide, your instinct might be to hit an aggressive angle back. Resist it. You're compromised, and that's the hardest shot for you to execute. Instead, lift the ball to the middle. It's not cool, but it's smart, and it gets you back into an offensive position.

Depth matters too. If you get a net dribbler, don't try to speed it up. Your percentage is terrible, and if you do get it over, it comes right back at you. Play the high-percentage shot based on the angle, the depth of the ball, and your positioning on the court.

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The Third Shot: Drop or Drive?

This is the question PlayPickleball.com gets more than any other. The answer depends on three things: where you are on the court, how high the ball bounces, and whether you're balanced.

From the transition zone: If the ball bounces high and you're set, you can hit a compact, quick drive. If it bounces low and you're contacting below your knees, drop it instead. A low drive will sail out, and you'll have to take pace off, which gets crushed.

From the baseline: Can you get on balance before you swing? If yes, you can hit a good drop. If you're moving, hit a drive instead and wait for an easier response.

Also, pay attention to the ball's trajectory. If you can take it on the descent after it bounces to its apex, drop it. If it's still traveling up, drive it. Catching it on the way up before the apex is the sweet spot for a drive.

Master the Hybrid Roll: The New Essential Third-Shot Drop in Advanced Pickleball

Having this shot in your arsenal is typically worth three points per game, a massive advantage when you’re playing to 11

The Dink PickleballThe Dink Media Team

The Bigger Picture: Smart Over Flashy

The theme running through all of this is simple: pickleball rewards smart decisions, not spectacular shots. Position yourself well. Read the ball. Stay balanced. Pick the highest-percentage option available to you in that moment.

It's not glamorous, but it works. And that's how you actually level up.