Overcoming the 'Pickleball Plateau' Requires One Key Skill
Last Edited
Sep 12 2024
Category
Instruction
Every beginner in pickleball asks one very basic question: how do I get better?
This question is answered in a number of ways. Start playing more, drill, find better people to play against; the list goes on and on. What isn’t talked about a lot is how intermediate level players take that next step.
The answer is simple: drop your ego.
Too many times I see players who are very skilled get in their own way from advancing to a higher level.
They don’t want advice, they have it all figured out, their mistakes are overlooked, and they cannot be objective about where they are in their pickleball journey.
Want to Get Better? Don't Be This Person
There’s a guy at my local courts who is a mid level 4.5. His ceiling is unlimited, but he will not ever let anyone help him.
Advice gets shrugged off and tips are met with resistance. He advanced quickly to a higher level, but then his progress just stopped.
Let me be clear, this is NOT just a situation where he wants to learn at his own pace. He's playing poorly in 5.0 events that HE signed up for.
He'd be better off accepting that if you want to get better, you have to lose your pride and ask for help.
Everyone started out playing pickleball as a newbie. Some may have been more advanced than others depending on your background or prior athletic history, but a newbie nonetheless.
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When you’re in that stage, you are a sponge.
You want every piece of mechanical and strategic information you can get to start beating Sue and Bob at the park.
Something happens between beginner and intermediate where you get a chip on your shoulder and think you’ve got it all figured out.
I’ve seen it time and time again:
- New people come out to play.
- They learn the rules, some basic know-how of the game
- Then: off they go, like a baby bird leaving the nest
- They gain a little skill either through people telling them or seeing more advanced people play & their game advances.
- The trend continues and before you know it, they are a half decent player.
- Then, something happens…
...They plateau. They hit a ceiling. They are no longer getting better.
Every pickleball player has been at this point. The difference between breaking through and staying a 3.5 forever is how you respond (nothing against 3.5’s, I’m just making a point).
Start from the Beginning
You got to a certain point in your game by the help of others, whether you want to admit that or not.
Go find that person that got you into pickleball or someone who gave you some advice along the way and ask them for help.
Talk to them about some of the struggles you are having and ask them to critique those aspects of your game.
It doesn’t have to be a coach or a professional instructor, but someone who is more advanced than you and has good technique with the skill set you are trying to improve.
Never get to a point where you think everything is figured out. It’ll be devastating to your progress.
Next, look at your game objectively.
You are never fully developed. Your game can always improve. How do I know? Because pros are constantly improving their game and you are not a pro (I say that with love).
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Take a hard look at areas of your game that are not where they need to be. Really look at them. I recommend recording yourself during gameplay. It’s a sure fire way to pick apart key aspects that need some work.
Then what?
After you’ve identified one or two areas, go back to the basics. Start with the mechanics of that specific shot. Practice the swing in slow motion. Do that over and over again.
Once you’ve got some confidence with the mechanics, bring it into drilling (yes, you need to drill). Once you feel comfortable in drilling, bring it into your gameplay.
This is how you develop. If you look at your game and can’t find anything wrong, go ask someone else because you are not looking hard enough.
Lastly, play against tougher competition.
Winning in rec play every week has no real significance. I like to win as much as the next person but when you are always beating the entire group you play with, it's time to find a new group.
Go lose a few games. Get humbled.
Not everyone has the ability to play with people locally who are at their skill level. That’s alright. Tournaments are a great way to level up the people you play against.
Tournaments are a true testament of your current skill level. It provides an atmosphere where people are competing at their highest level and in turn, gives you some of the best competition you’ll ever find.
Never stop looking for people to challenge you.
Read Next: You're About to Play Your First Pickleball Tournament. Study This Guide
Your ego can seriously limit your ability to get better at pickleball. The game has an endless number of ways to improve so take advantage of them.
Ask for help. Look at your game. Play against the best.
These things are simple but they require commitment. Will you rise to the challenge?
Frank Hines loves the game of pickleball and sharing that passion with as many people as possible. He found the game over two years ago and hasn't let up since. Follow Frank on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
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