Pickleball instruction: Disciplined execution is key to advanced play

Alex Lantz

Director of Content

Last Edited

Feb 03 2026

Case 1 – Ben Johns

The best men’s doubles player is Ben Johns. What separates Johns (by a longshot!) from any other player in men’s doubles? Discipline.

Johns comes into every game with a clear strategy. And he is going to use it every rally.

The strategy didn’t work that time? No problem. He's coming again. With the same strategy. Relentless and methodical.

Johns is like a surgeon going to work. He is not looking to find a new way to complete the operation. He is just going to go about doing the job required to complete the task. Nothing else.

What about execution? Johns is top of the game in executing the shots that are necessary for his strategy. Is he going to try a quick pull speed up forehand off the bounce? Nope. Not part of his strategy. What he is going to do is dink you mercilessly, especially to his preferred spot toward the outside.

And, if you give him a high enough ball, he will initiate a backhand roll volley attack, finishing with the forehand when necessary. Rinse and repeat all the way to more doubles gold medals than any other male player on the planet.

Case 2 – Anna Leigh Waters

At 19 years old, Anna Leigh Waters has already cemented herself as the best women’s pickleball player of all time. Arguably the greatest pickleball player (regardless of gender) of all time.

How has she done it? She has all the shots and is an amazing athlete. But I can name a bunch of other players on the tour who have plenty of shots and are also amazing athletes. How is Waters sooooo much better than all of them? Two words: Disciplined Execution.

I’ve coached and studied pro players for the past few years now. And I can tell you that, aside from Johns, there is no player as disciplined in her execution of the game plan as Waters.

As proof, just look at her early round performances. She (in singles) and her team (in doubles) consistently crush their opponents in early round games. Other good players and teams do not consistently do this.

You will see a 4th seed need 3 games to get out of a second round match from time to time. Or they will struggle in Game 1 before pulling away in Game 2. Not Waters. It is 11-2, 11-1 or even more lopsided.

You also do not see Waters get up big in an early round game (9-1 say) and then all of a sudden find herself in a more complicated 9-7 situation. No sir (or ma’am). She comes out every game with discipline and clean execution.

That is how she consistently demolishes her opponents.

What does this mean for you?

As with most things pickleball (and life), it depends on where you are in the game. If you are a beginner to intermediate player, disciplined execution would mean sticking to a big-picture game plan that works.

Here’s one simple example of disciplined execution from your coaches: Don’t waste your time chasing outlier trick serves. Instead, focus your attention on mastering a reliable consistent serve that gets the job done. Then stick to the plan -- be disciplined about it.

If you are advanced intermediate, disciplined execution means having clarity on the underlying strategies that work in pickleball and sticking to them when you play. This is often easier said than done.

If you are an advanced player, then disciplined execution means having a clear custom game plan for each opponent and sticking to it.

Extra coaching tip: You can adjust the strategy if needed, but you do it because the initial strategy is not working – not for no reason. Once you switch strategy, then that becomes the one you stick to.

Conclusion

Disciplined execution is how you transition from just a random approach to a more coherent pickleball game. Start applying it to your play.

If you like this approach to pickleball, join us for our Spring Super Camp this March 9-12 in Tampa Bay, Florida. 4 days, 18 hours of the best coaching. Use this link to get a special offer only for Kitchen community members.

If you're looking for more insights into high-level pickleball, the Better Pickleball Academy has you covered. You’ll also gain access to their easy to use “BP Play Guides” including middle dinking patterns and more. Use code "KITCHEN26" at checkout for a special offer just for Kitchen community members (3 months for the price of 2).

Tony Roig is a nationally-recognized coach, Sr. Pro Player, developer of “Respect the X” on the In2Pickle YouTube channel, and the voice behind the Pickleball Therapy podcast. Visit BetterPickleball.com for information on coaching from Tony and the BP team through their Camps, Academy, and No. 1 online training program: The Pickleball System.

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