If you are a 4.0 pickleball player looking to move up to a 5.0, working on these 5 pickleball strategies will allow you to play with the pros. Learn how hard to hit the ball, when and why to use the middle dink, how to shrink the pickleball court, and why you need to be thinking 3 steps ahead of everyone else.
Difference #1: Knowing how hard you need to hit the pickleball
Even at a 4.0 level, most players still try to hit every ball as hard as they can. 5.0 players recognize the importance of hitting a 60 percent drive, because they know the drive is not the winner — at the 5.0 level, a drive is typically going to come back to you no matter what.
You will want to focus on a 60 percent drive that dips over the net forcing your opponents to hit up on the ball, or volley a ball that's going to come right back to the middle of the court that you can drop easily.
Difference #2: Utilizing the middle dink
Another strategy that 5.0 players do that 4.0 players don't is utilize the middle dink, or dinking to the inside foot of your opponents. The net is at its lowest point in the middle and at its highest on the sides. When you're hitting your dink, it's important to remember that you don't have to hit the ball quite as high — especially if it’s traveling over the middle part of the net.
It's strategic to dink in the middle because it takes angles away from your opponents. If they speed up the ball, it's going to be more predictable because you know that speed-up is coming right down the middle — so you can be ready for that attack and beat your opponents with it.
Watch the video above to see how a 5.0 pickleball player is different from a 4.0 player.
Difference #3: Setting up your pickleball speed-ups
Another thing that 5.0 pickleball players do is have certain speed-up locations in mind. 4.0 players know how to create offense at the kitchen, but often think that if they were to speed the ball up that's the winner. 5.0 players recognize that they're setting up another ball to come back, so they're going to reload quickly and get ready for the next one.
Speed-up locations
A place that could be advantageous to aim is at your opponent's right hip, because it's at a lower spot and difficult for them to hit hard. It also forces them to choose between hitting a forehand or a backhand.
Another difficult location for your opponent to return is their right shoulder. This move is more risky for you because the ball could fly out, but it can be impactful because it creates the chicken wing.
You can also aim directly at your opponent’s body, but if you do this you will want to hit with a good amount of pace. Hitting at their body can be impactful because you can catch your opponent off guard. If you're going at someone's body, you want to hit *through* (but don't hit them in the face or do anything dangerous). 5.0 players try to hit through people because that often is going to jam them up.
Combinations
5.0 players often have combinations in mind, meaning that when they speed up to a location they often know where the ball is going to come back. A great example of this would be something called the “Triangle Theory.” If you get a ball that's out wide and speed up to the middle, that ball is probably coming right back to the middle. That creates a triangle.
5.0 players know the Triangle Theory and often have combinations and they know where the ball is going to come back. They're already planning the return before they speed the ball up.
Difference #4: Taking dinks out of the air
Another simple adjustment you can make to get from the 4.0 to the 5.0 level is simply taking more dinks out of the air. A lot of 4.0 pickleball players let everything bounce and attack off the bounce. But by doing this, you're giving your opponents more time to see what you're doing.
5.0 players take dinks that are landing further in the court out of the air because that's 1. It will take away time for your opponents, and 2. you're going to get more opportunities to attack out of the air.
Difference #5: Shrinking the pickleball court
Another thing that 5.0 players are really good at is shrinking the court. Players at 4.0 and below like to play their side of the court — meaning they think this middle line is 50/50. 5.0 pickleball players know that it's advantageous to shrink the court for your opponent.
Shrinking the court works well when you're targeting a specific player. You can shrink the court in a number of other ways, including:
- When the ball goes wide or your opponent has a tricky angle.
- When you’re unwinding the stack.
- During the Erne.
Watch the video above to see more examples of how you can shrink the pickleball court.