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8 Game Winning Pickleball Strategies
Sep 11, 2025
Most players at the 3.0–4.0 level have the shots they need—it’s the decisions that hold them back. These 8 strategies are the difference between playing rec ball and consistently winning matches. 📌 Pro Tip: Focus on just 3–5 strategies in your next game. Once those become second nature, add more to keep leveling up. 👇 Comment below: Which of these strategies do you rely on most in your own game? Join the Pickleball Union Pro community: https://www.skool.com/pickleball-union-pro/about 🔗 MORE PICKLE GOODNESS • Newsletter: Weekly pro tips & gear deals → https://pickleballunion.com/newsletter/ • Pickleball Union Pro: Deep-dive video clinics & coach Q&As → https://www.skool.com/pickleball-union-pro/about • All gear reviews: Stay ahead of the tech → https://pickleballunion.com/reviews-and-guides/ • Automatic paddle & balls discounts at Pickleball Central → https://pickleballcentral.com/pickleballunion
View Video Transcript
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If you're stuck at the 3 0 or the 40
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If you're stuck at the 3 0 or the 40
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If you're stuck at the 3 0 or the 40 level, it's probably not your shots,
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level, it's probably not your shots,
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level, it's probably not your shots, it's your strategy. These eight tips
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it's your strategy. These eight tips
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it's your strategy. These eight tips will help you win more pickle ball games
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will help you win more pickle ball games
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will help you win more pickle ball games without changing your swing. Here are
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without changing your swing. Here are
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without changing your swing. Here are the eight core strategies to improve
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the eight core strategies to improve
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the eight core strategies to improve your pickle ball game fast. Strategy
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your pickle ball game fast. Strategy
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your pickle ball game fast. Strategy number one, play high percentage pickle
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number one, play high percentage pickle
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number one, play high percentage pickle ball. In pickle ball, most points are
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ball. In pickle ball, most points are
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ball. In pickle ball, most points are won on unforced errors. You do not have
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won on unforced errors. You do not have
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won on unforced errors. You do not have to hit perfect shots or paint lines to
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to hit perfect shots or paint lines to
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to hit perfect shots or paint lines to win points. At the end of the day, play
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win points. At the end of the day, play
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win points. At the end of the day, play with margins.
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Strategy number two, communicate early
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Strategy number two, communicate early
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Strategy number two, communicate early and often. Simple calls like mine,
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and often. Simple calls like mine,
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and often. Simple calls like mine, yours, or out go a long way. This
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yours, or out go a long way. This
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yours, or out go a long way. This prevents hesitation. This prevents
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prevents hesitation. This prevents
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prevents hesitation. This prevents confusion. Let your partner know what's
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confusion. Let your partner know what's
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confusion. Let your partner know what's about to come. Nine.
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Got it.
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Got it.
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Got it. Nice.
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Nice.
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Nice. [Music]
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[Music]
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[Music] Strategy number three, third shot drop
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Strategy number three, third shot drop
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Strategy number three, third shot drop is king. The third shot drop is your key
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is king. The third shot drop is your key
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is king. The third shot drop is your key to get to the net. Remember, it doesn't
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to get to the net. Remember, it doesn't
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to get to the net. Remember, it doesn't have to be a perfect shot. Your goal is
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have to be a perfect shot. Your goal is
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have to be a perfect shot. Your goal is to hit it so it's less attackable for
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to hit it so it's less attackable for
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to hit it so it's less attackable for your opponents and it allows you time to
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your opponents and it allows you time to
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your opponents and it allows you time to get to the kitchen.
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[Music]
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Strategy number four, hit more balls
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Strategy number four, hit more balls
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Strategy number four, hit more balls down the middle. Middle balls are safe.
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down the middle. Middle balls are safe.
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down the middle. Middle balls are safe. They make the opponents decide who's
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They make the opponents decide who's
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They make the opponents decide who's going to have to take it, and we run
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going to have to take it, and we run
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going to have to take it, and we run less of a risk of hitting the ball out
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less of a risk of hitting the ball out
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less of a risk of hitting the ball out of bounds on an angle. Use the middle
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of bounds on an angle. Use the middle
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of bounds on an angle. Use the middle more often to hit high percentage shots.
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Strategy number five, always expect a
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Strategy number five, always expect a
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Strategy number five, always expect a speed up.
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speed up.
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speed up. A common mistake that some players make
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A common mistake that some players make
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A common mistake that some players make is they get surprised when they get
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is they get surprised when they get
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is they get surprised when they get attacked or when the players hit a speed
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attacked or when the players hit a speed
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attacked or when the players hit a speed up at them. You should always be low,
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up at them. You should always be low,
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up at them. You should always be low, ready, and have your paddle ready to
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ready, and have your paddle ready to
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ready, and have your paddle ready to counter.
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counter.
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counter. [Music]
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Strategy number six, use the soft game
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Strategy number six, use the soft game
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Strategy number six, use the soft game to set up attacks. We want to stay
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to set up attacks. We want to stay
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to set up attacks. We want to stay patient in this scenario. We want to
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patient in this scenario. We want to
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patient in this scenario. We want to move our opponent around and when we get
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move our opponent around and when we get
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move our opponent around and when we get the opportunity, we take it.
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[Music]
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Strategy number seven, reset when you're
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Strategy number seven, reset when you're
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Strategy number seven, reset when you're scrambling. If you're out of position or
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scrambling. If you're out of position or
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scrambling. If you're out of position or you're on defense, look to hit a reset.
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you're on defense, look to hit a reset.
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you're on defense, look to hit a reset. A good soft reset allows you to get back
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A good soft reset allows you to get back
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A good soft reset allows you to get back in the point. This is not a time to try
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in the point. This is not a time to try
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in the point. This is not a time to try to hit a winner or hit a perfect shot.
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to hit a winner or hit a perfect shot.
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to hit a winner or hit a perfect shot. When you're in the transition zone or
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When you're in the transition zone or
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When you're in the transition zone or you're on defense, hit a nice soft reset
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you're on defense, hit a nice soft reset
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you're on defense, hit a nice soft reset and get yourself back in the point.
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[Music]
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Lastly, strategy number eight is get to
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Lastly, strategy number eight is get to
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Lastly, strategy number eight is get to the kitchen line, but be smart about it.
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the kitchen line, but be smart about it.
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the kitchen line, but be smart about it. You and your partner want to analyze the
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You and your partner want to analyze the
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You and your partner want to analyze the quality of our shots and effectively
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quality of our shots and effectively
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quality of our shots and effectively start to move in. If it is a good shot,
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start to move in. If it is a good shot,
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start to move in. If it is a good shot, we want to prepare ourselves for the
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we want to prepare ourselves for the
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we want to prepare ourselves for the following ball with the intended goal of
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following ball with the intended goal of
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following ball with the intended goal of making it all the way to the kitchen
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making it all the way to the kitchen
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making it all the way to the kitchen line. Remember, pickle ball is played at
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line. Remember, pickle ball is played at
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line. Remember, pickle ball is played at this line. We are a much bigger threat
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this line. We are a much bigger threat
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this line. We are a much bigger threat offensively and defensively from this
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offensively and defensively from this
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offensively and defensively from this position than anywhere in the back.
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Practice these eight strategies and
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Practice these eight strategies and
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Practice these eight strategies and watch your pickle ball game improve
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watch your pickle ball game improve
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watch your pickle ball game improve fast. Like and subscribe to Pickleball
3:45
fast. Like and subscribe to Pickleball
3:45
fast. Like and subscribe to Pickleball Union and comment below if you want to
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Union and comment below if you want to
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Union and comment below if you want to see any of these eight strategies
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see any of these eight strategies
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see any of these eight strategies detailed in a longer video.
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detailed in a longer video.
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detailed in a longer video. [Music]
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