Pickleball Game Plan
Foundations · Skill 5 of 8

Ball Tracking

Most mishits and pop-ups come from late or inaccurate reading of the ball, not from a bad swing, so train your eyes before your stroke.

Think about this while you play

  • Read the ball off the opponent's paddle, not over the net
  • Say bounce, then hit, in rhythm with the ball
  • Keep your eyes on the contact point after you hit

Common mistakes and fixes

Late contact: the ball gets beside or behind you on dinks and drivesEarly Turn Call: say Turn the instant the ball leaves the wall or opponent's paddle and finish your shoulder turn before it crosses the midpoint, 10 times in a row.
Looking up at the target before contact, causing frame hits and mishitsWatch the paddle face meet the ball and hold your head still through contact; listen for a clean pop instead of a dull thud.
Hitting dinks and drops too high or too late on the bouncePeak Flight Recognition: call Top at each bounce's apex, then practice contacting drives at or just after the top and dinks on the rise or at the top.

In the app

For subscribers

The Bounce-Hit Rhythm and Peak Flight Recognition drill, a 10-minute warm-up, and a challenge you can count in your next open play, so you know when you've got it.

Practice it, don't just read it

Pickleball Game Plan gives you one skill at a time with a drill, a warm-up and a challenge you can count, plus gym and match-day plans.

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