Singles Pickleball Strategies- Tips For Beginners

Due to its lengthy rallies, social interactions, and minimal physical demands, most players tend to prefer doubles than singles. However, singles is the best game if you want to burn calories fast.

We received a call from one of our avid readers who wanted us to help him with some helpful tips for singles pickleball. Although he is an experienced doubles player, he was set to play a single tournament for the first time, so he needed good tips badly.

Both singles and doubles have skills that are almost similar, although there are slight differences between the two and if you are going for your first singles match, you need to get up to speed with the ins and outs of the match. With singles, you have to act swiftly and use power.

Singles need a physically fit player. Your fitness level needs to be more than that of a doubles player. You will have to cover the court alone.

Gears You Need For Singles Pickleball

When playing singles pickleball, you need to have to right gears.

These include:

• Footwear: You must have good shoes. And this applies to pickleball in general, and more importantly for singles pickleball.

Remember you have to move and stop swiftly and so you need good shoes to keep yourself safe from injuries.

Athletic shoes or sneakers are not your shoes for singles pickleball. So avoid them because these running shoes aren’t comfortable and can’t withstand the movement in pickleball.

Get good shoes with flat soles.

• Paddle: There are paddles for singles and there are those suitable for doubles. A mid-weight paddle is best suitable for doubles but an elongated paddle would be good for singles. In fact, many competitive players prefer to use Selkirk pickleball paddles since they are the most suitable for singles players.

What we’ve realized is, beginners are usually confused about picking the right pickleball paddlle because there are so many types to choose from. So we’ve decided to also share with you this list of the best pickleball paddle for beginners.

That said, we’d like to add these strategies for the singles pickleball beginners.

How to Serve in Singles

When serving in doubles pickleball, you just need to ensure the ball goes over the net and in. However, when serving in singles you have to serve hard and deep. You need to focus on hitting the ball hard towards the weak side of your opponents. In fact, experienced singles players recommend hitting the ball hard and deep down the middle than to target the corners of the service box. Serving hard and deep increases chances of winning.

In short, when serving in singles, always hit hard, else, your opponent will return a hard serve where you will be the defender. Just get close to the middle line when serving and then go back to the ready position immediately. This way, you will not give your opponent a chance to aim your weak side.

How to Return Serve in Singles

When returning serve in singles, you also need to hit the ball hard and deep. Ideally, you don’t want to give your opponent a chance to take advantage of your weak side. Just ensure to aim deep in the corners and the angles to keep your opponent moving.

Make Your Game Simple.

Singles pickleball requires you to use your skills and not to be fancy. You need to act swiftly and with power so that you can win against your opponent. Get your opponent moving by hitting deep in the corners and angles. If you give your opponent to hit hard and deep, you will become the defendant. You just need to keep your opponent from settling into position and hit the gaps fast.

How to Move to the Net

Approach the net wisely and aggressive. After you return serve, get back to the ready position immediately and hit the ball hard and deep. Don’t give your opponent the opportunity to place hard shots.

Tall players have the advantage to reach the net but if you are short you will have a shorter reach so you need to know how to approach the net wisely.

Passing Shot

You want to be wise when moving to the net and always be ready since you risk giving your opponent the opportunity to hit a winning shot. In fact, you can use this strategy to win against your opponent. Just be keen to check when your opponent approaches the net and if they are in a weak position and then hit a passing shot that they can’t return.