Every new pickleball player wants to improve quickly.
I see many beginners spending hours trying to hit harder, learn advanced spins, or imitate professional players. But without mastering the basics and building a solid foundation, you can’t move up the ladder as quickly as you’d like. I often hear from players that want strategy when they don’t even know how to get to the kitchen line after serving.
The fastest path to improvement is much simpler. Building a strong foundation with the right skills will help you win more points now while preparing you for higher levels of play later.
Here are the seven skills every beginner should master before worrying about advanced techniques.
1. Develop a Consistent Serve
Your serve begins every point, yet many beginners simply try to get the ball over the net.
A quality serve should be deep, consistent, and placed with purpose. A deep serve forces your opponents farther behind the baseline, making it more difficult for them to hit an aggressive third shot.
Consistency is far more valuable than power. If you can reliably place your serve deep in the court, you immediately put yourself in a better position to win the rally.
2. Hit Deep Returns
The return of serve is one of the most important shots in pickleball because it gives the returning team time to move to the kitchen line.
A deep return keeps your opponents back and limits their offensive options. Aim to hit the ball near the baseline while maintaining enough height to clear the net comfortably. A deep return allows you to establish the strongest position on the court before the point truly begins.
3. Learn to Move to the Kitchen Line
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is stopping halfway between the baseline and the non-volley zone. This area leaves players vulnerable because they must hit balls at their feet while still dealing with fast attacks.
After serving, move forward as your team earns the opportunity. After returning, move confidently to the kitchen line behind your shot. Learning where to stand is just as important as learning how to hit.
4. Control the Soft Game
Dinking may not seem exciting, but it wins countless rallies. A controlled dink forces your opponents to hit up instead of attacking downward. Focus on keeping the ball low, landing it in the kitchen, and maintaining patience. The goal isn’t to hit a winner. The goal is to create an opportunity where your opponent eventually makes a mistake or gives you an attackable ball.
5. Learn to Block Hard Shots
Every beginner eventually faces opponents who hit the ball much harder than expected.
Instead of swinging harder in return, learn to soften your hands and absorb the pace. A compact blocking motion with a relaxed grip allows the ball to drop back into the kitchen instead of flying long. Great defense often creates offensive opportunities because a quality block neutralizes your opponent’s attack.
6. Develop Better Footwork
Good players don’t constantly reach for the ball. They move their feet first so they can make contact from a balanced position.
Stay on the balls of your feet, use small adjustment steps, and avoid lunging whenever possible. Balanced footwork improves consistency, increases control, and prepares you for the next shot.
The paddle can only perform as well as the feet that position it.
7. Understand Shot Selection
Beginners often try low-percentage shots because they believe every ball should be attacked.
Smart pickleball players recognize when to be aggressive and when to stay patient. Attack high balls. Reset difficult balls. Dink when no offensive opportunity exists.
Make your opponents earn points instead of giving them away through unnecessary errors. Good decision-making often separates winners from everyone else even more than raw athletic ability does.
Build the Right Foundation First
Mastering these seven skills creates a foundation that supports every other part of your game.
Players who serve deep, return deep, move efficiently, control the kitchen, defend effectively, use proper footwork, and make smart decisions improve much faster than players who focus only on hitting harder.
None of these skills are flashy, but they don’t need to be. Simple is usually better.
Pickleball rewards consistency, patience, and positioning more than killer shots. Build these fundamentals first, and every advanced skill you learn later will become easier to develop. The strongest players are almost always the ones who mastered the basics before chasing the flashy shots.
Be patient with yourself. Try not to get overwhelmed. Focus on one skill at a time, and let it become part of your muscle memory before moving to the next.
Remember, pickleball is supposed to be fun.
About the Author: Gina Cilento is a top 10 Senior Pro and multi-APP medalist who splits her time between competing and coaching. She’s the co-founder of The Pickleball Lab, a pod player for the Denver Iconics in the Champions Series Pickleball League, and co-host of Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil. Off the court, Gina shares her passion through her apparel line, The Pick, and her work with Empower Pickleball.
