Singles pickleball is a whole different beast from doubles. There’s more movement, more court to cover, and more pressure on every shot. Without a partner to bail you out, your strategy and shot choices need to be on point. Whether you’re getting into singles or already grinding out tight matches, these five strategies will help you take control and play smarter.

In singles, starting the point with a deep ball isn’t enough, you’ve got to hit with purpose.
Serve Deep, Aim Wide: Serve deep into corners to shrink your opponent’s angles and force a weaker reply.
Return to Take Control: Same idea - hit your return deep and to the sides to open up space, then look to move in.
Quick Tip: If your return has some pace and depth, follow it in. Getting to the net early puts you in the driver’s seat.

You win points up at the net, not from the baseline. But the key is how you get there.
The closer you are, the more pressure you apply and the less time your opponent has to react. Just don’t charge in blindly.
Follow a Strong Shot: Use your serve or return to set up an approach and close the gap.
Respect the Kitchen: You want to get there quickly, but don’t run in on a weak shot - you’ll just hand them a passing opportunity.

Your approach is what sets the tone for the rally. If it’s short or loose, you’re stuck defending.
Play Deep and Middle: Keeps their angles small and buys you time to position.
Go Wide on Short Balls: If they give you a sitter, hit it wide and make recovery a nightmare.
The goal is simple: take space away and force them into a tough passing shot.

Everyone has a weaker side. Your job is to find it early and lean into it.
Test the Waters: Hit some backhands, mix up spins, and throw in short balls to see what breaks down first.
Hammer It: Once you spot a pattern - like a shaky backhand or slow recovery - build your points around it.
Pro Move: Short, sharp angles to a weak backhand are often more effective than going big and deep.

Singles is all about angles. The more you cover the middle, the harder you make it for your opponent to open the court.
Cut Off the Court: Hanging around center takes away the easy options and forces tougher sideline shots.
Make Them Prove It: Shots near the sideline are riskier - especially with those high net posts - so force your opponent to go for them.
Controlling the middle gives you more reach, better recovery, and makes life harder for whoever’s across from you.

Winning singles isn’t about crushing the ball - it’s about smart positioning, pressure, and consistency. Nail your serve and return, approach with purpose, play to your opponent’s weakness, and dominate the middle. Do that, and you’ll give yourself a real edge every time you step on the court.

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