Singles pickleball plays nothing like doubles. No partner covers half the court, no one poaches, and every ball is yours. If your doubles habits are losing you singles games, here is how to adjust.
Cover the middle, shade toward your backhand
In singles, most players stand in the center of their half and react. Better: shade slightly toward your backhand side. Most rec players attack the backhand because it is weaker, so take that option away. You can cover a forehand reach more easily than a stretched backhand.
When you are at the baseline, stand a step or two behind it. Deep serves and returns are the norm in singles, and the extra step gives you time to step into the ball instead of backing up.
Deep serves and deep returns win the point early
The serve cannot score you a point directly the way it can in tennis, but placement still matters. Hit serves deep, within a foot or two of the baseline, and vary the side. A short serve in singles is an invitation for your opponent to step in and drive it at your feet.
On the return, go deep and give yourself time to get to the kitchen line. The returner wins the race to the net most of the time in singles, so make your return buy you those two steps forward.
Pass, do not dink, when they are at the net
In doubles you dink crosscourt and wait. In singles, if your opponent is planted at the kitchen line and you are stuck at the baseline, dinking keeps you losing. Look for the passing shot: drive the ball hard at their feet or into the open court behind them.
Aim for the sidelines, not the middle. The middle of the court is the safest spot for the net player. The corners force them to move, and a moving volleyer misses more.
Pace yourself: singles is a fitness game
A competitive singles game covers far more ground than doubles. Players who sprint for every ball gas out by game two. Jog back to position after each shot instead of sprinting, and use the time between rallies. Take a breath, towel off, and let your heart rate drop.
Hit with margin. Going for a perfect line on every shot loses more points than it wins. A deep, safe ball that keeps your opponent moving beats a highlight shot that lands out one time in three.
One pattern to practice
Here is the simplest winning pattern in rec singles: deep serve, deep return, then drive your third shot at the opponent's feet as they run in. Most rec players never practice the move from baseline to kitchen, so pressure there wins points fast.
- Serve deep to the backhand corner.
- Return deep and move straight to the kitchen line.
- On your third shot, aim low at the incoming player's feet.
- When they are at the net, pass down the line, not through the middle.
Keep your head on the next point, not the score
Singles moves fast and the score changes on every rally, which makes it easy to lose track and argue about it. A Rally Tally score keeper sticks on the end of your paddle handle, so you can click the score between points without breaking rhythm. It is $15 for one or 2 for $20 with free shipping at rallytallypickleball.com.