Get better at pickleball! 5 strategies from the top ranked senior pickleball player

You can get better at pickleball with a few pro strategies.

Are you ready to take your pickleball skills to the next level? Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, you can master the court.

Lee Whitwell, the number one ranked senior female pickleball player, shares five ways to elevate your game.

Meet Lee Whitwell

Lee Whitwell is not just a pro pickleball player, but also the MVP of MLP for two consecutive years. She has been a top-ranked professional pickleball player throughout her career. This year, she transitioned to senior and became the number one senior pro player. Lee is also the director of training and education for all Picklr franchises.

Lee loves the community aspect of pickleball.

“I love that this is the one sport that’s transcended all boundaries, ” she said. “Everyone can play the game, old and young, white collar and blue collar.”

Lee emphasized that it’s a sport that taps into the human condition, which is our desire to belong somewhere.

5 Ways to Get Better at Pickleball

Lee shared five pieces of advice to help you get better at pickleball:

1. Understand Your Own Level: Especially when you come in from another racket sport, it’s important to know where you are. Every club offers free skills assessments, so start out by taking one! When you’re starting out, it’s great to play with people your level. Then, start testing the waters and level up slowly. Master the skills for your level before you move up.
2. Take Pickleball Lessons: Lessons can help you understand the rules and the basics of the game. Do your online research to find a coach who suits your personality and style best.
3. Practice with Drills: Drills with a machine or another person can be helpful when you’re trying to get better. Clubs have ball machines you can rent, but practicing with another person will give you more variety.
4. Practice Skills During Rec Games: Don’t be afraid to practice what you’re working on during a game, even if it affects the outcome. It’s a time to experiment and have fun. If a particular skill is still a work in progress, you can let the people your playing with know what you’re working on.
5. Breathe: The biggest key in learning to play and then elevating play into more of a competitive space is to breathe. Breathing naturally relaxes the body. So, exhaling when you hit the ball, and really focusing on the fact that you need to breathe can help you elevate your game.

Find more online resources at thepicklr.com.