Recently, I’ve been adding pickleball drills that resemble real-game situations to my repertoire, and skinny singles pickleball is just what the doctor ordered! Covering dinks, drives, drops, serves, and volleys is all part of the game, and since the game only requires half the court, you only need one additional person to play.
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All About the Pickleball Pre-Serve Ritual
I bounce the ball as I walk to the service line.
I hold the ball up to my opponents, a universal indicator that we’re all ready.
I set my feet, bounce the pickleball ball twice more and call out the score.
While doing all of this, I note the receiver’s position and make a quick decision on where I will place the ball.
And then I serve.
You might have observed pre-serve routines in sports like pickleball, tennis, or even volleyball and wondered about their significance. Why are these routines so prevalent across various sports?
I’m unsure if my serve routine is completely optimized for the game, but it works for me.
The Best Pickleball Advice Ever Has to Do With Sleep

The importance of consistently getting a good night’s sleep cannot be emphasized enough, especially for pickleball enthusiasts looking to enhance their performance on the court.
Adequate rest empowers your brain to unleash its full potential, boosting your memory and cognitive abilities. But that’s not all! Quality sleep also helps regulate mood, promotes heart health, and balances the hormones responsible for managing appetite.
Here are a few methods Pickleball Rookie uses to improve our sleep, and we hope they help you, too!
How to Play Pickleball for Beginners: A Quickstart Guide
Congratulations on deciding to give pickleball a try! This fun and engaging sport is an excellent way to stay active, socialize, and learn new skills. As a beginner, especially if you haven’t played sports before, you might feel overwhelmed or unsure about where to start. Pickleball Rookie has helped many people get started; we’re happy to share advice to help you begin your pickleball journey.
How to Improve Reaction Time in Pickleball
Pickleball players of all ages understand that improving your reaction time can elevate your game to the next level.
The fierce exchange of volleys. Four players at the line, dripping sweat, ripping forehands and backhands with mind-numbing speed. High-level pickleball can be an exhilarating knife fight. Aside from an insanely cool Erne or ATP, winning a rally like this is the best feeling in pickleball.

But losing? Losing one of these tenacious rallies is a drag.
Here’s the good news. You can increase your reaction time, and I’m going to give you some tips and tricks on how to do it.
Pickleball Etiquette — Unwritten Rules Beginners Should Know
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and is enjoyed by millions of people. It’s a great way to get some exercise and socialize with friends, but it also brings an unspoken code of conduct — pickleball etiquette.
Like most sports, there are some unwritten guidelines that all players should follow to ensure everyone has a fun, safe, and enjoyable game.
This article will focus on the basic unwritten rules of pickleball etiquette that all beginners should know. From what to wear to how to tap paddles, we’ll prep you for your first few pickleball matches so you can focus on the game.
Pickleball Open Play – Playing for the First Time
If you have yet to discover the expanding sport of pickleball, you’re in the right place to open up a whole new world. You may have heard all about pickleball and would love to try it out, but you need to figure out how you join in the fun.
When Do You Switch Sides in Pickleball?
Knowing when to switch sides is one of the most challenging concepts for new pickleball players to grasp. I’ve seen my fair share of confusion on the court when it comes to switching sides, but it gets better with time and practice.
From alternating serves to showing common courtesy when in rec play, this is your guide on when to switch sides when playing pickleball.
How to Handle Rude and Aggressive Pickleball Players
I recently played pickleball with The Most Aggressive Lady on Earth. Every shot was a drive; a yelp; a fist pump; a scream.
Let’s call this player, Edgy.
It was clear that Edgy had quite a bit of pickleball experience. It was also clear that her enthusiasm wasn’t received with open paddles. The 20 or so people at our open play nodded, winked, laughed, and shrugged off Edgy’s antics. It was just Edgy being Edgy.
Pickleball Overkill: How to Rest Your Body and Signs You Need Rest
Recently, I skipped out on my weekly Wednesday night pickleball league; it was raining cats and dogs. Then, I skipped my Thursday night league to help my son finish a school project. So it was two unplanned pickleball absences. I was bummed to miss an opportunity to play. And a couple of days later, I beat myself up for missing exercise.
However, as a few more days passed, I started to feel energized. Spry!
Even though it’s Wellness 101, I had once again forgotten the importance of resting my body.