Play the Player, Not Just the Ball

The ball is only half of what you're playing.

Most players watch the ball.

The best players watch the people.

Coach Brett Noel is a 3x National Gold Medalist and PPR Certified Professional. One of the first things he teaches is to notice patterns in your opponents' play.

Notice the Patterns

Where do they go when they're under pressure? Which shot do they love? What do they do when you pull them wide?

Everybody has habits. Your job is to spot them early.

Don't Defend What They Haven't Done

Here's a quiet killer: defending a shot your opponent has never hit.

If the player across the net has never ripped a line drive, don't defend something your opponent has not done. You're wasting energy and giving up position.

Play what you see. Not what you fear.

Don't Let Them Read You, Either

Patterns work both ways. Mix up your serves. Don't let your opponents get used to your pace.

Ask "Why"

When something goes wrong, coach yourself. Ask "why." Why did that happen? What would fix it?

And after a loss, go one step further:

• Ask your opponents what their strategy was. Learn from it.
• Ask what they think you need to improve. Learn from that, too.

Most players leave a loss annoyed. Smart players leave it with information.

The Bottom Line

Watch the player. Spot the pattern. Defend what's real. Mix up your own game. Learn from every loss.

The scoreboard tells you who won. The patterns tell you why.

Coach Brett's Pro Tip "Every opponent is a book. Read the first page before you start swinging."

Related: The 9 Ready Position Fundamentals Every Pickleball Player Needs.