Aim Here, Not There: Smarter Pickleball Shot Placement

The ball doesn't have to go at somebody. It has to go where they aren't.

Where do you aim?

Most players say: "At the other team."

That works until it doesn't.

Aim for empty spaces on the court, not necessarily the players.

Find the Open Court

Look before you hit. Where is your opponent not?

An open space beats a perfect shot to a defended spot. Every time.

This is also why distance and angles matter:

• Use distance as a weapon. Make them cover more ground.
• Understand angles. Angles create angles. A shot into one corner opens up the next one.

Pick Your Target by the Game You're Playing

Here's one of the most useful rules in all of pickleball, and almost nobody hears it:

• In recreational play, hit to the better player.
• In tournament play, hit to the weaker player.

Same court. Different goal. Know what you're out there to do, then pick your target.

Know why you're playing, then pick your target.

The Bottom Line

Aim for open space. Use distance. Create angles. Target the right player for the right setting.

Placement isn't about power. It's about picking where the ball goes before you swing.

Two quick habits make this automatic:

• Look up before you hit. One glance at where your opponents are is enough.
• Name your target in your head before contact. "Open corner." "Their feet." "Deep middle."

A named target beats a vague "just get it over."

Pick the spot first. The swing follows.

Coach Brett's Pro Tip "Don't aim at a person. Aim at the space they can't reach."

Keep going: Respect the X: Who Owns That Ball in Pickleball Doubles.