Power or Placement: What’s More Important?

Pickleball has changed tremendously over the past 40 years. The game was invented in 1965, but it didn’t really take off as a mainstream sport until the mid-1980s. What started as a simple backyard game played with wooden paddles and a Wiffle ball has now become the fastest-growing sport in the United States.

Today, there are two professional leagues and televised tournament matches. Tournaments that once offered small prizes now have corporate sponsors and big cash payouts. Coaching also has become a career path for many players; the cost of the newest paddle and ball technology has skyrocketed.

The original philosophy behind pickleball was to make it “not tennis.” It was designed to be a game that encouraged volleys and was easy to learn.

Pickleball has three key rules: the No-Fly Zone (or Kitchen), Serving Underhand, and the Two-Bounce Rule. These make the game very different from tennis and actually make it more difficult to score when serving.

Originally, the serve was just a way to start the rally. The inventors never imagined players would serve with the speed and spin that professionals use today. When I started playing nine years ago, there were very few “aces” on serves — today, they’re much more common.

The kitchen game has also become more aggressive, with many players using spin and power to win points instead of moving opponents side to side to set up easier, less risky shots.

Professional players and coaches often refer to the five P’s of Pickleball:

1. Patience

2. Placement

3. Positioning

4. Poaching

5. Power

Of these, “placement” is the most important. Well-placed shots are far more likely to force errors and create scoring chances than hard, poorly placed shots. Power has its place, but it must be balanced with control. It’s better to hit your target consistently than to hit the ball as hard as you can.

Mastering placement helps you keep the ball in play, make your opponents move and set up easier shots for you. In contrast, focusing too much on power often leads to unforced errors. Even professional players usually hit at about 75 percent power to control the rally and avoid unnecessary mistakes.

As my own game has developed, I’ve learned that it’s all about balancing power and placement.

When your opponent gives you an attackable shot — a high return when you’re at the kitchen line — you should be able to put them on the defensive or win the point outright. These shots often push them back from the kitchen line, where most points are won.

Because the pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court, accuracy is even more critical. If you’re not consistent, you’ll give away free points.

When all four players are of similar skill, the game becomes especially fun. You’ve probably been in rallies that last 10 to 20 shots — for me, those “chess matches” are exciting and intense.

Besides the social side of the game, that’s one of the reasons I love pickleball so much. Power and placement must work together. Pros may play aggressively, but the team that wins is usually the one that makes fewer unforced errors.

If you want to win more points — and more matches — remember this simple rule: Keep the ball in play.