Elim Pickleball Academy

Elim Pickleball Academy & Rec Play is a group for Pickleball enthusiasts of all levels

04/11/2026

03/01/2026

Most people who think that they are an Advanced player are really at best an Intermediate player. An Advanced player would have a rating of at least 4.0 or higher.

02/14/2026

The BEST 6 Pickleball Tactics For 2026

Sometimes skill isn't everything. It is not always the "best player" that wins every match. Even though a player may be the most "skilled" on the court, there are several other factors that can effect the outcome of every match.

The first, is EX*****ON.

Even though a player may have the best "skills" or technique on particular shots, this doesn't always mean that they will make their shots when they need it the most.

This is why it's critical to drill and practice the shots that you will be hitting in real games. With the extra reps on the drill court, that will translate into consistency over time. (check out this full-length drill video that we made last month here)

The second, is the ABILITY TO PLAY WELL WITH YOUR PARTNER.

Even if you may have the best player on your team, you may still lose the match.

This obviously has to do with who the best player's partner is, but a big part of the game is communication. If a team is not communicating well, or if they are clashing heads and getting frustrated at each other, then the chances of them winning will go way down.

The third is IN-GAME TACTICS.

At the highest levels, the margins between winning and losing can be paper thin.

Sometimes it's just a matter of changing a d**k pattern or speeding up and attacking a different spot than you did in the beginning of the match.

Learning how to adjust your strategy on the fly is a skill that is learned. It is something that you have to learn and develop over the years.

When it comes to high-level tactics, it's really about knowing what strategy works well against most players — and then slightly adjusting that strategy as you learn a little bit more about your opponent's game.

For the top 6 tactics that I personally use in gameplay check out this video here, or click the link below!

Whether you're a 3.5, or you're aspiring to get to 5.0, these 6 tips have really helped me along the way!

6 Tactics I Use as a 5.0 Player & Coach ➤ Join Our Online University | https://www.thepickleballuniversity.com/Free Training Videos!➤ Learn Topspin | http://topspinsecrets.com/➤ Pro Attacking Maste...

02/14/2026

#1 - Use your drive. If you have a decent drive, this is a great way to get through the transition zone. You can use your drive to your advantage. As the return comes back your way, you can drive your 3rd shot, and look for something weaker to "drop" so that you can come in.

#2 - You don't have to rush. Most players try to get through transition like there's a bad guy that is chasing them from behind. When it comes to playing smart in transition, as long as you are moving forward on the right ball, and you are balanced as you are coming in, you don't have to rush to the NVZ. You should never be frantically running in.

#3 - It's all about time. For you to confidently and efficiently get to the NVZ, it's all about buying time. Most players hit their balls way too hard or too fast as they are trying to get to the net. The "secret" to making it to the NVZ is hitting the ball slow enough to gain you enough time to move in. Even though this may take several attempts, the goal is to continue to make time for yourself.

This video introduces you to key transition principles, so that you can know exactly what to do next time you are on the court.

Why Most Pickleball Points Are Lost ➤ Join Our Online University | https://www.thepickleballuniversity.com/Free Training Videos!➤ Learn Topspin | http://topspinsecrets.com/➤ Pro Attacking Maste...