Hey guys, it’s Kyle from ThatPickleballSchool. By the end of article, you’re going to learn how to score four to six more rallies per game, and we’re going to do it by learning from Major League Baseball.
When a pitcher throws a 100 mph fastball, it takes about .38 seconds to travel from the pitcher’s hand to the catcher’s glove. That’s roughly the same amount of time a speed-up from the midcourt takes to reach you at the kitchen.
Take Albert Pujols, one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. He could hit bomb after bomb against major league pitchers. But when he faced Jenny Finch, one of the best softball pitchers of all time, he couldn’t touch the ball. Why? The indicators. Against baseball pitchers, he was used to reading arm angles, spin, and body movements. Against Finch, the delivery looked different, and he had no reference point. The same thing happens in pickleball—we have to shift from reacting to predicting.
Which Shots Go Out Most Often?
Think about this: in a game, which two shots do your opponents hit out the most? If you said speed-ups from the kitchen area or drives from the midcourt/baseline, you’re right. Those are the focus today, and we’re going to work on three progressions that train your eyes and mind to read them better.
Progression One: Feed and Learn
Start with one player feeding and the other hitting speed-ups. Every ball should bounce first—no volleys—so the brain isolates one skill. The goal is simple: watch, get feedback, and learn.
As the feeder, toss with variety—some higher, some lower, some deeper. The hitter works on driving consistently, while the defender studies the indicators:
- How high is the ball?
- How deep in the court is it?
- What’s their footwork look like?
- How long is their backswing?
- Do they hit with topspin or flat?
Most players make their decision after contact, trying to react in less than .25 seconds. Instead, start learning to predict before the swing.
Progression Two: Feed and Read
Now add a decision. The feeder tosses, the hitter speeds up, and the defender must choose to counter or let it go.
Keys to look for:
- If the ball is above net height, expect a downward angle—be ready to counter.
- If it’s lower or shallow, predict out and dodge.
- Change your stance—get lower, move your feet, and make yourself smaller and more mobile.
It’s not about perfection. You’ll guess wrong sometimes, just like predicting rain. But the more you practice, the higher your percentage of correct reads. And sometimes, dodging a ball and staring down your opponent is more demoralizing than hitting a winner.
Progression Three: Feed and Lie (Applied Prediction)
Here the hitter must speed up within the first five balls. Now the defender applies all the indicators at once. Watch for footwork, ball height, and depth to make predictions in real time.
Add game-like realism by playing skinny singles:
- One serves, the other returns.
- The server must drive the third and fifth shots.
- The returner now has to move forward while making predictions—adding a decision under pressure.
This layer of movement makes it more challenging, but also closer to how real points develop.
Why Predicting Beats Reacting
Just like Pujols against Finch, reacting too late makes you look like a novice. But by training your eye to spot indicators, you start predicting like Pujols did against major league pitchers. Over time, you’ll pick up on tiny cues—changes in footwork, paddle angle, or body movement—that tell you what’s coming.
Practical Application: Train Your Eye in 15 Minutes
You don’t need two hours a day for this. Show up 15 minutes early and work through these drills. The more reps you get, the more data you collect. You won’t be perfect, but every session improves your percentages. Over time, you’ll win more points, more games, and feel more confident.
So start small, focus on the indicators, and keep training your prediction skills. The difference between reacting and predicting could be four to six rallies every single game.
Eat your beans at every meal.
Think you know pickleball inside and out? Challenge yourself with ThatPickleball IQ Test and see if you can score a perfect 10 out of 10!
Editor’s Note: This article is based on a video by Kyle Koszuta, ThatPickleballGuy. We partnered with him to highlight key concepts in a written format for players who prefer to read or reference drills on the court.
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