Zane Navratil PickleballSeptember 10, 202600:10:08

17 Ways to Play BETTER Pickleball

Here are 17 ways to get better at pickleball in 2026, and none of them have anything to do with technique. Most pickleball advice on YouTube covers niche situations, and I'm a culprit of that too, so I wanted to take a step back and cover the foundational stuff that applies to every single player, whether you're just learning the game or you're on tour. I get into why quality reps beat quantity every time, why you should be hitting to the best player on the other side of the net instead of the weakest, how to actually warm up before you play, and why drilling is the only way to fix the shots that break down in a match. Then I close out with the mental side that most people skip: learning to win at your own level before you chase the next one, controlling what you can actually control, and remembering why you started playing in the first place.

🏓 The Transition Zone - Your roadmap for becoming a better pickleball player
tzpickleball.com/free-trial-7

💦SLAMIT Hydration - Stay hydrated and locked in on the court with SLAMIT—the best-tasting electrolyte and clean energy alternative proven to boost reaction time. Save with code ZANE20.
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💬 Join The Discord – Talk picks, strategy, and reactions with other players throughout tournaments.
https://discord.gg/RXVhYW3tPR

👟 Sqairz XRZ Pickleball Shoes
https://sqairz.com/products/xrz2-pickleball-mens-2026?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&cjevent=3b3e7d4b6ce711f1805e01fe0a1eba9b

💸 Save Money on PPA Tour Tickets and Registration!
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🛒 Pickleball Central — Shop the largest selection of pickleball gear, accessories, and apparel. Automatic discounts applied to your cart + Free Shipping on orders over $49.
https://pickleballcentral.com/Zane

👉 Contact Me for in-person coaching, clinics, or virtual coaching
https://www.zanenavratilpickleball.com/pages/contact

📩 Subscribe to my Newsletter to keep up with me on and off the court!
https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

Gear I Use & Recommend
🏓 ProXR Paddles
https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/shop/
🏓Paddletek Paddles - Use code ZANE10 for 10% OFF
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👕 Muev Performance Apparel
https://muevbrand.com/?sca_ref=9229898.RwZgkXC9mqHg1
🦞 Lobster Ball Machines — Use code ZANENAVRATIL for 5% OFF Ball Machines & Accessories
https://www.lobstersports.com/collections/pickleball-machines
🥅Har-Tru Court Equipment - Use code ZANE10 for 10% off your order of court equipment!

🎤 Get a personalized shoutout from me on Cameo!
https://cameo.com/zanenavratilpickleball

💜 Join me in supporting Stop Alzheimer’s Now, a non-profit dedicated to ending Alzheimer’s through research and awareness.
https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/

00:00 Forget Technique For A Second
00:44 Quality Over Quantity
01:32 Play The Ball Not The Player
02:05 Hit To The Stronger Player
02:43 Be Curious After Every Point
03:43 Get The Right Advice
04:17 Dynamic Warmup
04:46 Warm Up On Court
05:11 Just Drill
05:41 Hydrate To React Faster
06:00 Arrange Your Own Games
06:20 Play Tournaments
06:40 Film Yourself
07:05 Play Up Not Way Up
07:32 Learn To Win
08:22 Practice How You Play
08:50 Pick One Priority
09:14 Control What You Can Control
09:39 Have Fun
09:54 Wrap Up And Free Week

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