Just like tennis or similar sport, pickleball can be played as a singles or doubles. If you tend to be more social, doubles might be your primary type. But singles are still really fun if you can only call one friend to play with.
Singles pickleball is very similar to doubles pickleball. However, there is only one player on each side of the pickleball court, and the strategy for singles pickleball is very different from doubles pickleball.
The feeling of love-hate could always be expressed by most pickleball players about a single pickleball. This can happen depending on how rigid and long a single pickleball can be. A single pickleball can be quite an exercise as you have to cover the entire pickleball court yourself (more so than a double pickleball). It can also come from the fact that singles pickleball can be quite isolating since you are the only person on your side on the court. That is, there is no partner to rely on or pick up.
Player Positioning for Single Pickleball
The first serve always starts on the even/right side of the pickleball court. If the server wins a point, the server maintains the serve and switches to the serve on the other side of the pickleball court.
The server always serves across/diagonally across the court and will serve until either the opponent wins the rally or the server commits a foul. If the opponent wins the rally or the server fouls, it is a side out and the opponent now serves.
Basic single pickleball strategy
Singles pickleball is a very different game from doubles pickleball. Because the strategy of the game is very different. Every shot is up to you because you are alone on the pickleball court and every shot is a 1 yard race between you and your opponent.
Once you've decided you're ready for a game of singles pickleball, master these key points about singles pickleball.
Big, Deep Serve – A big, deep serve is essential in single pickleball. You must use your serve to gain an advantage over your opponent from the first shot.
Big, Deep Serve Returns – Big, deep serve returns are important to get into the pickleball net and break an opponent's angle. Return your serve deep into the corner and move to the non-volley zone line (also known as the kitchen line) to block your opponent's angle on the third shot.
Moving to the Non-Volley Zone Line – Again, in singles pickleball, it's important to block your opponent's angle on the pickleball court. You need to enter the non-volley zone line to block your opponent's angle. Follow the pickleball's flight and block its angle appropriately!
Strong basics and placements – Strong basics and placements are key to doubles pickleball and singles pickleball. But singles pickleball is even more important because you're alone on the court, and you don't have a partner backed by solid fundamentals and solid pickleball placement.
Angles and Passing Shots - Singles pickleball is about finding an open court. Use all angles and passing shots to find the open court and defeat your opponents.
Singles pickleball is a one-yard sprint to each shot, which can be really taxing and an endurance challenge. Get cardio before tackling single pickleball.
