Place Over Pace: The Secret Weapon for Intermediates

Why smart placement beats raw power every time

At PickleCon this year, I found myself teamed up with a woman I’d just met to take on her husband and another player. We shook hands, traded a little good-natured trash talk, and got started.

Right away, I noticed our opponents liked to play fast. The pace was high, points ended quickly, and for a few minutes, we were just reacting. But then, in between points, my partner said something that shifted my perspective: “Let’s slow it down. Make them move.”

From that point on, we focused less on how hard we were hitting and more on where we were sending the ball. Instead of going for big finishes, we aimed for well-placed shots: a soft dink that pulled them forward, a drop shot that just cleared the net, a crosscourt that made them stretch, or a lob that sent them scrambling.

The change was immediate. We weren’t feeding into their rhythm anymore—we were creating our own. Even on easy put-aways, we hit at about 80% power, prioritizing accuracy over brute force. And sure enough, the points started stacking up in our favor.

That’s the lesson for intermediate players: placement beats pace.

When you focus on placing the ball, you reduce your margin for error. Full-speed swings might feel good, but they also increase the risk of hitting out, catching the net, or sending a ball right into your opponent’s comfort zone. Precise placement—whether it’s a deep return, a short angle, or a ball at the feet—forces your opponent to move, adjust, and make tough shots.

This isn’t just about countering one style of play; it works against anyone. Players who thrive on long rallies will have to chase. Balanced players will have to hit from awkward positions. And aggressive players will be taken out of their preferred tempo.

Think of it like chess with a paddle: every shot is a move designed to open up the next one. If your first well-placed ball doesn’t win the point outright, it often sets up the next shot to do the job.

So next time you’re on the court, resist the temptation to match pace with pace. Instead, pick your targets—deep to the backhand, short crosscourt, right at the feet—and make your opponent play your game.

Because in pickleball, the sweetest wins don’t always come from hitting the hardest. They come from hitting the smartest.