Have you ever hit what feels like a solid shot, only to watch it land halfway between the net and baseline? Or tried to push your opponents back, but your shots keep giving them an easy opportunity to attack?
Shot depth is one of those skills that can make a noticeable difference in your pickleball game. The good news? You don’t necessarily need to swing harder to hit deeper shots. You need to understand what’s affecting your depth and practice with a purpose.
Why Shot Depth Matters
Depth changes the position your opponents must play from and the options available to them. A ball that lands deep can keep opponents back, limit their attacking options, and give you and your partner more time to establish a stronger position on the court. A ball that consistently lands short can do the opposite, allowing opponents to step forward and take control of the rally.
Short shots aren’t always bad. Dinks, drops, and resets are designed to land shorter for a reason. The key is understanding when you want depth and when a shorter ball serves a better purpose.
When you do want to hit deep, these adjustments can help.
1. Check Your Contact Point
Where you contact the ball can influence how well you control its trajectory and depth.
If you’re consistently contacting the ball too far behind your body, you may struggle to direct it where you want. Work on getting into position early enough to contact the ball comfortably in front of your body when appropriate for the shot. Rather than reaching at the last second, use small adjustment steps to get yourself into a better hitting position.tead
2. Don’t Confuse Swinging Harder With Hitting Deeper
It’s tempting to put more power behind a shot when it keeps landing short. However, swinging harder without controlling your contact and trajectory can lead to inconsistent results, including balls that sail long.
Instead, focus on a smooth, controlled swing and a consistent contact point. Pay attention to the path of your paddle and the height of the ball as it travels over the net. The goal is to send the ball high enough and far enough to reach your intended target without sacrificing control.
3. Aim for a Target, Not Just the Baseline
Telling yourself to hit the ball deep is a start, but it doesn’t give you a specific target.
Visually divide the court into target zones. For a deep return of serve, for example, you might aim for an area a few feet inside the baseline rather than trying to land the ball as close to the line as possible. This gives you a margin for error while still encouraging you to develop depth.
Start by aiming for a larger target area, and as your consistency improves, gradually narrow the target to improve your precision.
4. Use Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Arm
Your arm isn’t the only part of your body that contributes to a shot. A balanced stance and coordinated body movement can help you generate power without forcing your swing.
As you prepare to hit, keep your knees comfortably bent and your feet positioned so you can move through the shot with balance. Depending on the shot, use your legs and torso to help transfer energy into your swing. Avoid overreaching or trying to muscle the ball with your arm alone.
Focus on smooth, coordinated movement and clean contact. The aim is to send the ball deeper with a controlled swing, not to put as much force behind it as possible.
5. Practice Depth With a Simple Target Drill
During your next practice session, choose a target area a few feet inside the baseline. Practice hitting returns of serve or controlled groundstrokes toward that area, counting how many land within it. Start at a comfortable pace and focus on clean contact and a consistent trajectory before trying to add speed.
You can also ask a partner to feed balls to you from different positions. This helps you practice adjusting your footwork and contact to the incoming ball rather than hitting the same shot repeatedly from a fixed position.
Keep track of your results. If only three out of 10 shots reach your target, focus on what you can adjust, such as your contact point or the height of your shot. Repeat the drill and see whether you can get more balls into the target area while maintaining control.
Build Depth Into Your Game
Improving shot depth is about controlling your shots well enough to put the ball where you intend.
Start by choosing one shot to work on, such as your return of serve. Focus on comfortable contact, a controlled swing, and a specific target. Once you’re more consistent with that shot, apply the same approach to your drives and other groundstrokes.
Over time, you’ll gain more control over where your shots land and when to use depth to put pressure on your opponents. The goal isn’t to hit harder on every shot. It’s to make your technique work for you.
