Discover your strengths and shape your strategy! Answer the following questions as honestly as possible. Choose the option that best describes your typical play.
1. What part of the court do you feel most confident in?
- A) At the kitchen line, dinking and volleying
- B) Mid-court, transitioning and resetting
- C) Baseline, driving and defending
- D) Anywhere—I rely on speed and anticipation to move quickly
2. How do you usually finish points?
- A) With a well-placed dink or volley at the net
- B) Forcing errors by keeping the ball in play
- C) By hitting strong drives or overheads
- D) With an unexpected shot or quick poach
3. What’s your strongest shot?
- A) Dinks and soft volleys
- B) Third shot drop
- C) Serve or drive
- D) Quick reflex volleys or poaches
4. How do you respond to pressure in a match?
- A) Stay calm and stick to patient rallies
- B) Reset the ball and wait for a better opportunity
- C) Get aggressive and try to end the point
- D) Look to outmaneuver or outpace my opponent
5. Which statement best describes your mentality?
- A) I prefer control and consistency over risk
- B) I’m steady and adaptable
- C) I like to attack and dictate the point
- D) I thrive on fast-paced, reactive play
Tally Your Answers
Mostly A’s: The Strategist – You thrive on control and consistency. Your playing style should focus on dinking, patience, and setting traps at the net.
Mostly B’s: The Stabilizer – You’re reliable and thoughtful. Your best strategy is to keep the ball in play, reset effectively, and wait for your opponent to make a mistake.
Mostly C’s: The Aggressor – Power is your strength. Build your game around drives, strong serves, and quick finishes. Just be sure to balance aggression with control.
Mostly D’s: The Disruptor – You rely on speed, anticipation, and unpredictability. Use your quickness to poach, pressure, and keep opponents off balance.
Now What?
Use your result to shape your training focus, match strategy, and partner dynamics. And remember, your style can evolve as your game grows. For tips to develop your personal playing style, read The Pickler’s blog “What is Your Pickleball Playing Style? Learn to Play to Your Strengths.”
