The 5 Play Situations in Pickleball (And Why You Should Know Them)
By Jorge Capestany, RSPA Master Professional & PTR International Master Professional
If you really want to improve at pickleball, you need to stop thinking of the game as one continuous rally… and start seeing it as five distinct play situations.
Every single point, no matter the level, flows through these same situations.
The problem?
Most players (and even coaches) train randomly… instead of training each situation on purpose.
Once you understand these five phases, your practices become more focused, your drills make more sense, and your improvement speeds up.
Let’s break them down.
1. The Serve
Every point starts here—but most players don’t give it the attention it deserves.
This is your only fully controlled shot in pickleball.
Key goals:
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Consistency (no free points given away)
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Depth (push your opponent back)
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Direction (target weaker returns)
At higher levels, the serve isn’t about aces—it’s about setting up the next shot.
👉 Coaching takeaway:
Most players under-train the serve. Build simple repetition drills with targets and pressure scoring.
2. The Return of Serve
This is one of the most important shots in the entire game.
Why?
Because it gives the returning team time to reach the kitchen line, the ultimate goal in pickleball.
Key goals:
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Deep return (keep opponents back)
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High margin (avoid errors)
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Immediate transition forward
A weak return almost guarantees you’ll be on defense.
👉 Coaching takeaway:
Train returns with movement. Don’t just stand and hit—force players to hit and move forward every rep.
3. The Transition Game (The Hardest Phase)
This is where most points are won… or lost.
It’s the space between the baseline and the kitchen—and it’s where players feel the most uncomfortable.
Key goals:
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Control, not power
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Balance while moving forward
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Smart shot selection (drops, resets, blocks)
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This is where players often rush, panic, or overhit.
👉 Coaching takeaway:
Most players avoid this phase in practice… which is exactly why they struggle in matches.
You should be running a ton of transition drills.
4. The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone) Game
This is where pickleball is truly played at higher levels.
Once both teams reach the kitchen, the game becomes about precision, patience, and pressure.
Key goals:
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Consistent dinking
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Moving opponents out of position
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Waiting for the right attack opportunity
This phase rewards discipline more than anything else.
👉 Coaching takeaway:
Players don’t lose points here because they can’t dink…
They lose points because they attack at the wrong time.
5. The Attack / Put-Away Phase
Eventually, someone speeds the ball up.
This is the shift from patience to offense.
Key goals:
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Recognize attackable balls
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Speed up with control.
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Finish points efficiently
Great players don’t just attack—they attack the right ball.
👉 Coaching takeaway:
Train decision-making, not just mechanics.
Players need reps recognizing when to attack—not just how.
The video below comes from one of the courses we have in the Lab on Pickleball Drills HQ.
It describes the 5 play situations, as well as the court positions and shots used in each.