🤯 3 Things I Learned from Anna Leigh Waters

(And, in case you don’t follow pro pickleball, ALW is THE most dominant pickleball player in the world – and she only just turned 18 years old.)

But getting to spend time on the court with her? That’s another thing entirely. Last week, she and her mom (Leigh–who is also an amazing player and coach) came over to film a YouTube video, and we played some rec games afterward.

It wasn’t the first time we’d played together.

About a year and a half ago, she came by. But the Anna Leigh that stepped onto my court this time? A different player.

More complete.

More dominant.

More–undeniable.

I walked away with a TON of takeaways, but here are the three biggest lessons I learned from her that I hope serves you in your game 🙂

Anna Leigh has no weaknesses.

Every shot—forehand, backhand, dink, drive, drop—she’s mastered them all. There is no gap in her skillset, no area where she is vulnerable. Her mechanics are so sound that they create an unshakable foundation for her game.

Most people see her highlight reel shots on Instagram, but what I see is consistent shot selection, flawless attack timing, and a deep, deep understanding of fundamental strategy.

She sees movement and gaps on the court faster than anyone.

It’s like she has a built-in radar, constantly tracking where players are and predicting where they’ll go next. Most people react to what’s happening—Anna Leigh already knows what’s about to happen.

And I felt this over and over—both when I was playing with her and especially when I was playing against her. The moment I gave her a gap, she didn’t just see it—she processed it instantly. As the ball was in flight, she was already reading my movement, recognizing every new opening I’d just created.

Then she’d pounce.

Honestly, though, it is incredibly annoying to play against. Although when she was on my team, very VERY fun. 😂

Even in rec play, you can see her blood boil when she starts to lose.

She HATES losing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a tournament final or a casual game. That fire seems to always be there. But what’s incredible is how she channels it. Instead of one error compounding, her momentary frustration turns into deeper focus, sharper execution, and even more intensity.

Her ability to flip the switch mentally is what truly separates her from the rest.

Shoot, did you see what happened in her singles match against Brooke Buckner last weekend!?

Down 11-4, 9-4 and truly, getting dominated like I’ve never seen. (Brooke was playing absolutely amazing).

THEN–

That switch flipped. And you already know what happened next!

Here’s the link if you want to check it out 🙂

The bad news is we’re still working on the video.

The good news? The video is epic! Both Anna Leigh and Leigh share so many insights that still have my brain spinning.

🔥 Strategy on the serve – How to turn your serve into a true weapon.

🎯 3rd shot decision-making – Drive? Drop? How Anna Leigh makes the right choice every time.

💨 Playing with or against the wind – ALW breaks down how she approaches it.

⚡️ Attacking mindset – Knowing when to strike and making it count.

🎯 When, Where, How to attack – It’s not just about power; In fact, very little is about power.

🛡️ How to counterattack – The secrets to neutralizing aggressive opponents.

🧠 Mental toughness – What’s going on inside her mind!

🦶 Footwork – ALW breaks down how she thinks about her court positioning and footwork.

🔁 Drilling – How she practices to stay ahead of the competition.

We’re aiming to drop it in on YouTube in about 3-4 weeks, but for those of you who want early access, we’ll share it inside ThatPickleballSchool very soon. 🙂

Anna Leigh is reshaping my mind on how the game can be played. And if we take even a fraction of what makes her great and apply it to our own games?

Watch out.

More to come soon!

-Kyle

P.S. Last week in PPA Mesa, That Pickleball School members absolutely crushed! Here’s a collage of just some of the winners representing TPS: