Hey!

A couple weeks ago, a newsletter subscriber sent in this question.

How do you mix a high-percentage game with a more attacking, unpredictable style? 

It’s a great question, because this is the dance most players are trying to figure out.

I think about it by asking a few questions…

1. Are your attacks better than their counters?

This is your first filter. And you can picture it like a mental scoreboard.

“If I attack this ball, how many times would I win the point out of 10?”

If the answer is 6 or more, I’d walk back to the baseline feeling great about that decision, even if I lost that one point.

Now, keep this in mind:

• At 4.5, you may need to be more selective with your attacks.

• At 5.0, even more so.

• At the pro level? Players have seen every attack imaginable. They’re not afraid—they want to be attacked. Many are actually hunting counters as their main form of offense.

So you’ve got to earn your looks.

But here’s the bottom line:

If your attacks are still better than their counters, at any level, then attack away. That’s not reckless. That’s smart, strategic play.

If not, work to earn balls above the height of the net that you can attack out of the air. That’s your green light. And the truth is, that’s disciplined aggression.

2. Factor in your partner’s hands.

Most people overlook this.

They hit third-shot drives constantly—but forget that many of those drives get redirected… right to their partner, who might be uncomfortable resetting a fast ricochet off a drive.

That’s information.

Or maybe they have a great speed-up, but the counter often shoots back in the triangle toward their partner, and their partner isn’t great at finishing the combo.

That’s information, too.

So if you keep attacking but your partner keeps missing, don’t just get frustrated. You have to ask yourself if you're putting your partner in a bad spot based on their current skillset.

If so, the adjustment starts with you.

3. Play your game. Not theirs. (I can’t emphasize this enough)

A few weeks ago, I played a guy who drove everything. Thirds, fifths—you name it.

And it worked. He won a ton of points doing things most people wouldn’t teach, because it fit his skill set.

But if I tried that same strategy? We’d lose in 5 minutes because I don’t have that same skillset. So I stuck to what works for me.

And as you head into your next games this week, remember this:

Patient doesn’t mean passive & Aggressive doesn’t mean erratic.

Good players find the balance. And they adjust that balance based on:

• Their own strengths

• Their partner’s game

• Their opponents’ weaknesses

If you do that, you’ll improve a ton—and you’ll win a whole lot of pickleball matches.

And like I always say:
Life is more fun when you’re good at pickleball. 😊

See you next week,
Kyle

PS: If you love talking strategy—and you’re the kind of person who still thinks about pickleball long after you leave the court—you’ll fit right in with the crew inside ThatPickleballSchool.

We’re putting together a 21-day mindset challenge that’ll help you trust your game more, stop overthinking, and start making decisions like someone who knows they belong on the court.

It’s not live just yet, but the announcement’s coming soon. In the meantime, you can join the school with our 7-day free trial and check out the 4 match breakdowns I filmed and just released from my 2nd place finish in Cincinnati. 🙂