6 Pickleball Cheat Codes the Pros Actually Use

Start with one, nail it, then add another – before long, you'll be playing like you've got secrets too

Pickleball's best players make the game look deceptively simple. They glide to the kitchen, flick their wrists with surgical precision, and somehow always seem to know where the ball's going before it gets there.

But they're not born with that magic. They're using cheat codes, and Tanner Tomassi is ready to share. From his years of experience on the court, here are six of them that actually work.

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1. Control the Rally Before You Even Dink

The first cheat code sounds almost too simple: when you're setting up at the kitchen line, your first three dinks should go crosscourt, not straight ahead. Why?

Because the player who dinks crosscourt first controls the rally. When you hit straight ahead, you're basically handing the momentum to your opponent. Crosscourt dinks give you more court to work with, which means you can be aggressive without fear of getting punished.

It's the difference between dictating play and reacting to it.

2. Your Grip Pressure Is Probably Wrong

Here's where 95% of amateurs mess up: they grip the paddle the same way for every shot.

• Soft shots like dinks and drops need a loose grip, around a 3 out of 10 pressure
• Hard shots need a tighter grip

The reason is physics. A loose grip lets the ball absorb into your paddle like a sponge, keeping it low and controlled. A tight grip has no flex, so the ball pops off. Same swing, different grip, completely different result.

It's a small adjustment that changes everything.

3. The Two-Step Zone Is Your Secret Weapon

When your partner's hitting a drop shot, don't just stand there watching. The moment you see the ball heading their way, take two steps forward and keep your eyes on how they hit it.

• If the drop is good, you've got a head start to crash the net and apply pressure
• If it's bad and floats high, you're only two steps in, so you can retreat and get ready to defend

Most players sprint all the way to the net without knowing if the drop is good or bad, which leaves them vulnerable. Two steps. That's all you need to stay in control.

4. Dead Dinks Aren't a Mystery

When your opponent has a dead dink sitting in front of them with no pace or spin, they're going to speed it up. The question is where.

This simple positioning move means you only have to cover your body, not the entire court. Your partner can cover the middle, and suddenly the angles work in your favor. It's next-level stuff that looks simple once you know it.

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When you're lining up to drive the ball, your first step should be forward into the ball, not backward.

This one adjustment also explains why some players struggle to get to the kitchen line quickly.

• If you're hitting off your back foot, you're starting from deep in the court
• If you're hitting off your front foot, you're already inside

That's the difference between being ready to rock at the net and scrambling to catch up.

6. The Backhand Flick Positioning Trick

This one comes straight from Eric Oncins, a top 10 PPA player, and it's a game-changer.

If you're stuck hitting your backhand flick only crosscourt, your court positioning is wrong.

When you're planted in one spot, your natural swing path is limited. But if you take one step to the side, suddenly you can flick down the line, through the middle, or crosscourt. It opens up the entire court.

One step changes everything.

These aren't gimmicks or tricks that only work in practice.

They're strategies that top players use in every match because they work. The beauty of them is that they're not complicated. They're just small adjustments to positioning, grip, and footwork that compound into better play. Start with one, nail it, then add another. Before long, you'll be playing like you've got secrets too.