How to Set Realistic, Achievable Pickleball Goals

Your pickleball future isn't decided by how much you play. It's decided by how well your body holds up. Build a schedule you can live with, not one that destroys you.

Every January, the pickleball world fills with resolutions. Players promise themselves they'll train harder, play more, and finally get serious about their fitness. By February, most of those promises are forgotten.

Connor Derrickson, founder of That Pickleball Trainer, has seen this cycle repeat countless times, and he's offering a different approach:

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Start With Your Real Outcome

Most pickleball players don't actually want to work out more. They want to move faster on the court, finish matches without feeling exhausted, win against opponents they've been losing to, and play pain-free.

Derrickson emphasizes that fitness and nutrition aren't the goal; they're the tools to reach your actual goal.

Before diving into 2026, ask yourself this: if the year goes perfectly, how do you want to feel and perform on the court? Write it down. Be specific. This clarity becomes your north star for every decision you make about training and nutrition.

Build Goals That Last

Here's the truth that most players ignore: you don't need to train harder. You need to train smarter and more consistently. The players who improve and stick around are the ones who protect their bodies off the court, not the ones grinding seven days a week.

Derrickson recommends building a sustainable plan around these elements:

• Strength training two to three days a week to help your body tolerate the demands of pickleball
• Mobility work that keeps your hips, knees, low back, and elbows healthy
• Conditioning that lets you recover between points and matches
• Nutrition habits that support energy, recovery, and body composition

The key word here is sustainable. It's not about crushing yourself for 30 days. It's about choosing a plan that fits your life and sticking with it for the entire year.

Three Standards, Not Ten Goals

Instead of setting ten different goals, pick three standards you can live by in 2026. Make them clear, actionable, and simple. Derrickson offers these examples:

• I strength train enough to support my pickleball, not sabotage it
• I fuel my body so energy and recovery are never the limiting factors
• I don't wait for pain or injury to take my health seriously

Once you have your standards, every decision becomes easier.

• If something supports your standards, you do it
• If it doesn't, you don't

This clarity on your "yes" makes your "no" automatic.

Your Body's Durability Matters More Than Your Play Time

Derrickson has noticed a pattern in 2025: players who've been grinding five days a week without any off-court training have plateaued.

Their bodies start breaking down. They develop nagging injuries. Eventually, they drop from five days a week to three, not because they want to, but because their bodies force them to.

Your pickleball future isn't decided by how much you play. It's decided by how well your body holds up. Build a schedule you can live with, not one that destroys you.

Make It Intentional, Not Perfect

2026 doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be intentional.

Take ten minutes today and write down three things:

1. How you want to perform
2. The standards you'll live by
3. The specific habits that make those standards real

Maybe that's strength training for 30 minutes three times a week and drilling or playing three times a week. Maybe it's something different. The point is clarity and commitment.

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