If you have spent most of your pickleball time playing doubles, stepping onto a singles court can feel like an entirely different sport. And in many ways, it is. There is no partner to cover the other half of the court, no one to communicate with, and no one to bail you out when you are caught out of position. Every point is on you -- your fitness, your shot selection, your mental discipline.
Singles pickleball rewards a different skill set than doubles. Where doubles is about teamwork, dinking patience, and kitchen-line positioning, singles is about court coverage, deep consistent serving, and knowing exactly when to attack. The players who thrive in singles tend to be athletic, strategic, and extremely efficient with their movement. The good news is that all of these qualities can be developed with practice and a clear understanding of what singles demands.
This guide covers everything you need to know to play smarter and win more in pickleball singles -- from serving tactics and court positioning to shot selection, conditioning, and the mental game. Whether you are trying singles for the first time or looking to sharpen your one-on-one play, these strategies will give you a clear framework for improvement. If you are still getting familiar with the basics, start with our guide on how to play pickleball and the full rules guide before diving in here.
How Singles Scoring Works
Before getting into strategy, it is worth understanding how singles scoring differs from doubles. In doubles, the score has three numbers -- the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the server number (1 or 2). In singles, there are only two numbers because there is only one server per side. You serve until you lose a rally, then the serve passes to your opponent. Points can only be scored by the serving side.
The serving position is determined by your score. When your score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, etc.), you serve from the right side of the court. When your score is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, etc.), you serve from the left side. This is different from doubles, where the server's position depends on both the score and the server number. For a complete breakdown of how scoring works in both formats, check out our scoring guide.
Understanding which side you serve from matters for strategy. If you know your opponent has a weaker backhand, you can anticipate serving from the side that lets you target it most effectively.
Serving Strategy for Singles
The serve in singles carries more strategic weight than in doubles. In doubles, the receiving team has two players -- the returner and a partner who is already at the kitchen line. In singles, the receiver is alone, and a well-placed serve can immediately put them on their heels.
Serve deep, every time. Depth is the most important quality of a singles serve. A serve that lands within two feet of the baseline pins your opponent back and limits their return options. A short serve gives the receiver an easy ball and lets them step inside the court to take control of positioning early. Make depth your non-negotiable baseline for every serve. For a detailed breakdown of serve mechanics and rules, see our serve rules guide.
Target the backhand. Most recreational and intermediate players have a weaker backhand return. In singles, there is no partner to cover for that weakness. Serving consistently to the backhand -- especially deep to the backhand corner -- forces your opponent to hit a more difficult return, which often results in a shorter ball you can attack.
Serve down the center. A centerline serve reduces the angles your opponent can create on the return. When the return comes back from the middle of the court, you do not have to cover as much ground to reach it. This is especially valuable in singles, where every step you save matters.
Pull your opponent wide occasionally. Once you have established a deep, center-heavy serve pattern, mix in a wide serve to the sideline. This drags the receiver off the court and opens up the entire opposite side for your next shot. Use it as a surprise, not a default -- wide serves give your opponent an angle to hit a sharp cross-court return that can pull you out of position.
Use spin to keep the receiver uncomfortable. A serve with topspin kicks forward and pushes the receiver back. A slice serve stays low and can skid, making clean contact difficult. Alternating between the two keeps your opponent from settling into a rhythm.
Court Positioning: The Singles Centerline Rule
In doubles, positioning is about moving as a unit with your partner and getting to the kitchen line. In singles, positioning revolves around one principle: recover to the center after every shot.
The center of the baseline is your home base. After every shot you hit, your goal is to get back to the middle of the court as quickly as possible. From the center, you can cover a shot to either corner with roughly equal effort. If you drift too far to one side and your opponent hits behind you, you are in serious trouble with no partner to help.
After serving, recover to the center. As soon as you serve, move toward the middle of the baseline. Do not stand and admire your serve -- get moving immediately. The return is coming, and you need to be in the best possible position to handle it.
After every groundstroke, recover. This is the pattern that defines singles movement: hit, recover, hit, recover. Every ball you hit should be followed by quick footwork back to the center. This is physically demanding, which is why fitness matters so much in singles.
Cheat toward the open court. If you hit a shot to your opponent's right side, shade slightly to the left of center as you recover, because the most likely return goes cross-court. You are not abandoning the other side entirely -- you are playing the percentages. If your opponent hits behind you down the line, that is a lower-percentage shot and they will miss it more often than they make it.
When to Approach the Net vs Stay Back
One of the biggest strategic decisions in singles is whether to come to the net or stay at the baseline. Unlike doubles, where both teams fight to get to the kitchen line, singles allows for more baseline play. The court is smaller in singles (you use the same court but only the singles sidelines), and one player cannot cover the entire net as effectively as two.
Approach the net on short balls. When your opponent hits a return that lands near or inside the service line, that is your signal to move forward. Step into the ball, hit a deep approach shot, and close in on the kitchen line. A short ball that you let bounce and hit from the baseline is a wasted opportunity.
Hit your approach shot deep and to a corner. The purpose of the approach shot is to put your opponent in a defensive position while you take the net. A deep shot to a corner limits their passing angle and forces a difficult reply. If your approach shot is short or down the middle, your opponent has too many options and you are exposed at the net.
Stay back when rallying from the baseline. If both you and your opponent are hitting deep, consistent groundstrokes, there is no reason to rush the net. Wait for a short ball or an opportunity to hit an aggressive shot that earns you the right to come forward. Approaching the net on a neutral rally is a gamble that better opponents will punish with passing shots or lobs.
Be ready for the lob. When you are at the net in singles, the lob is your opponent's best friend. Stay balanced on the balls of your feet and be prepared to turn and sprint back if you see a high ball coming. Do not lean too far forward over the kitchen line. A split step as your opponent makes contact gives you the best chance to react to either a passing shot or a lob.
Use the kitchen line selectively. In doubles, the kitchen line is home base. In singles, it is more of a visiting position. Come to the net when you have earned it with a strong approach shot, win the point quickly, and be prepared to retreat if needed. Extended dinking rallies at the kitchen line are less common in singles because one player cannot cover the net as effectively.
Shot Selection: Playing the Percentages
Smart shot selection wins more singles matches than raw power. Every shot you hit should have a purpose -- either to create an advantage for yourself or to take away an option from your opponent.
Cross-court is the high-percentage rally shot. The cross-court shot travels over the lower part of the net and covers more distance, giving you a wider margin for error. In baseline rallies, defaulting to deep cross-court shots keeps you in the point and forces your opponent to move. Down-the-line shots are riskier because the net is higher at the sideline and the margin is tighter, but they are essential when your opponent is pulled wide and you want to hit behind them.
Hit deep. Depth is as important in rallies as it is on the serve. A groundstroke that lands near the baseline keeps your opponent pinned back and defensive. A ball that lands short in the court gives them the opportunity to step in and attack or approach the net. When in doubt, add depth.
Move your opponent side to side. The most effective singles strategy is to hit to one corner, then hit to the other. Make your opponent run. Every extra step they take is energy spent, and eventually they will be out of position or too tired to reach the ball. Angles are your best weapon -- not power.
Use drop shots sparingly but strategically. A drop shot -- a soft ball that barely clears the net and dies in the kitchen -- can be devastating in singles, especially against an opponent who stays camped at the baseline. But it is a high-risk shot. If it does not land short enough, your opponent will run it down and pass you. Use it when your opponent is deep behind the baseline and not expecting it. One or two well-timed drop shots per game can keep your opponent from settling into a comfortable position.
Overhead smashes should be put away. When your opponent throws up a lob that does not push you all the way back, put it away. Do not try to be cute with placement -- hit it with authority toward the open court. A weak overhead gives your opponent time to recover. In singles, you earn overheads less frequently than in doubles, so capitalize when you get them.
Fitness and Conditioning for Singles
There is no getting around it -- singles pickleball is physically demanding. You are covering the entire court by yourself, and rallies can be long. Players who are fitter simply win more in singles. You do not need to be an elite athlete, but investing in your conditioning will pay immediate dividends.
Lateral quickness matters most. Singles is a side-to-side game. The ability to push off and move laterally to cover both corners is more important than straight-line speed. Lateral shuffle drills, side-to-side cone drills, and defensive slide exercises all build the movement patterns you need on court.
Build your cardiovascular endurance. Singles matches can last 30 to 45 minutes or longer, and the points are more physically taxing than doubles because you are moving on every ball. Steady-state cardio like jogging or cycling builds your aerobic base, while interval training -- short bursts of high effort followed by brief rest -- mimics the start-and-stop nature of pickleball points.
Strengthen your legs and core. Your legs power your movement and your core stabilizes every shot. Squats, lunges, and calf raises build the leg strength you need to change direction quickly. Planks, Russian twists, and rotational exercises strengthen the core muscles that transfer power from your lower body to your paddle.
Warm up before playing. A proper warm-up is more important in singles than doubles because of the physical demands. Five to ten minutes of light jogging, dynamic stretching, and practice swings prepare your muscles and joints for the movement patterns ahead. Skipping the warm-up increases your risk of strains and pulls, especially in the legs and shoulders.
Stay hydrated. This sounds basic, but dehydration degrades your performance faster than almost anything else. Drink water before, during, and after play. In hot conditions or long matches, consider an electrolyte drink to replace what you lose through sweat.
Common Singles Mistakes
Avoiding these common errors will immediately make you a more competitive singles player.
Standing still after hitting. The biggest mistake in singles is hitting a shot and watching it instead of recovering to the center. Every moment you stand still is a moment your opponent can exploit by hitting to the open court. Hit and move -- always.
Going for winners too early. Recreational players often try to end the point on the first or second shot of a rally. In singles, patience wins. Work the point by moving your opponent around, wait for a short ball or a weak reply, and then attack. Trying to hit winners from the baseline against a well-positioned opponent leads to unforced errors.
Neglecting the backhand. If your backhand is significantly weaker than your forehand, better opponents will exploit it relentlessly. In doubles, you can sometimes position around a weak backhand. In singles, you cannot hide. Spend dedicated practice time on your backhand groundstroke so it becomes a reliable shot, not a liability.
Serving short. A short serve in singles is a bigger problem than in doubles because the receiver can step into the court, take control of the rally immediately, and you are on the defensive from the start. Make every serve deep. If you are faulting too often trying to serve deep, dial back the power slightly and focus on placement and consistency.
Poor net approaches. Coming to the net on a neutral ball -- one that lands deep and gives your opponent plenty of time and options -- is a recipe for getting passed. Only approach on short balls, and make sure your approach shot is deep and angled. A lazy approach shot to the middle of the court invites a passing shot.
Ignoring conditioning. Players who get tired in the third game lose matches they should win. If you are serious about singles, invest in your fitness. Even adding two or three cardio sessions per week will make a noticeable difference in how you feel and perform in the later stages of a match.
The Mental Game of Singles
Singles is a mental battle as much as a physical one. There is no partner to lean on, no one to pick you up after a bad point. Your mindset determines how you handle adversity, momentum swings, and pressure situations.
Play one point at a time. This is the oldest advice in racket sports and also the most important. Do not think about the score, the last point you lost, or what will happen if you lose the next one. Focus entirely on the point in front of you. What is your serve target? What is your positioning? Where are you hitting the ball?
Control the pace of play. Between points, take your time. Walk to your position, take a breath, and decide on your serving strategy before you rush into the next rally. Rushing between points leads to sloppy decision-making and compounds frustration after errors.
Have a game plan but be willing to adjust. Go into every match with a general strategy -- serve deep to the backhand, rally cross-court, approach on short balls. But pay attention to what is actually working. If your opponent handles your backhand serve well, switch to the forehand side. If they struggle with pace, add more speed to your shots. Adaptability is the hallmark of a smart singles player.
Ready to put these strategies into practice? Find courts near you and start working on your singles game today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is singles pickleball played on a different court than doubles?
Singles and doubles are played on the same court. The dimensions do not change. However, in singles you are responsible for covering the entire court by yourself, which makes positioning and conditioning far more important. Some recreational players choose to play "skinny singles" using only half the court as a way to practice singles strategy with less ground to cover.
How is singles scoring different from doubles scoring?
In doubles, the score has three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the server number (1 or 2). In singles, there are only two numbers because there is one server per side. You serve from the right when your score is even and from the left when your score is odd. Only the serving player can score points.
Should I try to get to the kitchen line in singles like I do in doubles?
Not as a default strategy. In doubles, getting to the kitchen line is the primary objective because two players can cover the net effectively. In singles, one player cannot cover the entire net, making you vulnerable to passing shots and lobs. Approach the net when you earn it with a strong approach shot on a short ball, but expect to spend more time at the baseline than you would in doubles.
What is the most important physical attribute for singles pickleball?
Lateral quickness -- the ability to move side to side and change direction quickly. Singles is a game of angles and court coverage. The player who can reach more balls and recover to the center fastest has a significant advantage. Cardiovascular endurance is a close second, especially in long matches or tournaments where you play multiple games in a day.
How do I beat a player who is faster than me in singles?
Use shot placement and variety to neutralize their speed. Hit deep to both corners to keep them behind the baseline, mix in drop shots to bring them forward unexpectedly, and vary your pace to disrupt their rhythm. Avoid hitting to the middle of the court, where a fast player can easily reach everything. Make them change direction as often as possible -- even fast players are vulnerable when they are constantly stopping and starting.
Can I use the same strategies in singles that work in doubles?
Some fundamentals transfer -- serving deep, hitting to weaknesses, and being patient with shot selection. But the overall approach is quite different. In doubles, the game revolves around the kitchen line, dinking, and teamwork. In singles, the game revolves around baseline rallies, court coverage, and earning the right to approach the net. Players who try to play singles exactly like doubles often struggle because they come to the net too aggressively or rely too heavily on soft dinking patterns that leave them exposed without a partner covering the other side.
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