Third Shot Drop – No Forehand in the Middle animated strategy diagram Moving in the Transition Zone animated strategy diagram

Pickleball Strategy – 3.5+ Player Guide

Master the Strategy. Reach the 3.5+ Level.

Feel like your game has stalled? Drills, practice, and lessons improve your strokes. Good mechanics are important, but they will only take you so far as the competition gets stronger. Understanding strategy, including court positioning, shot selection, and how to read your opponents and the court, is what helps players reach the next level. This new app includes over 100 visual strategy scenarios with animated court diagrams and detailed explanations to help you improve your positioning, shot selection, and decision-making so you can play more strategically and reach the next level.

  • 100+ interactive strategy scenarios
  • Animated court diagrams with detailed explanations
  • Progress tracking to build your game one concept at a time

Download the fully functional app and explore 25 strategy scenarios and articles for free.

Unlock the complete strategy library with a one-time $9.99 in-app purchase. No subscription.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

See the App in Action

A pickleball strategy app for real-match decisions

Pickleball35 was created to help aspiring players reach and exceed the 3.5 level by playing more strategically.

Pickleball rewards smart decisions as much as athletic ability. The Pickleball Strategy App helps players improve court positioning, shot selection, partner communication, and rally decision-making through realistic, scenario-based learning and animated court diagrams.

Rather than focusing on isolated tips or stroke instruction, the app teaches how rallies develop and how stronger players think through common situations on the court.

Inside the App

  • 20+ strategy modules covering key phases of doubles play
  • 106 strategy scenarios and 8 strategy articles
  • 25 strategy scenarios and articles available free after download
  • Animated court diagrams that simplify positioning and decision-making
  • Progress tracking to help organize concepts you want to apply in matches

Learn by Section or Scenario

Strategy is organized the way a rally unfolds — serve, return, third shot, transition zone, dinking, and mental game — so you can focus on the part of your game that needs attention.

Jump into a full section, browse by scenario, or use the app as a quick reference when a specific court situation comes up.

Explore the Complete App Contents

Browse every strategy section, module, scenario, and strategy article included in the Pickleball35 app.

  • Serve

    • Serve FundamentalsBasic (2.0-3.0)
      • Safe Deep Serve
      • Deep Serve Causes a Short Return
      • Serve Mistake: Excessive Power
      • Serve Mistake: Short Surprise Serve
      • Serve Mistake: Targeting the Lines
      • Vary Your Serve to Reduce Predictability
    • Serve PositioningBasic (2.0-3.0)
      • Offense Mistake: Partner Steps In
      • Defense Setup: Starting Positions
      • Defense Mistake: Returner Too Far Forward
      • Defense Mistake: Not at the kitchen Line
    • Advanced ServesAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Serve Targeting
      • Spin Serves
      • Spin Serve Technique
      • The Lob Serve
    • StackingAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Serve Stacking: Overview
      • Serve Stacking: Setup
      • Serve Stacking: Movement
      • Defensive Stacking: Overview
      • Defensive Stacking: Setup
      • Defensive Stacking: Movement

  • Serve Return

    • Serve Return Fundamentals: Positioning and MovementBasic (2.0-3.0)
      • Serve Return: Focus on Your Early Advantage
      • Return Pre-Shot Thoughts
      • Hitting the Return
      • Serve Return Common Mistakes
      • Advancing After the Return
      • Defensive Mistake: Freezing After the Return
    • Serve Return Fundamentals: Handling SpinBasic (2.0-3.0)
      • Returning a Topspin Serve
      • Returning a Backspin Serve
      • Handling Spin on the Serve Return
    • Serve Return Targeting & SpinAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Two Right-Handed Opponents
      • Right-Handed Pair – Server on the Opposite Side
      • Mixed Pair – Two Backhands in the Middle
      • Left-Handed Server with Right-Handed Partner
      • Return Against Stacking – Right Handed Serving
      • Return Against Stacking – Left Hand Serving
      • Using Spin on the Serve Return

  • Third Shot

    • Third Shot CommunicationBasic (2.0-3.0)
      • Third Shot Setup – Recognizing the Decision Moment
      • Third Shot Communication – Call the Shot Clearly
      • Forehand in the Middle – Stepping In to Take the Third Shot
      • Respect the X – Maintaining Natural Court Responsibility
    • Third Shot Basics – Drop, Drive, or LobBasic (2.0–3.0)
      • Third Shot Options
      • Third Shot Drive – Best Time to Use
      • Third Shot Drop – Best Option Against Set Opponents
      • Third Shot Drop – Target the Middle
      • Third Shot Drop – Advance to the kitchen
      • Third Shot Lob – Push Opponents Off the Kitchen
      • Third Shot Lob – Advance After a Successful Lob
    • Third Shot Drive -AdvancedAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Shake and Bake
      • Drive and Reset
      • Pinching the Middle
      • Blocking a Third Shot Drive
    • Third Shot Drop -AdvancedAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Third Shot Drop – Target the Backhand Foot
      • Third Shot Drop – Target the Player in Front of Your Partner
      • Third Shot Drop – When Both Forehands Are in the Middle
      • Third Shot Drop – No Forehand in the Middle
      • The 5th and 7th Shot Drop
      • Moving in the Transition Zone
      • Third Shot Drop – Move Forward Together
      • Third Shot Drop Success – Put Away a Popup
      • Third Shot Drop Mistake – Rushing In
      • Third Shot Drop Mistake – Drawing Opponent Forward
    • Drop Shot DefenseAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Drop Shot Defense - Volley
      • Drop Shot Defense - Volley Decisions
      • Drop Shot Defense - Dink
      • Drop Shot Defensive Mistake - Backing Up
      • Reset Shot
    • PoachingAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Poaching the Third Shot
      • Poach and Switch
      • Poach Mistake: Moving Too Early
    • Overhead SmashAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Smash Basics
      • Angle Smash
      • Lob Switch

  • Dinking

    • Dinking FundamentalsBasic (2.0–3.0)
      • Dinking Overview
      • Dinking Footwork and Tethering
      • Cross-Court Dink
      • Forward Dink
      • Attacking an Attackable Dink
    • Common Dinking MistakesBasic (2.0–3.0)
      • Dinking Mistake – Lack of Patience
      • Dinking Mistake – Broken Tether
      • Dinking Mistake – Caught in the Kitchen
    • Advanced DinkingAdvanced (3.5+)
      • Volley Dink
      • Put Away and Dink Fake
      • Dink Fake Lob
      • Around the Post (ATP)
      • Erne

  • Mental Game

    • PatienceAll Levels
      • Rushing to End the Point
      • Staying Calm as Opponents Advance
      • Embracing the Soft Game
      • Trusting Your Partner
      • Staying Composed Through Difficult Moments
    • ResilienceAll Levels
      • Recovering After a Mistake
      • Responding to Momentum Changes
      • Competing When the Score Is Against You
      • Staying Composed Under Pressure
      • Learning From Difficult Matches
    • Partner EtiquetteAll Levels
      • Starting the Game
      • Encouragement and Communication
      • Helping with Calls
      • Keeping the Energy Positive
      • Sharing the Middle
      • Offering Feedback
    • Opponent EtiquetteAll Levels
      • Starting the Game
      • Serving and Readiness
      • Recognizing Good Play
      • Line Calls and Ball Handling
      • Ending the Game

  • Strategy Articles

    • 3.5 Level – How to Know if You’re There
    • The Genius Behind Pickleball – How the Rules Shape the Strategy
    • From Tennis to Pickleball
    • The Third Shot Drop – Don’t Give Up
    • Winning the Transition Zone: Why One Drop Shot Is Often Not Enough
    • Seeing the Court as a 3.5 Player
    • The Power Player Challenge
    • Footwork – The Split Step

Track Your Progress

A simple scenario status system helps turn reading into action by organizing situations you want to review, practice, or make part of your game.

I need to review thisUnderstood, revisit later
I want to work on thisActively practicing it
Part of my gameSomething you use consistently

Explore the Strategy Library

Browse more than 100 pickleball strategy scenarios covering every phase of the game. Most feature strategy diagrams and connect back to the same complete strategy framework used in the app and book.

Explore the Strategy Library →
Pickleball Strategy – A Guide to 3.5 and Beyond book cover

Prefer a Printed Reference?

The book is the complete 300+ page pickleball strategy reference built from the same strategy framework.

View the Book →
Payton Bond, author and creator of Pickleball35

Developed by Payton Bond

Developed by Payton Bond, author of Pickleball Strategy – A Guide to 3.5 and Beyond and a regular contributor to The Kitchen (thekitchenpickle.com), where he writes about strategy, positioning, shot selection, and match decision-making.

Download the Pickleball Strategy App

Download Free • 25 scenarios and articles included • One-time $9.99 unlocks the complete library • No subscription

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play