Master the Kitchen: 5 Secrets to Soft-Game Dominance

🎾 Master the Kitchen: 5 Secrets to Soft-Game Dominance

If you want to win more rallies without breaking a sweat, start by mastering the soft game. Power is fun, but finesse wins. The kitchen — also called the non-volley zone — is where matches are won and lost. Here are five ways to take control and frustrate your opponents in the best way possible.

1. Win with Patience, Not Power

Everyone loves a big drive, but great players win by waiting for the right ball. Soft dinks and calm resets force your opponents to rush. The moment they lose patience, you pounce. Think chess, not checkers.

2. Keep Your Paddle Up

It sounds simple, but a low paddle is a lost point waiting to happen. Keep it up and out in front of your body so you’re ready for anything — a dink, a flick, or a surprise speed-up. The higher your paddle, the faster your reactions.

3. Use Your Feet, Not Just Your Hands

Most soft-game mistakes come from lazy footwork. Glide into position with small, balanced steps instead of reaching. A strong base equals soft hands. Try shadowing a few dink exchanges without hitting — just move your feet and feel the rhythm.

4. Learn the Art of the Reset

If you get pulled back to the baseline, don’t panic. Instead of driving the ball back hard, hit a calm, controlled drop that lands softly in the kitchen. That one shot resets the point and gets you back to even. It’s the most underrated skill in pickleball.

5. Be Unpredictable

Vary your pace and placement. Mix in a dink crosscourt, then one middle, then a surprise speed-up. The goal is to make your opponents guess wrong — over and over again.

🎯 The Takeaway

Soft doesn’t mean weak. It means smart, steady, and strategic. When you master the kitchen, you control the flow, the tempo, and your opponent’s emotions.

So next time you step on the court, play calm, stay patient, and make them earn every point.

✅ Ready to level up your soft game?

Join one of my Arroyo Vista clinics or book a private lesson.

🌐 www.TomCostaPickleball.com | 📲 805-587-0004