Why the Soft Game Wins in Pickleball: Drops, Resets & Patience Explained

Learn why mastering the soft game—drops, resets, patience, and dinks—is the key to winning more pickleball points. Improve control, consistency, and strategy with simple techniques anyone can learn.

Keywords:

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Why the Soft Game Wins in Pickleball

Drops, Resets & Patience Explained

The players who win consistently aren’t the ones swinging the hardest — they’re the ones who can slow the game down when things get fast, messy, or chaotic. The soft game is the foundation of high-level pickleball, and it’s what separates “I can hit the ball hard” from “I can actually win points.”

Let’s break down why the soft game matters and how to start mastering it.

1. Drops Neutralize Power Players

Anyone can hit hard.

Not everyone can deal with hard.

A good third-shot drop:

✔ lands softly in the kitchen

✔ forces your opponent to lift

✔ gives you time to move forward

✔ resets the point into a neutral rally

When you drop well, you take away their biggest weapon — speed.

2. Resets Turn Chaos Into Control

A reset is the most underrated skill in pickleball.

When your opponent speeds up or you’re pushed off balance, a reset puts the ball back into the kitchen and puts the rally back on your terms.

Good resets:

• float slightly high

• land softly

• force the opponent to hit up

• give you time to get balanced

A great reset is like hitting the “calm” button.

3. Patience Creates Pressure

Most points at higher levels don’t end with winners — they end with mistakes caused by pressure.

Patience forces errors because opponents get:

• tired

• impatient

• aggressive

• sloppy

The longer you stay calm, the more likely you win the rally.

4. Soft Hands = Better Control Everywhere

Players who master the soft game automatically improve:

• dinks

• blocks

• counters

• resets

• volleys

Touch is the skill that transfers to every part of the game.

5. The Soft Game Creates the Right Attack

Anyone can attack.

But the smartest players attack only when they have:

✔ a high ball

✔ balance

✔ good positioning

✔ a predictable return

Soft game → mistake → clean attack → free point.

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Related Posts

• The Kitchen: Why It Matters & How to Dominate It

• Pickleball Strategy 101: Smart Shot Selection

• Top 7 Beginner Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the soft game in pickleball?

A: It includes drops, resets, and dinks designed to slow the game and force opponents into errors.

Q: Why is the soft game so important?

A: Because it neutralizes power and gets both players up to the kitchen — where 80% of points are won.

Q: How can I improve my soft hands?

A: Do wall drills, dinking warm-ups, and practice absorbing speed instead of adding it.

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Ready to Level Up Your Pickleball Game?

Join a weekly clinic or book a private lesson and learn the soft game the right way.

👉 Visit: www.TomCostaPickleball.com

👉 Text me directly: 805-587-0004

Let’s get your touch dialed in.