Pickleball IQ: Developing Better Court Awareness (Especially in the Transition Zone)
One of the most overlooked skills in pickleball isn’t your serve, third shot, or even your dinking—it’s court awareness. Knowing where you are on the court directly impacts your shot selection, balance, and control. Too many players lose points not because of poor mechanics, but because they simply weren’t in the right place. Court awareness isn't something that clicks overnight—it’s a habit you build until it becomes instinct.
A common bad habit for rec players is lingering in the middle of the court. They field balls there, then freeze like a deer in headlights instead of repositioning and working their way to the kitchen. Once you’ve hit your shot, you need to move with purpose. Court awareness means understanding where the next ball is likely to go and getting there early—or backing up to give yourself more time to handle a deeper shot.
You need time and space to set up defensively in midcourt. Keep your paddle out in front of you, stay low and ready, and anticipate the attack. The net team will try to hit at your feet or behind you, and there’s no time to bend once your opponent hits the ball. You have to be ready before they even make contact—there’s not much room for error in this game.
Too often, players don’t realize how deep or shallow they are. On returns, they creep in too early and get jammed on a fast serve. Others hang back too far and give up valuable court position. Train yourself to feel where you are on the court. I often see serving teams think they're behind the baseline ready for the third shot, but they’ve actually crept forward—forcing an awkward contact point and popping the ball up. Small steps can be the difference between hitting a clean shot in front of your body and floating an easy put-away to your opponent.
The transition zone—that tricky space between the baseline and the kitchen—is where court awareness pays off most. Don’t relax there. Move forward with intention: balanced, paddle in front, body low like you’re in a volleyball defensive stance. Be ready for anything. If your partner moves up, move with them. If they’re pinned back, hold your ground until it’s safe to advance. That kind of synchronization is what separates organized teams from those that feel scattered. Communicate constantly—”let’s go” or “stay back” can save a point.
Good court awareness isn’t just about where you are—it’s about where the ball and your opponents are, too. Notice patterns—do they favor the middle? Aim behind you? Drive at your right shoulder? Reading these cues helps you stay a step ahead instead of being reactive.
The takeaway: court awareness ties together your mechanics, strategy, and teamwork. When you start paying attention to your positioning, spacing, and transitions, your decisions get sharper and your results improve—without changing a single shot.
About the Author: Gina Cilento is a top 10 Senior Pro and multi-APP medalist who splits her time between competing and coaching. She’s the co-founder of The Pickleball Lab, a pod player for the Denver Iconics in the National Pickleball League, and co-host of Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil. Off the court, Gina shares her passion through her apparel line, The Pick, and her work with Empower Pickleball.
