If you’ve caught the pickleball bug, you’re not alone—and at Voxl Pickleball, we’re here to help you take the next step in your pickleball journey. Once the rules make sense, your serves are landing, and you’re having longer rallies, it’s time to level up. But how exactly do you go from a beginner just learning the ropes to an intermediate player who holds their own in competitive games?
That’s what we’re diving into today. We’ll break down the essential skills, habits, and mindset shifts needed to transition from novice to intermediate. We’ll cover everything from footwork and shot selection to game strategy and court awareness. Whether you're chasing consistency, craving confidence, or simply aiming to win a few more points, this guide is built to help you get there—step by step.
Let’s get into it.
Recognizing When You’re Ready to Level Up
Before we talk about how to become an intermediate player, let’s clarify when you're ready.
Many players get stuck in the beginner zone not because they lack potential, but because they’re unsure when to push themselves. So how do you know it’s time to take the leap?
Here are a few signs:
- You consistently get your serves and returns in.
- You’re starting to understand shot placement (not just power).
- You can keep up in rallies but struggle to finish points or control tempo.
- You’re craving more structure, competition, and strategy in your games.
If this sounds like you, you’re standing at the threshold between levels—and now is the perfect time to focus on skill development, smarter play, and intentional practice.
Looking for a beginner-friendly starting point? Dive into How to Get Started in Pickleball: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide for everything you need to know.
Mastering the Fundamentals (For Real This Time)
It’s tempting to chase flashy shots, but the leap to intermediate play starts with mastery of the basics. Many of the most common mistakes at this level come from rushed footwork, inconsistent mechanics, or underestimating the importance of placement.
Focus on:
- Reliable serves and returns: Serve deep with consistency and return with depth to keep opponents back.
- Controlled dinks: Learn to soften your hands and keep the ball low at the kitchen line.
- Third shot drop or drive: Develop a go-to third shot you can trust—either a drop to slow down the pace or a drive that applies pressure.
Here’s the truth: intermediate players aren’t necessarily doing more, they’re just doing the fundamentals better and more often. The cleaner your basics, the faster your game evolves.
Brushing up on the fundamentals? The Basic Rules of Pickleball: A Comprehensive Guide covers everything you need to play with confidence.
Court Positioning: Learning to Move with Purpose
As beginners, we often react late or get caught out of position because we’re too focused on the ball. To move into intermediate territory, court awareness becomes key. It’s not just where you are—it’s why you’re there.
Learn to:
- Transition from baseline to kitchen line after serving or returning.
- Stay linked with your partner when moving side to side.
- Cover your middle, especially during fast hands battles.
- Avoid hanging back near the transition zone (aka “no man’s land”) longer than necessary.
Picture this: you hit a return, then sprint to the kitchen with control. You reset your paddle, stay low, and get into position with your partner. Now you’re dictating pace—not just reacting.
That’s the difference between a novice and an intermediate player.
Developing a Smarter Shot Selection
Intermediate players aren’t just hitting the ball—they’re choosing the right shots for the moment.
It’s time to stop swinging wildly and start asking: “What’s the highest-percentage shot here?” That means:
- Aiming for open space, not just the person in front of you.
- Mixing in dinks, drops, and lobs to disrupt your opponent’s rhythm.
- Attacking with intent, not just speed.
Let’s say your opponent pops up a dink—an intermediate player knows to speed it up only if the ball is high enough. If it’s low, you resist the urge to smash and reset instead. That patience? That’s what elevates your game.
Sharpening Your Mental Game
As your skills grow, the mental side of pickleball becomes more important. Intermediate matches often come down to decision-making, emotional control, and the ability to bounce back from mistakes.
To build mental toughness:
- Stay positive after errors. Learn from them, then move on.
- Focus on the next point, not the last one.
- Breathe between rallies to reset your energy and focus.
- Use time-outs wisely to break an opponent’s momentum or regroup with your partner.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s poise under pressure. And the best part? Mental strength can give you an edge, even when you're up against players with more experience or firepower.
Playing with Better Players (Even If It’s Intimidating)
This might be the most transformative tip in your progression: Play up.
Find opportunities to play with more advanced players. At first, you might feel outmatched—and that’s okay. You’ll start seeing the game played at a higher level, and that exposure alone will elevate your instincts, reactions, and decision-making.
Here’s what happens when you play up:
- You see smarter shot selections in real time.
- You get punished for lazy shots, which helps you clean up your game.
- You learn what it takes to stay in points longer.
Of course, balance is important. Mix in games at your current level to reinforce skills, but don’t shy away from the challenge of tougher matches. That’s how growth happens.
Drilling with Purpose (Not Just Playing Games)
A major shift between novice and intermediate players is practice with intention. Playing games is fun and necessary—but drilling is where real progress happens.
Pick 1–2 focus areas each week and work on them with a partner. For example:
- Dink crosscourt for 5 minutes each side.
- Practice third shot drops and resets.
- Run serve + return patterns to improve rhythm.
The key is repetition and muscle memory. When you isolate and repeat specific movements, they become second nature—freeing you up to focus on strategy during live play.
We’ve found that even 15–20 minutes of drilling before games can significantly improve consistency and confidence.
Want to get more out of your practice sessions? The right paddle, balls, and setup can make a big difference. Take a look at What Gear Do You Really Need to Start Playing Pickleball? to make sure you're training with the tools that support your progress.
Learning to Communicate and Work with a Partner
Doubles is the dominant format in pickleball, and success often comes down to chemistry and communication with your partner.
As an intermediate player, make it a habit to:
- Call shots clearly (e.g., “Mine!” “Yours!” “Out!”).
- Shift with your partner during side-to-side movement.
- Stay in sync during transitions from the baseline to the kitchen.
- Encourage each other after tough points.
Great partnerships don’t always mean winning—it means supporting each other, adjusting together, and playing with trust. If you're switching partners often during open play, even basic communication skills will set you apart.
Watching, Studying, and Learning Outside the Court
Improvement doesn’t have to stop once you leave the court.
Watching matches—whether professional tournaments or high-level local games—can be incredibly educational. Pay attention to:
- How players construct points.
- When they speed up and slow down the ball.
- How they transition and hold court position.
- The way they communicate with partners.
YouTube is packed with instructional videos and match footage that can help you visualize strategies and techniques you’re trying to learn. Take notes, try new things, and keep evolving your understanding of the game.
Building Confidence Through Consistency
The final piece of the puzzle? Belief in your game.
Becoming an intermediate player isn’t just about your skills—it’s about your mindset. Show up consistently. Embrace feedback. Stay humble, but trust your growth. Confidence doesn’t mean thinking you’re better than others—it means knowing you’re better than you used to be.
Celebrate the small wins:
- That rally you reset instead of speeding up.
- That drop shot that finally landed just right.
- That match where you stayed calm under pressure.
Every game is another brick in the foundation. Keep stacking them.
Ready to Elevate Your Game?
Transitioning from novice to intermediate doesn’t happen overnight—but with the right mindset, consistent practice, and a commitment to the fundamentals, your progress will speak for itself. At Voxl Pickleball, we’re proud to support players at every stage of their journey. Whether you’re perfecting your third shot drop, fine-tuning your footwork, or mastering the mental game, we’re here with gear that helps you play your best.
Explore the full collection and take your game to the next level at Voxl Pickleball—where performance meets passion.
Related Questions
What’s the difference between a novice and an intermediate pickleball player?
A novice is still developing consistency in basic shots and court positioning. An intermediate player can sustain rallies, control shot placement, and understands strategic movement with a partner.
How long does it take to become an intermediate player?
It depends on how often you play and how intentionally you practice. With regular games and focused drilling, many players make the jump in 3–6 months.
Do I need a coach or lessons to reach the intermediate level?
Not necessarily, but coaching can speed up your progress by identifying weaknesses and reinforcing good habits. Group clinics and occasional lessons are great tools.
Should I focus more on singles or doubles as I improve?
Most players focus on doubles since it’s more common and social. However, playing singles can improve footwork, endurance, and shot-making skills that transfer well to doubles.