How to Become a Better Pickleball Competitor: What Great Players Do Differently

How to Become a Better Pickleball Competitor: What Great Players Do Differently

What separates players who thrive under pressure from those who struggle when the game is on the line?

In pickleball, becoming a better competitor isn’t just about having clean technique or flashy shots—it’s about your ability to perform when it matters most. Whether you’re aiming to improve your tournament results or simply want to hold your own during rec play at your home club, learning how to compete effectively is essential.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes a great competitor—and how you can become one.

The Players Who Perform Best

When we think of elite competitors in pickleball, certain names come to mind. We often associate specific traits or qualities with these players—not just for their tactical and technical skills, but for their ability to consistently perform at a high level under pressure. Here are a few that stand out:

Men:

Ben Johns – Composure

Federico Staksrud – Consistency

Andrei Daescu – Intensity

Christian Alshon – Physicality

JW Johnson – Calmness

Dylan Frazier – Patience

Women:

Anna Leigh Waters – Tenacity

Anna Bright – Energy

Catherine Parenteau – Determination

Rahel Rorabacher – Aggression

Alyce Jones – Grit

Tina Pisnik – Patience

Kate Fahey – Fierceness

These players exhibit key traits that extend beyond tactics and technique. So what exactly goes into becoming a strong competitor?

The Four Performance Factors

To understand what makes someone a great competitor, we need to look at the four core categories of performance that shape a player's overall ability and influence how they compete. Here’s a breakdown of a few key comptencies in each category:

Psychological – Focus (and ability to refocus), self-belief, resilience, determination, emotional control, etc.

Physical – Speed, agility, endurance, explosiveness, coordination, power, etc.

Tactical – Shot selection, game planning, anticipation (tactical and technical), problem-solving ability, game style, etc.

Technical – Biomechanics, adaptability, efficiency, and effectiveness.

These factors are deeply interconnected. For example:

A player might have great technique but get flustered under pressure (psychological), move inefficiently (physical), or make poor decisions (tactical).

On the other hand, a player with unorthodox technique might still win consistently due to their mental toughness, strong movement, and smart decision-making.

The Performer vs. The Player

To compete well, you must be able to execute the right tactics with effective and efficient technique—while managing the physical and psychological demands of competition.

When we evaluate these four performance factors through the lens of competition, it’s the psychological and physical aspects that have the greatest impact on performance. These make up “The Performer” in each of us.

If we lack psychological skills such as focus, emotional control, or determination, it can lead to poor decisions and execution. Similarly, if we aren’t physically prepared for the rigors of competitive play, we’ll struggle to consistently apply the tactics and techniques we’ve trained.

Conversely, “The Player” consists of our tactical and technical skills. These are essential, but without the psychological and physical foundation to support them in a competitive setting, they won’t hold up under pressure.

Many players dominate in casual rec games but underperform in tournament play. This gap often comes down to the psychological and physical demands of true competition. To close it, we must train our minds and bodies for those challenges.

Traits of a Strong Competitor

Great competitors vary in playing style, but they tend to share key habits and characteristics:

1. They Compete Often

Regular competition builds experience and resilience. Each match presents new challenges—and the more you face them, the more adaptable you become.

2. They Embrace the Grind

Top players often compete in 20+ PPA events per year, along with MLP events. Despite this demanding schedule, they give their best effort every time they step on court.

3. They Know Themselves

Elite players have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses across all four performance areas. This self-awareness fuels smarter decision-making.

4. They Solve Problems

Strong competitors can adapt their tactics mid-match—they don’t rely on a single game plan.

5. They Read the Game

They recognize patterns, opponent tendencies, and anticipate developments as the match unfolds.

6. They Deal with the Elements

Wind, court conditions, balls, crowd noise—none of it derails them for long. They adjust and move on.

7. They Manage Momentum

They know how to stop runs, maintain leads, or shift momentum when trailing.

8. They Refocus Quickly

Mistakes and distractions don’t linger. They’ve trained themselves to reset—point by point.

9. They Control Emotions

By staying composed and emotionally balanced, they remain present and effective throughout matches.

10. They Handle Gamesmanship

Trash talk or opponent antics don’t throw them off. Their mindset remains steady.

How to Become a Better Competitor

Now that we’ve covered what makes a great competitor, let’s look at how you can develop those traits.

1. Assess Your Competitive Self

Evaluate your performance in each of the four areas using a tool like the “4 Performance Factors Assessment” (sign up for the Elwood Pickleball Coaching Newsletter for access!).

Be honest—and base your assessment on how you perform during actual competition, not just practice or drills. Pay particular attention to your psychological skills; they’re often the biggest difference-makers when we’re looking to improve performance in competition.

2. Analyze Your Off-Court Habits

Ask yourself:

• Do I arrive prepared and focused? (Arriving early, proper warm-up, nutrition, hydration, equipment readiness)

• How do I respond to adversity—weather, noise, delays?

• What is my emotional baseline during matches?

• Do I reflect and recover post-match? (Stretching, cool-downs, nutrition, analysis)

These behaviors have a direct impact on your performance.

3. Align Your Practice with Competition

Examine your training:

• Do I prepare for practice as seriously as for tournaments?

• Do I simulate pressure (e.g., drills with consequences, competitive games, specific objectives)?

• Do I train decision-making, not just technique?

• Am I practicing with tournament-level intensity?

• Am I building both mental and physical endurance?

Small adjustments in practice can create big results in competition.

4. Set Goals and Analyze Matches

Before each match, set specific goals—psychological, physical, tactical, or technical. Afterward, evaluate your performance based on those goals. This ongoing reflection helps you adapt, learn, and improve.

5. Compete More Often

If you want to become a better competitor, there’s no substitute for experience. The more you compete, the more familiar high-pressure situations become—and the better you’ll handle them. Frequent competition builds confidence, resilience, and composure.

Final Thoughts

Being a great competitor isn’t about perfection—it’s about learning to perform when it matters most. That comes from developing your psychological strength, physical preparedness, tactical awareness, and technical execution.

Want to improve your tournament results, dominate in rec play, or just elevate your game? Start by becoming more complete in all four areas, with an emphasis on psychological development and physical development. Reflect on your training habits, competitive experiences, and the routines that support your performance.

Train to compete. Compete to learn. Learn to compete.

There’s a saying: “Winning is a habit.” I only partially agree. Winning isn’t within our control—but we can maximize our chances by forming great process habits and developing the performance factors that are within our control. Do that consistently, and you’ll find yourself winning more often.