Podcast: Episode 1 – How to Level Up Fast in Pickleball: The First 4 Balls, Grip Secrets & More!

Introduction — What Problem This Episode Solves

Most pickleball players want to improve—but they aren’t sure where to focus. With so many opinions online, it’s easy to waste time on drills or strategy tips that don’t meaningfully change your results. In this episode, Josh and Elliott break down the actual fastest way to level up, based on real coaching experience, dozens of students, and years of competitive tournament play.

You’ll learn why most points at the 2.0–4.0 level are lost long before you realize it, why execution often matters more than strategy, how to master the “First 4 Balls,” and what grip choices actually make a difference as you progress. If you’ve ever wondered why you plateau—or how to improve faster—this episode gives you the exact roadmap.

Key Takeaways (Quick Summary)

• Execution matters more than strategy at every level below 5.0.
• Most points (especially at 2.0–3.5) are lost within the first four shots: serve, return, third, and fourth.
• You can make the wrong decision and still win if you hit a high‑quality ball — but the reverse is rarely true.
• The most undervalued shot in pickleball is the return of serve.
• Your drive is the foundation of your serve, return, third shot, and many fourths.
• Filming your matches instantly reveals where points are truly lost.
• Grip choices matter MOST only when trying to reach 4.5+ levels.
• Choking up on the paddle can improve hand speed and reduce swing size.
• Your brain learns fastest when it “feels” the advantage of a new technique—this is why grip changes may require forcing reps until the benefit becomes obvious.

Episode Breakdown

The Fastest Way to Level Up as a Beginner or 3.0–4.0 Player

Execution > Strategy

Strategy matters—but the ability to execute the ball matters more. Josh explains that early in his coaching career he focused heavily on strategy: where to hit, what shot to choose, what decision tree to follow.

But with students from 2.0 all the way up to 5.0, one pattern became clear:

You can make the wrong decision and still win the point if you hit a great ball. But you cannot make the right decision with a poor shot and expect to win.

This is why tennis players tend to improve quickly—they already possess clean mechanics and ball control.

The real key? Ball accuracy and repeatability.
Put the ball where it needs to go, over and over, under pressure—this is what separates levels more than anything else.

The First 4 Balls: The Hidden Secret of Rapid Improvement

Josh introduces one of the biggest level‑up concepts of the episode: mastering the first four shots. Most rec players underestimate how important these are.

Why the First Four Matter

At 2.0–3.0:

• Roughly 90% of points are lost on the serve, return, third, or fourth.
• Missed returns, third-shot dumps, serves in the net, or easy pop-ups decide most rallies.

At 4.0:

• The raw mistake rate drops, but the point is often lost early anyway.
• You might lose the rally on the 8th shot—but it started with a weak return that let the opponents walk to the kitchen.

Your Responsibility Per Side

Serving Team:

• Responsible only for the serve + third shot.

Returning Team:

• Responsible only for return + fourth shot.

Mastering your two shots per rotation is the single most reliable way to climb levels.

Why the Drive Is the Foundation of the Modern Game

Josh and Elliott dive into a crucial insight: Your serve is a drive. Your return is a drive. Most thirds and many fourths can be drives.

This means:

• If you have one great drive swing, you can apply it across multiple situations.
• Topspin gives margin, control, and depth—three things beginners lack.

Elliott points out how a strong serve sets up an easier third shot, especially when opponents struggle with pace.

Josh also explains that a strong return is arguably the most undervalued shot in the sport, and the game is slowly shifting as pros begin prioritizing depth over placement.

Why Filming Your Matches is a Cheat Code

Elliott shares a recent tournament where he and his partner blew a 10–2 lead, losing 12–10 because their returns fell apart.

Josh relates, explaining that filming exposes patterns you cannot see while playing:

• Short returns letting opponents sprint to the kitchen
• Weak serves giving up offensive opportunities
• Third shots that are too soft, too high, or too short

Every return was short. They were walking in for free.

If you want to improve fast, film your matches. Nothing accelerates growth faster.

Mastering Grips: Eastern, Semi-Western & Continental

Should Beginners Change Grips?

Josh’s rule of thumb:

• If you don’t plan to go beyond 4.5, don’t worry about grip switching.
• If you do want to reach 4.5–5.0+, then grip adjustments matter—but not until you’re ready.

Baseline Grips (Serve/Return/Third)

Pros typically use:

• Eastern forehand
• Semi-western

You have more time on the baseline to adjust during rallies, so these grips work well for drives and heavy topspin.

Kitchen Grips

At the kitchen, speed increases dramatically. The grip you start with is the grip you’ll be stuck with for the exchange.

• Most pros prefer continental because it favors backhand coverage (about 70% of your body) and allows fast flicks and counters.
• Some top players (like JW, reportedly) dink in Eastern, which surprises both hosts but shows there is more than one way to be effective.

Finger-on-Paddle?

Elliott shares how using a ping-pong‑style index finger on the paddle held him at 4.0 until he switched fully to an Eastern grip.

Josh’s reaction is clear: this style reduces strength, stability, and reach. If you’re serious about leveling up, a more traditional grip is recommended.

Choking Up on the Paddle — Worth It?

A growing trend among pros like Gabe Tardio, choking up on the handle:

• Reduces swing weight
• Speeds up hand movement
• Shortens swing paths
• Increases control at the net

Elliott has experimented with it and feels noticeable quickness—but warns not to make big changes right before tournaments.

Josh adds that choking up can be useful as a coaching tactic, especially to cure players who take huge, unnecessary swings on volleys. By forcing players to hold the paddle higher, it encourages compact mechanics and better control.

Skill-Building Drills from the Episode

Here are actual drills implied or mentioned in the discussion, converted into structured practice:

1. Deep Drive Drill (Serve/Return/Third Foundation)

Purpose: Build depth, topspin, and consistency for drives.

How to do it:

• Stand at the baseline with 20–40 balls.
• Hit forehand drives aiming for the last 3 feet of the opponent’s court.
• Focus on topspin and safe height above the net.

Reps:

• 3 sets of 20 balls
• Target: at least 14/20 landing deep in each set

Checkpoint:
Your ball should bounce deep enough that opponents cannot easily step forward and attack.

2. Return Depth Drill

Purpose: Turn your return into a weapon and prevent opponents from walking into the kitchen.

How to do it:

• Have a partner serve full power.
• Your only goal: hit deep, penetrating returns.

Reps:

• 30 returns per session
• Goal: 70% landing within 2–4 feet of the baseline

Checkpoint:
If your partner cannot reach the kitchen before hitting the third shot, your depth is doing its job.

3. First 4 Balls Sequence Drill

Purpose: Simulate the most important part of the rally—the serve, return, third, and fourth.

How to do it:

• Rally with a partner starting from a real serve.
• The goal is not to “win” the rally—it’s to win the first four shots with quality and consistency.

Reps:

• 15 rounds on the serve side
• 15 rounds on the return side

Checkpoint:
Track unforced errors on serves, returns, thirds, and fourths. Aim to reduce those errors by about 30% over the next few weeks.

4. Grip Switch Familiarization Drill

Purpose: Teach your brain to switch grips instinctively under pressure.

How to do it:

• Stand at the non-volley zone (kitchen) line.
• Have a partner feed rapid volleys to both your forehand and backhand sides.
• Begin in continental, then experiment with switching to Eastern or semi‑Western when you attack with forehand flicks.

Reps:

• 60 volleys total
• 20 forehand, 20 backhand, 20 mixed

Checkpoint:
You should be able to adjust your grip without looking at the paddle or breaking rally rhythm.

Final Thoughts

This episode gives players a practical, actionable roadmap for fast improvement. Instead of focusing on exotic shots or complicated strategy trees, Josh and Elliott simplify what really matters: a strong drive, deep returns, clean execution, and mastery of the first four balls. Combined with thoughtful grip mechanics and match filming, these fundamentals create rapid, noticeable improvement at every level.

If you have questions you’d like answered in future episodes, head over to YouTube, find this episode on The Pickleball Lab, and drop a question in the comments. Josh and Elliott will feature listener questions in upcoming shows.