26 tips to make you better at pickleball in 2026

 

26 Tips to Master Pickleball in 2026: Anna Bright's Ultimate Guide

Unlock Your Potential: Pro Pickleball Player Anna Bright Shares 26 Actionable Tips to Level Up Your Game This Year

In her latest YouTube vlog, professional pickleball player Anna Bright breaks the fourth wall to deliver a raw, insightful list of 26 tips designed to help players of all levels improve in 2026. Known for her meme-worthy humor and deep expertise in the sport, Bright draws from her own experiences as a pro to offer practical, no-nonsense advice. Whether you're a recreational player or aiming for competitive success, these tips emphasize intentional practice, self-awareness, and holistic growth. Dive into the timed highlights below, complete with summaries to inspire your pickleball journey. (YouTube Comment Hyper-Link List)

1. 0:26 - Brain Dump Your Improvement Goals Start by listing every aspect of pickleball you want to improve this year. Bright's own list was over 20 items long—use this as a foundation to identify your focus areas without holding back.
2. 0:40 - Prioritize Ruthlessly Review your brain dump and select the most impactful items to work on. Avoid scattering your efforts; focus on a few key areas, as trying to improve everything at once leads to inefficiency.
3. 0:56 - Watch Yourself Play Pickleball Record and review your own games, even if it's uncomfortable. This reveals more about your habits and those of your partners than watching pros, helping you spot areas for growth.
4. 1:22 - Calculate Your Kitchen Arrival Percentage Track how often you and your partner reach the kitchen after the third shot. Use this metric as a benchmark for progress—Bright plans a dedicated video on this, noting it's a key differentiator in structured play.
5. 1:46 - Seek Out Other Benchmarks Establish testable metrics like dink tolerance (e.g., sustaining 30 or 50 dinks in a row) or other counters. Get a baseline now and revisit them regularly to measure improvement.
6. 2:07 - Find a Friend to Improve With Partner with someone equally committed to getting better. Share drills, discussions, and motivation—having an accountability buddy makes the gritty work more enjoyable and effective.
7. 2:27 - Actually Drill Regularly While recreational play is fun and social, dedicate time to drilling at least once or twice a week. It allows three times more ball contacts and targeted skill refinement that games alone can't provide.
8. 2:56 - Set Intentions for Every Session Enter each court time with 1-3 specific focuses, like split stepping or wrist usage. Avoid overwhelming yourself with too many thoughts—prioritization keeps your practice productive.
9. 3:22 - Capitalize on Complementary Skills When your partner drills (e.g., thirds or resets), actively work on your own related skills like fourths or off-speed shots. Every ball hit builds habits, turning "downtime" into valuable practice.
10. 4:25 - Drill with Three People Embrace three-person drills as a "cheat code" for improvement. They offer realistic scenarios beyond two-person setups and isolate skills better than full games—Bright relies on them frequently.
11. 5:05 - Push Limits in Practice Experiment with new offensive shots without fearing losses. Accept the initial "implementation dip" when trying something new—practice is for taking risks and learning from failures.
12. 5:46 - Evaluate Your Weaknesses Honestly Identify major gaps, like poor resetting, and address them for quick gains. Improvement gets harder as you advance, so celebrate big weaknesses as opportunities for significant progress.
13. 6:42 - Evaluate Your Strengths Honestly Acknowledge what you're good at, like quick hands or a strong flick. True self-awareness includes embracing strengths without shame—give yourself credit and build on them.
14. 7:23 - Leverage Your Strengths More Often Strategize ways to create situations that play to your advantages, such as positioning for more hand battles if that's your forte. Amplify what works best for you.
15. 7:48 - Define Your Player Style Assess if you're a grinder or aggressive risk-taker, and decide your ideal style by year's end. Consider risk thresholds (e.g., attacking 55/45 balls) and how they vary by format like mixed doubles.
16. 8:30 - Eliminate Footwork Errors Eradicate lazy footwork mistakes—these are controllable. Treat them as unacceptable; better preparation and effort can prevent misses on shots like thirds that stem from poor positioning.
17. 9:10 - Develop a Disgust for Missing Cultivate intolerance for unforced errors, which gift points to opponents. Notice patterns and reduce them—lower error rates directly correlate with higher skill levels.
18. 9:57 - Become the Ideal Partner Bring positive energy, intensity, and support to partnerships. From her experiences with various mixed partners, Bright emphasizes that being vibe-compatible elevates everyone's performance.
19. 10:30 - Stick with a Paddle You Love Choose a paddle (like a wide body for most players) and commit to it. Constant switching wastes time and money—the player, not the equipment, drives improvement.
20. 11:20 - Strengthen Wrists and Forearms Especially for women building flicks, incorporate simple dumbbell exercises (5-15 lbs) 2-3 times weekly. Bright saw rapid strength gains, enabling new skills she previously lacked power for.
21. 11:54 - Use Medicine Balls for Power If you struggle with torque or kinetic chain usage (common for non-racquet sport backgrounds), do medicine ball circuits. Link to Connor Derken's video for routines to connect legs, core, and hips.
22. 12:28 - Prioritize Holistic Fitness Enhance mobility, stretching, agility, and gym work for better play and injury prevention. Consistency here extended Bright's career and improved her on-court performance noticeably.
23. 13:05 - Incorporate Breath Work and Meditation Use techniques like box breathing or NSDR meditations for mental centering. Hiring a coach helped Bright manage anxiety, leading to better results on and off the court—subscribe to her newsletter for more.
24. 14:12 - Trust the Process Shift to process-oriented thinking over outcomes. Like gently cupping sand instead of squeezing it, this mindset reduced pressure for Bright, contributing to her team's MLP Cup win.
25. 14:57 - Seek Out Competition If competing is your goal, simulate pressure in rec games (e.g., bets or push-ups) or join local money balls. Build experience with stakes to avoid freezing in real tournaments.
26. 16:05 - Learn from Everyone Stay open-minded and extract insights from all players, even amateurs. Pickleball's diversity offers endless lessons—Bright has gained much from watching her boot camp participants.

In-Depth Summary: A Roadmap to Pickleball Excellence in 2026

Anna Bright's vlog is more than a list—it's a comprehensive blueprint for intentional growth in pickleball, blending tactical drills, mental resilience, and self-reflection. At its core, the tips advocate starting with self-assessment: brain dumping goals, prioritizing them, and honestly evaluating strengths and weaknesses to create a personalized improvement plan. Practical elements shine through in recommendations like regular drilling (including innovative three-person formats), setting session intentions, and pushing boundaries in practice to embrace temporary setbacks for long-term gains.

Physical and technical advice forms a strong pillar, from tracking metrics like kitchen arrival percentages to building strength via wrist exercises and medicine balls. Bright emphasizes efficiency, urging players to capitalize on every opportunity—whether warming up or leveraging complementary skills—and to minimize controllable errors like lazy footwork or unforced misses. Equipment loyalty and holistic fitness underscore sustainability, ensuring players can enjoy the sport longer without injury.

Mentally, the vlog promotes a profound shift: developing disgust for errors, trusting the process over outcomes, and incorporating breath work or meditation for composure under pressure. Social aspects aren't overlooked—finding improvement buddies, becoming an ideal partner, and learning from everyone foster a supportive community. For competitors, simulating high-stakes environments bridges the gap between practice and tournaments.

Overall, Bright's approach is empowering and realistic, acknowledging that progress is non-linear and harder at higher levels, yet achievable through consistency and mindset. By implementing these tips, players can not only elevate their game but also deepen their love for pickleball, making 2026 a year of transformative play. As Bright reminds us, improvement is about being better than yesterday, one intentional step at a time. (Subscribe to Anna Bright's Newsletter)

2026 Pickleball Mastery Quiz: Test Your Skills with Anna Bright's 26 Tips

Welcome to the 2026 Pickleball Mastery Quiz! Inspired by professional player Anna Bright's insightful YouTube vlog, this 26-question multiple-choice challenge dives into her expert advice for elevating your game this year. Whether you're a casual rec player or a competitive enthusiast, see how well you've absorbed her tips on everything from drilling strategies and mental toughness to leveraging strengths and eliminating errors. Grab your paddle mindset, and let's see if you're ready to level up—the answer key is at the end!

1. According to Anna Bright, what is the first thing you should do to improve at pickleball in 2026? a) Brain dump every single thing you want to get better at b) Watch professional players on video c) Calculate your kitchen arrival percentage d) Find a drilling partner
2. What does Anna suggest doing after creating a list of improvement goals? a) Watch yourself play to identify flaws b) Drill at least once a week c) Prioritize the most impactful items ruthlessly d) Seek out benchmarks like dink tolerance
3. Anna recommends watching pickleball footage, but emphasizes focusing on what? a) Professional matches for inspiration b) Yourself playing to learn more effectively c) Your doubles partner's techniques d) Slow-motion replays of serves
4. What metric does Anna highlight as a key differentiator for structured points? a) Dink tolerance count b) Number of unforced errors c) Wrist strength measurements d) Kitchen arrival percentage
5. Besides kitchen arrival, what else does Anna advise seeking out? a) Other benchmarks to test and revisit b) A friend committed to improvement c) Complementary skills during drills d) A new paddle to experiment with
6. Anna's sixth tip involves finding what to help with nitty-gritty drills? a) A mental coach for focus b) A friend who's locked in on improving c) Medicine balls for power d) Videos of pro players
7. What does Anna say is essential if you truly want to get better, beyond just recreational play? a) Setting intentions for each session b) Pushing limits in practice c) Actually drilling regularly d) Evaluating your strengths
8. How many things should you focus on per session, according to Anna? a) As many as possible to cover weaknesses b) None, just play freely c) A million different techniques d) One to three intentions
9. When your partner is drilling thirds or resets, what should you do? a) Take advantage to work on complementary skills b) Relax since it's not about you c) Switch to three-person drills d) Focus on footwork only
10. What does Anna call a "cheat code" to getting better at pickleball? a) Watching yourself on video b) Drilling with three people c) Strengthening wrists and forearms d) Trusting the process
11. In practice, Anna encourages players to do what with new shots? a) Avoid them to prevent losses b) Only use them in games c) Wait for perfect opportunities d) Push limits and accept implementation dips
12. How does Anna describe improvement as you get better? a) It becomes linear and easier b) Like a concave down but increasing curve c) Completely random d) Dependent on new paddles
13. True self-awareness in pickleball, per Anna, includes evaluating what? a) Both flaws and strengths honestly b) Only your weaknesses c) Your partner's skills d) Tournament outcomes
14. After identifying strengths, what should you figure out next? a) How to ignore them in practice b) Ways to hide them from opponents c) How to use them more often d) Replacing them with new skills
15. Anna suggests defining what about your playing style for 2026? a) Your favorite paddle shape b) The type of player you are and want to be c) Your unforced error rate d) Your breath work routine
16. What controllable errors does Anna want players to eliminate entirely? a) Footwork errors due to laziness b) All unforced errors immediately c) Missing in competition d) Partner miscommunications
17. Anna wants players to develop what toward missing shots? a) Indifference to build resilience b) Acceptance as part of the game c) A casual attitude in practice d) A deep disgust, especially for unforced errors
18. What does Anna advise becoming to elevate your doubles game? a) The most aggressive player b) A solo practitioner c) The partner of your dreams d) A paddle collector
19. Regarding equipment, what is Anna's advice on paddles? a) Find one you love and stick with it b) Switch frequently for variety c) Always choose the newest model d) Avoid wide bodies
20. For incorporating a flick, especially for women, what does Anna recommend? a) Watching more pro videos b) Wrist and forearm strengthening exercises c) Using heavier medicine balls d) Competing more often
21. If you struggle with generating power, what tool does Anna suggest using? a) A new pickleball paddle b) Breath work routines c) Medicine balls for kinetic chain training d) Three-person drills
22. Why does Anna emphasize taking holistic fitness seriously? a) To play pickleball longer and better b) Solely for competitive edges c) To reduce unforced errors only d) For social aspects of the sport
23. What mental practice did Anna adopt that helped her on and off the court? a) Evaluating weaknesses daily b) Breath work, meditation, or similar c) Pushing physical limits d) Changing paddles
24. Anna uses a sand analogy to illustrate what mindset? a) Squeezing hard for quick wins b) Letting go of practice losses c) Focusing on outcomes only d) Trusting the process without forcing it
25. If competition is your goal, what does Anna recommend seeking out? a) More recreational games b) Competition through tournaments or simulated stakes c) Solo drilling sessions d) New strengths to evaluate
26. To end on a wholesome note, what does Anna encourage in pickleball? a) Learning something from everyone b) Competing against amateurs only c) Focusing solely on pros d) Ignoring others' styles

Answer Key:

1. A
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. A
6. B
7. C
8. D
9. A
10. B
11. D
12. B
13. A
14. C
15. B
16. A
17. D
18. C
19. A
20. B
21. C
22. A
23. B
24. D
25. B
26. A

Pickleball Groove: 26 Tips to Shine in '26 v2

(Verse 1 – Storytelling rap over swing beat)
Hey, pickleball paddlers, grab your gear, let's hit the court with A New Year cheer!
Brain dump your goals, make a list so long,
Twenty things or more, where you've been goin' wrong.
Prioritize ruthless, pick the top few,
Can't fix it all at once, that's the smart thing to do.
Watch yourself play, even if it's slow-mo pain,
Learn from your moves, make that big brain gain.
Kitchen arrival percent, tally thirds and lines,
Get there quick, structured points every time!

(Chorus – Upbeat folk swing, everyone sing!)
Swing that paddle, feel the jazz in your soul,
26 tips from Anna Bright, makin' you whole!
Drill with friends, push your limits high,
Young pickle stars, reach for the sky!

(Verse 2 – Rap with folk twang)
Find benchmarks like dink tolerance, 30 in a row,
Baseline now, revisit, watch your skills grow.
Grab a buddy locked in, nitty-gritty drills we share,
Actually drill weekly, hit three times more balls in the air.
Set intentions, one to three, no scatterbrain mess,
Complementary skills when partner's on thirds or resets.
Three-person drills, cheat code to the win,
Push in practice, take those L's with a grin.

(Bridge – Jazzy interlude, build tension then release)
Evaluate weaknesses, concave curve climb,
Strengths too, hands quick or flick so slime.
Use 'em more, define your style – grinder or bold?
Eliminate footwork lazy, disgust for misses cold.

(Verse 3 – Energetic rap-folk fusion)
Be the dream partner, positive vibe flow,
Stick with your paddle, wide body pro.
Wrist strength for flicks, medicine balls for power torque,
Holistic fitness, play longer without the fork.
Breath work calm, trust the process sand,
Seek competition, local money balls grand.
Learn from all, even amateurs' tricks so neat,
26 ways to make 2026 sweet!

(Chorus – Repeat with added swing)
Swing that paddle, feel the jazz in your soul,
26 tips from AB, makin' you whole!
Drill with friends, push your limits high,
Young pickle stars, reach for the sky!

(Outro – Fade with rap echoes)
Hugs and kisses, subscribe and like,
Come on Pickleball fam, it is not as hard as Anna's 2021 Pacific Crest Trail hike!