The 5 Skills You Need to Reach the Next Level

This week on Instagram (@athenajess), I broke down what I believe are the five biggest skills that separate 4.5 players from legitimate 5.0 players.

But before we get into it, I want to make one thing clear: these skills aren’t exclusive to the 4.5-to-5.0 jump.

They’re the same skills that help players move from 3.5 to 4.0 and from 4.0 to 4.5. The level changes. The principles don’t.

At 4.5, most players are already pretty consistent. They’re making a lot of balls. The difference at 5.0 isn’t usually about making more balls. It’s about making better ones—and knowing what to do after them.

Here are the five skills I see over and over again in players who continue to level up.

1. Hit higher-quality shots.

Most players think consistency is the separator. It’s not.

At higher levels, almost everyone can make the shot. What separates players is the quality of the shot they’re making.

Your drops are lower. Your dinks are more purposeful. Your drives are placed more intentionally. Your resets don’t just keep you alive, they help you regain control of the point.

A lot of players think they need a brand-new shot to get better. For some intermediate players, this is true in the sense of adding spins and some additional variety. But more often, you need to improve the quality of the shots you already have.

Because better shots create better opportunities.

2. Read the game before it happens.

At higher levels, you can’t just react as the ball arrives.

You need to pick up information from body position, paddle preparation, court location, and patterns you’ve seen earlier in the match. You need to constantly gather clues about what’s likely to happen next.

Anticipation is a skill. The more quality reps you get, the more situations you recognize. Over time, your brain starts predicting instead of reacting.

At higher levels, it’s often not the fastest player who gets to the ball.

It’s the player who saw it coming first.

No matter your level, practice becoming aware of what’s happening on the other side of the net.

3. Build points to create opportunity.

One of the biggest differences I see from level to level is patience.

If you want to improve, stop looking for opportunities to end the point and start looking for ways to improve the next ball by creating sequences and using patterns.

Can you move your opponents off the line?
Can you stretch them wide?
Can you create an awkward contact point?
Can you force a weaker reply?

Every shot should become part of a bigger picture, designed to create a better opportunity later.

Sometimes building a point means slowing the game down. If you’re in trouble, forcing offense usually isn’t the answer. Often the best thing you can do is neutralize the exchange, reset the point, and start building again.

4. Do the uncomfortable work of fixing your weaknesses.

If you want to get to the next level, you have to plug the holes in your game.

So there’s good news and bad news.

Good news first? You absolutely can shore up your vulnerabilities.

The bad news? This means drilling the things you’ve been avoiding.

The backhand you don’t trust. The transition reset you hate. The return that breaks down under pressure.

If you're not sure what your weaknesses are? Ask. Find out from your opponents what they target, and ask your regular partners what they worry about breaking down.

The players who improve the fastest are willing to address their biggest weaknesses head on.

5. Make better decisions.

You can make the right decision and still miss the shot. It's bound to happen in this game.

Execution errors can be fixed with reps (see #4).

But if you’re consistently making the wrong decision, better mechanics won’t save you.

You need to understand the situation in front of you.
- Are you ahead in the point? Behind? Neutral?
- Should you be applying pressure, absorbing pressure, or staying patient?

And we’re back to the issue of impatience.

How often are you speeding up balls that don’t deserve it (i.e. off balance or through transition), or trying to force offense when it isn’t there.

The best players aren’t just better shot-makers. They’re better decision-makers.

Final Thought:

Every one of these skills is learnable.

Whether you’re trying to get from 3.5 to 4.0 or from 4.5 to 5.0, the path is usually less about talent and more about improving how you think about the game.

The game rewards good decisions. Start there.

What’s the biggest thing holding your game back right now?
Hit reply—I read every response.

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*Updated* Weekly Clinic Schedule

Something new is coming to Thursdays. 🎾

Starting June 25th, I'm replacing the Thursday liveball with small group training sessions capped at just 4 players.

Same time slot (10:30 am – 12:00 pm), but with a completely different format. Smaller group means more reps, more feedback, and more intentional work on the things that actually move your game forward. It's designed for 4.0+ players who are serious about improving.

All sessions are held at California Smash in El Segundo, CA.

To register for any clinics, get the Cali Smash app:
​Android ​
​Apple​

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Also, I want to hear from you.

Always in planning mode 😎 and planning some workshops at California Smash

A few ideas I'm considering:

• Doubles strategy: positioning, communication, and who should take what ball
• Two-handed backhand masterclass: time to get a two-ey (drives, counters)
• Speedups & counters combos: how to attack off the bounce
• Lobs: when to use them, where to put them, and how to stop getting burned by them

Which one would you sign up for first? Or is there something else you'd love to spend 2 hours hyperfocused on? 💪🏻

Hit reply and let me know. The most requested workshop is getting scheduled first.

Cheers!

Coach Jess
Athena Pickleball 🏓✨

Also, shameless plug for the CRBN Barrage Series ​
>>>> Get yours at www.crbnpickleball.com ​
10% off with code: COACHJESS
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