I started playing pickleball around 4 years ago, hovering at a solid 3.5 level with occasional forays into 4.0. But for some reason, I couldn’t consistently break through to that next tier. After years of trying, I started a new journey using PB Vision. In just four months, I went from a 3.5 player to beating 4.5s regularly, which my DUPR confirmed. This past fall, I lined up four 4.0 tournaments, anticipating that would be the right level—only to win gold in all of them. And now, after regularly competing well against 4.5–5.0 level teams, I’m looking ahead to competing at 4.5 tournaments exclusively 📈.

So how did this happen? First, I had to find the right partner who was willing to use PB Vision to experiment and strategize. This article is a deep dive into how PB Vision became an invaluable tool in my journey, helping me refine strategies, analyze competition, and execute my game plan on the court.

Using PB Vision for Tournament Preparation

In competitive pickleball, preparation is everything. PB Vision allowed me to break down my game footage, identify strengths and weaknesses, and create targeted drills for improvement. Here’s a guide to maximize your training with PB Vision that helped me.

Some key strategies PB Vision enabled include:

1. Analyzing Heatmaps for Positioning: Using court coverage heatmaps, I noticed that some teams tried to target my female partner. We adjusted by having her hug the right sideline more, which made her harder to exploit. Seeing PB Vision’s visualizations highlighted her efficient movement and showed opponents struggling to execute their intended shots against us.

2. Fine-Tuning Serves and Returns: One of my early drills was to strengthen my serve and return, getting depth and consistency while making slight adjustments each time I reviewed footage. PB Vision’s serve breakdown allowed me to see where I was losing points and how to correct it. I focused on controlled power in my serves and began putting opponents on the defensive right from the start.

3. Identifying Target Players and Patterns: By reviewing gameplay footage, I started identifying which players were vulnerable to pressure. This meant either driving harder or targeting a weaker backhand when possible. I learned to control my aggressive playstyle, focusing on efficiency and soft game over brute force.

Essential Tournament Tips Learned Along the Way

Over the course of four tournaments, I gathered a list of strategies that took my game from decent to dominant:

1. Use Timeouts Wisely: Momentum swings are inevitable. Calling a timeout after losing several points in a row allowed me to reset, especially after long rallies. By pausing to refocus, I came back stronger, turning setbacks into opportunities.

2. Know When to Let Shots Go: Early tournament jitters often led me to swing at every ball, even those likely heading out of bounds. Watching my PB Vision footage showed I was often hitting balls that were clearly going out. By trusting myself to judge these shots better, I conserved energy and avoided easy giveaways.

3. Stay in the Present, Not the Past: Tournament play can mess with your head. Early on, I noticed that overthinking errors made me lose focus. Instead, I learned to reset mentally after each point, giving myself grace and moving on quickly. My motto became “Next point” as a way to stay focused on the here and now.

4. Play to My Strengths: PB Vision highlighted my top shots and skills. If I was in a jam, I returned to what I knew worked best. My partner and I leaned into our signature “shake and bake” strategy (her driving, me applying pressure at the net).

Building Skills and Breaking Bad Habits with PB Vision

PB Vision didn’t just improve my tournament strategies; it revolutionized my skill development and consistency on the court:

• Serve and Return Mastery: I used PB Vision to isolate skills, especially my serve. Focusing on one skill at a time helped me avoid feeling overwhelmed, with PB Vision’s feedback pointing out which returns were working best under real pressure.

• Footwork and Positioning: Reviewing my positioning habits made a big difference in my gameplay. PB Vision taught me to move into position quicker and to plant my feet firmly rather than staying in motion. Staying grounded improved the accuracy of my shots and made it easier to react quickly to opponents’ moves.

• Mental Discipline: PB Vision’s holistic approach allowed me to analyze not just the physical but also the mental aspects of my game. Having a data-driven look at my performance allowed me to see when frustration would impact my play, reminding me to breathe, reset, and approach each point with fresh energy.

For anyone interested in using PB Vision to improve their play, check out this list of stats we analyze and their definitions.

The Power of Partnership and Strategy

Success in doubles means building a strong partnership, and PB Vision showed my partner and me exactly how to work in sync:

• We experimented with stacking (having one player stay on a preferred side) based on PB Vision data. After trying different setups, we realized that playing me on the right without stacking defensively gave us the highest win rates.

• Reviewing our footage, we realized I needed to take as many thirds as possible, allowing my partner to set up and execute her powerful drives with ease if an opponent's return did cruise more down the right sideline to her. This level of transparency made us comfortable with our roles and helped us avoid stepping on each other’s toes.

Continuous Improvement: Drills, Analysis, and Patience

Improvement is a marathon, not a sprint. I drilled with PB Vision regularly, gradually building a skill set that brought confidence and resilience. Here’s what kept me going:

1. Regular Reviews: By uploading a handful of games each week, I tracked progress and pinpointed patterns that needed work. Consistent use of PB Vision’s analytical tools kept me aware of areas for improvement, ensuring I never stagnated.

2. Drill, Drill, Drill: Practicing with PB Vision allowed me to hone specific skills, such as third-shot drops, returns, and volleys, so I could bring a well-rounded game to the court.

3. Setting Goals and Being Patient: Improvement took time. PB Vision became a supportive companion, pushing me to set small, achievable goals and celebrate every bit of progress. In this journey, staying patient and persistent was essential.

Embracing a Champion’s Mindset

One of the most impactful books I read during this period was The Pickleball Mindset by Dayne Gingrich and Jill Martin. Their philosophy aligned perfectly with PB Vision’s data-driven insights, helping me shift from merely chasing wins to playing with intention and purpose. I learned to channel confidence and approach every match with a fresh mindset, understanding that winning isn’t about perfection; it’s about resilience and adaptability.

Some guiding principles I took from Gingrich include:

• Control What You Can: I stopped worrying about uncontrollable factors, like my partner’s performance or the other team’s trash talk. PB Vision provided concrete metrics on what I could improve, which kept my focus grounded and productive.

• Confidence Over Perfection: Every match became a chance to improve. I approached every game knowing I had the tools to compete with anyone on the court, whether they were 3.5s or 5.0s. This perspective helped me face high-stakes moments with confidence rather than fear.

For anyone looking to deepen their mental game, I highly recommend Gingrich’s book—it provides great strategies to build resilience on and off the court.

My Pickleball Journey Continues

Thanks to PB Vision, I transformed from a 3.5 player struggling to compete to a tournament champion breaking into the 4.5 range. I couldn’t have achieved this without data-driven training, consistent analysis, and an ever-deepening understanding of the game. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a beginner, PB Vision is the perfect tool to help you take your game to the next level.

So, are you ready to unlock your potential? Explore PB Vision today and begin your own journey to excellence!