From Tennis to Pickleball: How Former Tennis Players Adjust Their Game

The rise of Pickleball has seen many former tennis competitors trading their racquets for paddles—and it’s a fascinating transition. With their solid foundations in hand‑eye coordination, footwork, match strategy and competitive mindset, many tennis players find significant advantages in moving into pickleball. Still, shifting from one sport to the other also means adapting to new rules, court positioning, shot types, and tactics. If you’re a tennis player considering pickleball, or simply curious how the crossover works, this article lays out how the transition happens, what changes most, and how the best players manage the adjustment.

Why Tennis Players Are Making the Jump?

There are several reasons why tennis players are increasingly embracing pickleball:

• Less physical strain: The smaller court size and slower ball speed—relative to high‑level tennis—mean less stress on joints and fewer long aerobic rallies. 
• Transferable skills: Tennis players already have strong fundamentals—serve mechanics, footwork patterns, volley experience, and competitive mindset. That gives them a head‑start in pickleball.  
• Growing professional circuit: The professional pickleball tours (e.g., Professional Pickleball Association, Major League Pickleball) are attracting high‑profile names, sponsorships, prizes—and thus visibility and opportunity.  
• Community and accessibility: Many tennis players appreciate the social aspect of pickleball, including lower barrier to entry, faster rally turnaround, and easier access to courts.  

For example, former top‑ten tennis player Sam Querrey and ex‑Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard have publicly made the switch. 

The Advantages Tennis Players Bring to Pickleball

Here are some of the key strengths tennis‑trained athletes bring when they start playing pickleball:

• Serve and return experience: Tennis players already understand serving dynamics and returning aggressive serves, giving them an edge when mastering the underhand pickleball serve or aggressive return tactics. 
• Net aggression & volley skills: Many tennis players are comfortable coming to the net and executing volleys—skills highly valuable in pickleball’s doubles format. 
• Footwork and expectations: The footwork discipline, anticipation and reading the opponent’s shot from tennis translate well into pickleball. 
• Match‑tactical mindset: The ability to manage a match—plan points, stay mentally strong, handle pressure—helps when adapting to a new sport. 
• Wrist and hand‑eye coordination: Tennis trains the micro‑movements and timing that are key in pickleball’s shorter rallies and delicate soft‑game shots. 

These advantages often give the tennis‑experienced player a quick comfort zone when starting pickleball; the challenge lies in adapting to the specifics of pickleball’s rules, pacing and expectations.

The Main Adjustments Tennis Players Must Make

To truly transition from tennis to pickleball, however, certain changes must be made. Here are the significant shifts:

1. Court size and positioning

In tennis, the court is far larger and movement more physically demanding. In pickleball, the court is smaller (20 × 44 ft), which means:

• Quicker decision‑making and less ground to cover. 
• More emphasis on transitioning to the net early (in doubles especially). 
• Adjusting spacing and partner dynamics (doubles) accordingly. 

2. Serve mechanics and restrictions

Tennis serves can be overhand, heavily spun, and hit with full extension. In pickleball:

• Serves are underhand and must be hit below waist level. 
• There’s less power advantage in the serve; placement and strategy matter more.
  Tennis players often need to retrain their serve mechanics, tempo and mindset to suit pickleball rules. 

3. The Non‑Volley Zone (the “kitchen”)

This is arguably the biggest adjustment. In pickleball:

• There is a 7‑foot non‑volley zone (NVZ) on either side of the net where volleying is not allowed. 
• Tennis players need to learn distance judgement, foot placement and volley avoidance of the kitchen rule. 
• Mistakes here (stepping into the kitchen on a volley) are common for ex‑tennis players. 

4. Soft game vs baseline power

Tennis often rewards baseline power, heavy topspin and lengthy rallies. Pickleball rewards:

• Soft dinks, finesse shots, resets, and patience at the net. 
• Quick transitions and shorter humps of rally length.
  For many tennis players, learning to slow down and trust the soft game is essential. 

5. Different pacing and shot types

Pickleball features:

• Slower ball speeds meaning different timing. 
• Unique shots such as the dink, third‑shot drop, reset shot and the around‑the‑post.
  Tennis players may find these unfamiliar and must adapt tactically. 

6. Doubles dynamics are dominant

While tennis offers singles and doubles, pickleball’s most common format is doubles. This means:

• Strong emphasis on partner coordination, court coverage, and positioning. 
• Additional learning curve in communicating, stacking, poaching and kitchen strategy. 

Real‑Life Examples of Tennis Players Transitioning

Here are some notable cases of ex‑tennis players making the shift:

• Jack Sock: Former ATP top‑10 tennis player who turned his attention to the pro pickleball circuit. His tennis background has helped him adapt quickly.  
• Eugenie Bouchard: The former world No. 5 tennis player made her transition to pro pickleball in 2024 and soon signed a multi‑year deal with a pickleball tour. Her move illustrates both the appeal of pickleball and the adjustment challenge.  
• Donald Young: Another tennis pro who has embraced pickleball; his tennis foundation has helped him rank and compete on the pickleball tour. 
• John Isner and Andre Agassi: These tennis icons have supported pickleball through endorsement, participation and visibility, bridging the sports. 

These examples reflect the trend: tennis players entering pickleball for competitive challenge, business opportunity, lower physical toll or simply the social plus community side of the sport.

How to Make the Transition: Practical Tips

If you’re a tennis player interested in pickleball, here are practical strategies to adjust effectively:

1. Re‑learn the serve

• Practice underhand serves, focusing on placement over power. 
• Use drills to serve deep into the service box and develop consistent accuracy. 
• Record yourself to identify common tennis serve habits (over‑extension, high toss) and correct them. 

2. Embrace the kitchen and net game

• Spend time practising your kitchen line movement and foot positioning. 
• Drills: Stand inside the non‑volley zone line and practice dropping volleys just past the kitchen; this builds spatial awareness. 
• Learn to reset back from the kitchen if your opponent forces you there—this is a key skill. 

3. Slow down the game and master the soft game

• Incorporate drills for dink rallies: two players hitting softly back and forth over the net within the kitchen. 
• Practice third‑shot drops: from the baseline hit a high soft shot into the kitchen to move forward. 
• Tennis players often need to trust the soft game rather than rely solely on power. 

4. Adapt your footwork

• Shorten your steps—pickleball involves less running but quicker side‑to‑side, short bursts. 
• Practice transitioning from baseline to net quickly in doubles settings. 
• Use shadow drills: simulate net approach then play volley exchanges at the net. 

5. Learn doubles tactics and partner communication

• Work with a partner on positioning (who covers what angle, especially in stacked formation). 
• Practice poaches, switches, and anticipating partner’s shot rather than chasing like singles tennis. 
• Spend time in doubles matches (not just singles) to acclimate to the dominant format of pickleball. 

6. Get comfortable with different shot repertoire

• Spend time learning and practising shots like: dink, lob, over‑the‑shoulder volley, around‑the‑post, reset shots. 
• Tennis players especially should practice softer grip pressure and shorter swings for finesse shots. 
• Incorporate fitness and reaction drills: since rallies are shorter but more explosive, reaction time is key. 

7. Focus on mindset and pace

• Accept that many shots will be slower and rallies shorter—your dominance via power might be reduced initially. 
• Develop patience: winning in pickleball often means staying consistent, drawing errors, and finishing smart. 
• Compete in local pickleball games to build experience; the transition isn’t only physical but tactical and mental. 

Common Mistakes Tennis Players Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Recognising common pitfalls helps accelerate your transition:

• Over‑hitting drives: Relying too much on power rather than placement or soft game.
  Fix: Use drills emphasising accuracy over pace. 
• Poor kitchen discipline: Stepping into the non‑volley zone too early or mis‑judging the line.
  Fix: Practice footwork around the NVZ line and get comfortable volleying from just outside it. 
• Slower reaction at the net: Tennis players sometimes struggle with quick volley exchanges at net due to different pace.
  Fix: Quick reflex drills, volley‑to‑volley practice, and practise reaction games. 
• Tennis serve habits carry over: Overhand toss, high arch, or hitting above waist.
  Fix: Record and adjust serve technique immediately—train underhand and below waist. 
• Under‑estimating partner dynamics: In tennis singles you manage the entire court; in pickleball doubles you need to coordinate.
  Fix: Play doubles, communicate frequently with partner, practise formations and transitions. 

Why the Adaptation Is Worth It

For tennis players, the transition to pickleball offers multiple benefits:

• Extended competitive career: Less physical strain means you can play longer, even after tennis peak years. 
• New social connections and clubs: Pickleball is thriving in communities—clubs, schools, resorts—and offers social richness. 
• Business and endorsement opportunities: With pickleball growing fast, there is potential for coaching, branding, tours, and playing professionally. 
• Fresh challenge: For many tennis players, the pivot to pickleball opens a fresh competitive frontier—learning the new sport keeps motivation high. 
• Inclusive environment: The pickleball community is known for being welcoming and growing rapidly across age groups and regions. 

Conclusion

Moving from tennis to pickleball is far from a simple switch—yet for many tennis players, the skills, instincts and competitive DNA they already possess provide a strong foundation. The key lies in adapting: embracing the distinct rules, adjusting serve mechanics, mastering the kitchen, refining the soft game, and shifting mindset from baseline dominance to precision, positioning and agility.

If you’re a tennis player curious about trying pickleball: welcome to a world where your racquet skills give you a head‑start—but your willingness to learn, adapt and respect the nuances will determine how far you go. As the sport continues growing, your tennis experience might simply be the launchpad for your next great chapter on the pickleball court.