Stop Watching Pickleball Videos If You Actually Want to Get Better

There are thousands of YouTube pickleball videos, but have you ever thought, “Does this video actually apply to me?”

That is one of the most important questions when it comes to YouTube videos, because many of them are filmed by very experienced players. The “students” in the videos are often people who already know how to hit, or they are very athletic, young, and have spent many hours on the court.

If you are like most of the students we come across at Hawaii Pickleball Academy, you quickly realize that the YouTube video you watched the day before your lesson does not actually apply to you.

Here are the reasons why.

The video might be good, but it does not mean it works for your game.

There are so many great pickleball videos, but in general, they are not made for your style of game, your skill set, or your experience level.

Even basic videos, like how to hit a serve or how to dink, can be much more complicated than they look. If you do not know how to hold the paddle properly for your skill set, transfer your weight into the shot, or make the right contact with the ball, the video will only help you so much.

It is like trying to become a better golfer by watching videos, but not really knowing how you personally look when you are hitting the golf ball.

You need a more specific approach from someone who can guide you and help you build the right strokes that actually work for you.

What works for them on YouTube might not work for your body, your movement, or your level.

YouTube videos are great for learning and entertainment when it comes to pickleball, but they do not take into consideration your injuries or limited mobility.

Most videos do not show people who have a hard time bending their knees because of a knee replacement, or players who cannot move or spread their legs the same way because of a hip replacement.

Bending lower, moving quickly, and transferring weight gets harder after people get “new” body parts just so they can keep enjoying the game they love.

That does not mean you cannot get better. You just need to make sure you train pickleball in a way that works for your body, not the same way as people who do not have the same limitations.

Most YouTube tips look easy until you try them in a real game.

Just because you watched a YouTube video on how to hit a drive, drop, or block does not mean you will get it right fast.

Imagine you are practicing how to block a speed-up at your body. Watching a video and having someone actually drive the ball at you are two completely different things.

You need to build confidence so you can reflect the ball back without panicking. The first thing that might happen is you get tense, nervous, or even scared when the ball actually flies at your face.

That is normal.

You need to learn your own way of developing certain shots and make sure the progression works for you. You cannot just watch a video and say, “I got this.”

The problem is not always the advice — sometimes you are just not ready to execute it yet.

Many people we coach in Honolulu are very athletic, but knowing when to execute certain shots comes with experience.

Even athletic players need to reach a certain level before they understand how their body moves, when to speed up the ball, when to reset, and how to create the right angles.

When you watch YouTube videos on how to hit a backhand reset or forehand volley reset, you first need to understand how to hit proper volleys. Before you try to absorb the ball’s energy into your paddle and hit a reset shot, you need to build the basics first.

There are certain steps to getting good at any shot. First, you need to create the foundation; then you can start learning the more advanced pickleball shots.

Private pickleball practice or development programs are one of the fastest ways to get up to speed, but just watching videos is not always the answer.

A lot of videos are made by great players, but they are not made for the average player trying to get better.

Have you noticed that many pickleball videos showcase people who are already good at a certain skill set?

People who are still learning, or players who are trying to move from a 3.0 to a 4.0 level, will have a much harder time executing those same shots.

Many videos are great for entertainment, and they can also give you an idea of what is possible if you put in the work on the pickleball court. But watching someone else do it and being able to do it yourself are two completely different things.

You can watch the right video and still get worse if the tip does not fit your game.

At Hawaii Pickleball Academy, we have had many people come to us after watching videos about certain shots.

They try to execute the shot, but quickly realize that the shot is not good for them because it does not apply to their game.

They may not move as quickly, their arm power may not be there yet, their grip position may be wrong, or they may not be able to see the ball properly. All of those things can make it almost impossible to execute the stroke the same way it is shown in the video.

Before you copy what you see online, you have to ask if your body and skill level can actually do it.

One of the most important questions you should ask is, “Am I capable of executing the shot I see in a YouTube video with thousands of views?”

Can my body bend that way? Can I position my feet in that direction in a split second? Can I actually make that shot work for my game?

If you think you can do it, you should try, because that is the only guaranteed way to know if you can or cannot do it.

You are the one who will know the answer after trying it, not your pickleball friends.

Pickleball videos are not all bad if…

You are looking for inspiration.

You want to explore how other people hit certain shots.

You are watching for entertainment.

You want to see what is possible when someone has put in many hours on the court.

The problem starts when you think that watching the video automatically means you can do the same thing in your own game.

YouTube pickleball videos can give you ideas, but they cannot see your movement, your grip, your balance, your injuries, your timing, or your confidence.

That is why the right training matters. You need to learn what works for your game, your body, and your current level.