Getting the pop-up is the easy part. Finishing it? That’s where points slip away.

You don’t need to hit harder; you need to hit smarter.

PPA Tour pro Ava Ignatowich recently shared five tips in a YouTube video to help you put the ball away and close out points earlier. Whether you’re a 3.0 or pushing toward a 5.0 pickleball rating, these adjustments will change how you play at the kitchen.

Tip #1: In Hands Battles, Hit Down, Not Hard

From 3.0 all the way up to 5.0, Ava sees the same thing over and over: two players at the kitchen firing every ball as hard as they can, hoping to outmuscle each other.

The problem? Nobody is thinking about the target.

Instead of hitting hard, think about hitting down.

• Aim at your opponent’s feet.
• A ball at their feet can only come back one way: up.
• That pop-up is your chance to hit down again and win the point.

Pro insight: The first player to get the ball down usually wins the hands battle. Power is a bonus, not the plan.

Tip #2: Angle Your Overheads

Most players see an overhead and smash it straight through the middle as hard as they can. Good players are used to that, and many of them can reset it.

If your opponents love to lob you, the angled overhead is your answer. It pulls them off the court, and most of us aren’t elite movers anyway.

• Open your body toward your target as you set up.
• Want the right angle? Turn your chest a little more to the right.
• Want the left angle? Turn your body to the left before you swing.

Quick tip: Use your front shoulder as a guide. Wherever it points in your overhead stance is usually where the ball will go.

Tip #3: Attack the Player in Front of You

When you’re at the kitchen looking to put the ball away, go straight ahead. Attack the player directly across from you, not the one diagonal to you.

• Shorter distance: The ball has less court to travel.
• Less reaction time: Your opponent has a fraction of a second to respond.
• Less margin for them: A fast ball straight at them is much harder to counter than one coming cross court.

Pro move: Skip the cross-court attack. Go down the line.

Tip #4: Shrink Your Backswing

A huge wind-up feels powerful. It isn’t. A bigger backswing does not mean a harder ball, and it often throws you off completely.

Here’s why a big backswing is a recipe for disaster:

• You telegraph the shot. Your opponents see it coming, step back, and buy themselves more time.
• Your timing gets shaky. A longer swing path leaves more room for error, so the ball ends up in the net or out.
• You lose your contact point. Big swings tend to catch the ball at your side instead of out in front.

Contacting the ball out in front is always the goal. It makes it easier to hit down (hello, tip #1) and gives your opponents less time to react.

Need more power? Use your legs and hips

If your arm and wrist aren’t giving you enough pop, don’t swing bigger. Rotate.

• Press into the ground with your legs as you hit.
• Turn your hips into the ball, then unwind as you accelerate through.

Pro insight: Power comes from rotation and your legs, not the size of your swing.

Tip #5: Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Yes, really. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how often you’re not actually looking at the ball.

Ava’s challenge: record a few of your games and watch them back. Chances are you’ll catch yourself hitting out of your peripheral vision.

So why do we miss putaways in matches that we make over and over in drills?

• In practice, you’re relaxed and in the moment.
• In matches, you’re thinking about the score and watching your opponents.
• That tension pulls your eyes off the ball right when you need them most.

Pro move: Missing balls you normally make? Take a breath, chill out, and watch the ball all the way onto your paddle. It’s the one tip Ava tells all of her students to fall back on under pressure.

Ready to Finish More Points?

Putting the ball away isn’t about swinging harder. Hit down, pick your angle, attack straight, keep it compact, and watch the ball. Those five habits add up to more points won and a higher DUPR rating.

Put these tips to work. Use the DUPR app to find players at your level, then sign up for a pickleball tournament and see how your putaways hold up.

Want more from Ava? Follow her on YouTube and Instagram for regular coaching tips. And for the latest on ratings, tournaments, and the pickleball community, follow DUPR on Instagram.