Better shots do not always guarantee better results.

According to professional pickleball player Ashley Griffith, one of the biggest differences between players is pickleball IQ: the ability to read what is happening, anticipate what comes next, and make smarter decisions during a point.

In this edition of the DUPR Pro Tip Series, Ashley breaks down five ways players can improve their pickleball IQ and start making better decisions on court.

1. Read Your Opponent, Not Just the Ball

Lower-level players often focus almost entirely on the ball. As competition gets stronger, Ashley says players also need to start watching their opponent.

Look for cues such as:

• How your opponent is moving
• Where they are positioned
• Whether they are reaching or off balance
• The angle of their paddle face
• Whether they are leaning forward or backward

These details can help you anticipate where the next shot is likely to go and prepare earlier instead of simply reacting after the ball has already been hit.

2. Know When You Have the Green Light

Not every ball should be attacked.

Ashley recommends using ball height as a simple guide when deciding whether to become aggressive:

• Above the waist: Look for opportunities to attack.
• Around waist height: Consider countering with a short, controlled swing.
• Below the waist: Be more cautious and consider resetting.

Higher balls generally give players more room to attack, while lower balls are harder to speed up successfully over the net.

Improving your pickleball IQ means learning to recognize these situations instead of trying to speed up every ball.

3. Let Your Shot Determine Your Next Position

What happens after you hit the ball should depend on the shot you just played.

Ashley explains that players should adjust their position based on the result they are creating:

• Hit crosscourt? Be prepared to cover the likely return.
• Hit toward the middle? Shift to protect more of the middle.
• Hit an attack? Step in and prepare for the counter.
• Pop the ball up? Give yourself space to defend.

The goal is to stop treating each shot as an isolated decision. Instead, think about how your current shot sets up your next movement and opportunity.

4. Stop Trying to Hit Winners — Create Them

One of Ashley's favorite pickleball IQ tips is simple: do not force winners. Create them.

Against stronger players, easy attack balls are less common. Instead, players may need to build the point over multiple shots before getting the opening they want.

That can mean:

• Moving an opponent around with dinks
• Targeting a weaker side
• Waiting for your opponent to become off balance
• Working your way into the kitchen before attacking
• Staying patient until the right ball appears

Rather than trying to end the rally immediately, use each shot to create a better opportunity for the next one.

5. Figure Out Why You Are Losing

One of the most important parts of improving your pickleball IQ happens after the point—or even after the match.

Instead of simply saying, "I played badly," Ashley recommends identifying the specific reason points are being lost.

Ask yourself:

• Was my footwork breaking down?
• Was my forehand or backhand being targeted?
• Was I attacking the wrong balls?
• Was my positioning putting me under pressure?
• Was I repeatedly making the same mistake?

Ashley reviews footage from her tournaments to identify where points were lost, then uses that information to decide what needs improvement before the next event.

Play Smarter, Not Just Harder

Improving your pickleball IQ is not necessarily about hitting harder or learning a new shot. It is about understanding what is happening during the point and making better decisions because of it.

Ashley’s five takeaways are simple:

1. Read your opponent, not just the ball.
2. Recognize when you have the advantage.
3. Let your shot determine your positioning.
4. Create winners instead of forcing them.
5. Analyze why you are losing and adjust.

The more you start recognizing these patterns, the easier it becomes to anticipate what comes next—and put yourself in a better position to win the point.

Watch Ashley Griffith’s full Pro Tip video: 5 Pickleball IQ Tips