Pickleball open play
By: betterpickleball | December 27, 2025 |

Is Open Play Quietly Holding You Back? The 2 Minute Quiz of Your Pickleball Progress

Are you hitting a plateau on the pickleball court?

You show up for open play, hit some great shots, but feel like your game isn’t actually evolving.  To achieve pickleball skill improvement, most players struggle because they aren’t sure which environment—Open Play or Structured Play—best supports their current goals.

When it comes to improving your pickleball game, many players think the answer is simple: play more games. But playing more doesn’t always equal improving. Sometimes, it’s not how much you play—it’s how you play.

At Better Pickleball, we teach that improvement comes from balancing the Three Pillars of Pickleball:

  1. Mechanics – Can you execute repeatable mechanics under pressure?

  2. Strategic – Are you making smart, intentional shot choices?

  3. Athletic (Physical/Mental Game) – Are you practicing with awareness and reflection?

The key is knowing whether you’ll benefit most from Open Play (free, competitive games) or Structured Play (drills, guided sessions, and focused skill-building).

How to Decide: Take the Survey

Answer the questions below to see whether Open Play or Structured Play is the best focus for you right now.

Instructions: Choose the answer that most reflects how you currently approach pickleball improvement.

Pickleball Play Style Survey

Pillar 1: Technique (Mechanics & Repeatability)

  1. How confident are you in executing your fundamentals (serve, return, drops, dinks) under pressure?

A. I can make them work, but they aren’t always repeatable

B. I want them to be reliable every time

  1. When you miss a routine shot, you usually think:

A. “That happens—next point”

B. “Something broke down in my mechanics and I want to fix it”

  1. How does your technique currently improve?

A. Through playing games

B. Through focused drills and coaching

Pillar 2: Strategy (Decision-making & Shot Selection)

  1. During points, how intentional are your shot choices?

A. I react to the ball and play what feels right

B. I think about patterns, positioning, and high-percentage shots

  1. When rallies speed up, you tend to:

A. Play faster and hope to win

B. Look for resets, margins, and strategic transitions

  1. After a game, how often do you reflect on why points were won or lost?

A. Rarely

B. Often, I think about decisions and patterns

Pillar 3: Mental Game (Awareness, Intent & Feedback)

  1. What is your primary reason for playing pickleball right now?

A. Fun, exercise, and socializing

B. Long-term improvement and confidence

  1. How do you feel about receiving feedback or coaching?

A. I prefer to just play

B. I welcome feedback to improve

  1. When you notice recurring mistakes, you:

A. Accept them as part of my game

B. Want a plan to address them

  1. If you had limited court time this week, you’d rather:

A. Play as many games as possible

B. Practice intentionally on one or two skills

How to Score

  • Mostly A’s → Open Play is a Good Fit
    You thrive on game experience and social play. Open play is valuable—especially for applying skills under live conditions.

  • Mostly B’s → Structured Play Will Accelerate Improvement
    You’re ready to refine technique, strategy, and mental focus. Structured play builds repeatable mechanics and smarter decision-making faster.

Pro Tip: Many Better Pickleball players find the best results come from combining both: use Structured Play to build the pillars, then Open Play to apply them.

Making the Most of Your Time

Once you know your focus:

  • Technique Focus: Drills, repetitions, coaching cues

  • Strategy Focus: Patterned points, guided play, shot selection exercises

  • Mental Game Focus: Reflection, goal-setting, and awareness drills

Even a single intentional session per week can make your next 5 open play sessions far more effective.

Next Steps: Turn Insight Into Action

Now that you’ve taken the survey and identified whether Open Play or Structured Play will benefit you most, it’s time to plan your week intentionally.

  1. Schedule Your Focus Sessions

    • Structured Play: Book a drill session, clinic, or guided play focused on your weak pillar.

    • Open Play: Reserve a game session where you apply what you practiced, using one clear cue.

  2. Set a Single Goal Each Session

    • Keep it simple. For example:

      • Technique → “Execute my drop consistently from the non-volley zone.”

      • Strategy → “Use reset shots twice per rally.”

      • Mental → “Stay focused between points, avoid frustration.”

  3. Reflect After Every Session

    • Spend 5 minutes reviewing:

      • What went well?

      • Where did mistakes occur?

      • What will you focus on next week?

  4. Combine Open and Structured Play

    • Use structured sessions to build skills, and open play to test and reinforce them.

    • Even one intentional structured session per week can dramatically improve your performance in open play.

  5. Track Progress

    • Keep a simple notebook or app with notes on your focus, successes, and challenges.

    • Over time, you’ll see measurable improvement across all three pillars.

Remember: The strongest players aren’t the ones who play more—they’re the ones who practice smarter and reflect intentionally.

If you want to learn more about how to improve your pickleball game, check out our flagship The Pickleball System and our stand alone courses in The Pickleball Academy

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