Adjust Your Pickleball Game to Beat the Heat

When the temperature rises, so does the impact on your game. In hot weather, the pickleball becomes softer, which means it bounces lower, travels slower, and responds differently off your paddle. That change can disrupt timing and reduce the effectiveness of hard drives or fast-paced play. If you’re a power player, you may need to dial back your speed and focus more on placement, patience, and control. On the flip side, hot conditions can benefit players with strong defensive skills. Consider mixing in more dinks, resets, and drop shots, and be ready to adjust your strategy during intense rallies. To reduce the effects of the heat and help to maintain the pickleballs’ firmness, you can consider storing the pickleball in a cooler or shaded area when not in use. The heat changes the nature of the game, so stay flexible, adjust your approach, and let smart strategy win the day.