The Next Step to 4.0

05/19/2026

Third Shot Drop: Why Most 3.5 Players Chase Perfect When They Need Functional
A functional drop gets you to the kitchen line. A perfect drop is optional.

03/15/2026

Quick tip:
Before your next doubles match, ask your partner one question:

“Who takes middle balls?”

Most 3.0–3.5 teams never answer this. They improvise every rally.

Last month I watched two solid 3.5 players lose a match because middle balls caused constant hesitation. Afterward I asked that question. They looked at each other and said, “We just figure it out.”

Pick a rule—forehand takes middle works for most teams—and say it out loud before the match.

Confusion disappears instantly.

I wrote more about this in my latest article:

Hey! Last week, we covered serve return depth—why short returns give away court position and how deep returns keep you in control from the start.The Next Step to 4.0 is a reader-supported publication.

02/26/2026

Anyone else have d***s that feel great one day and
terrible the next?

You think it's inconsistent touch.

It's actually inconsistent contact point.

Every time the ball comes at a different height,
your contact point moves. You reach up for high balls,
stab down for low balls, improvise for body balls.

4.0 players? Same contact zone every time.
12-18 inches in front of belly button.

They move their body to the ball. Not their contact
point to the ball.

New article dropping Sunday on how to lock in your
belly button zone.

https://thenextstepto4point0.substack.com/subscribe

Who else struggles with d**k consistency?

A place for pickleball players stuck at 3.0-3.5 who want to reach 4.0. Learn the specific skills that separate levels, one skill at a time. Every Sunday, one critical look at what 4.0 players do differently and how to close that gap. Click to read The Next Step to 4.0, a Substack publication with hu...

02/25/2026

Most 3.0-3.5 players spend years without a clear path
to 4.0.
They practice randomly. They chase mechanics.
They plateau.
Here's what's different:
Five weeks. Five specific skills. Each building on
the last.
Foundation → Tactics → Technique → Mental → Tactics
I just published where we are in the system—and
what's next.
https://thenextstepto4point0.substack.com/p/where-we-are-your-first-5-skills
Are you stuck without a clear path forward?
Which of the five has helped you most so far?

Checkpoint: What You've Learned (And What's Next)

02/21/2026

Quick question:

What separates the greatest players from everyone else?

Not power. Not speed.

Strategy.

I studied Anna Leigh Waters ( #1 women's player) and Ben Johns (120+ titles, greatest ever).

Completely different approaches:

Anna Leigh: Create pressure through movement

Ben Johns: Create pressure through consistency

Both work at the pro level.

Both scale down to 3.0-3.5.

I broke down both strategies—how they differ and how to use them.

Which one fits your game?

https://thenextstepto4point0.substack.com/p/what-ben-johns-knows-that-you-dont

https://thenextstepto4point0.substack.com/p/what-anna-leigh-waters-knows-that

Hey! Over the past four weeks, we’ve covered four foundational skills that separate 3.0-3.5 players from 4.0 players:

02/20/2026

Two champions. Two completely different strategies.
Anna Leigh Waters: Momentum through activity and aggression.
Ben Johns: Control through systems and discipline.
Both dominate at the highest level.
Both strategies work at 3.0-3.5.
I just published breakdowns of how each approach scales down to recreational play.
Which style fits your game better?
The aggressive momentum player or the disciplined system player?
https://thenextstepto4point0.substack.com/p/what-ben-johns-knows-that-you-dont
https://thenextstepto4point0.substack.com/p/what-anna-leigh-waters-knows-that

02/12/2026

🎾 Confidence Wins Points

At the 3.5 level, most mistakes don’t happen because of bad technique — they happen because of hesitation.

4.0 players:

Commit to their decisions

Choose high-percentage shots

Stay calm under pressure

Confidence comes from clarity and smart practice.

👉 Learn how to build both:

thenextstepto4point0.com

02/10/2026

🎾 What’s Your Biggest Struggle?
Every player hits a plateau at some point.
The first step to improving is being honest about what’s holding you back.
What do you struggle with the most?
Consistency
Shot selection
Positioning
Drop your answer in the comments 👇
Your response helps shape what we teach next.
👉 Learn smarter pickleball:
thenextstepto4point0.com

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02/08/2026

🎾 Progress Isn’t Instant

Improvement doesn’t happen overnight — and that’s normal.

Players who eventually reach 4.0 aren’t rushing results. They focus on:

Consistent, smart practice

Better decisions under pressure

Small improvements over time

Trust the process, stay patient, and keep learning.

👉 Learn how to practice smarter:
thenextstepto4point0.com