# Notational Analysis of Men's Singles Pickleball: Game Patterns and Competitive Strategies
## 4 Discussion  
The objective of this study was to conduct a notational analysis of pickleball to generate accurate and relevant data that can contribute to optimizing high-performance training in this sport. The research provided significant findings on various key variables, such as rally duration, the most common final shot zones, and ball trajectories associated with winners or forced errors. Additionally, detailed statistics were gathered on the probability of winning a point, distinguishing between the server and the receiver. Previous research in other racquet and paddle sports has demonstrated that the serve is a fundamental component of the game. When comparing pickleball to sports such as tennis or padel, it has been observed that the ball is put into play with the first serve at a high percentage, close to 97%, far exceeding the values recorded in tennis [35; 36] and more similar to those in padel [14; 17]. This percentage is more akin to sports like badminton, where, as in pickleball, there is no option for a second serve. However, it has been found that the serve in pickleball is significantly less effective compared to other racquet and paddle sports [17; 37], particularly in relation to tennis [18]. In fact, among the more than 1100 points observed, only one ace was recorded. Despite the fact that players serve underhand in this sport, training with various spins and trajectories could enhance the chances of winning points. This variability in serves could be an area to optimize during practice, as it would allow players to develop more effective strategies and better adapt to different game situations. Regarding rally length, the study data showed that the proportion of points ending in short rallies (between one and four shots) and medium rallies (between five and eight shots) was quite similar, at approximately 43% in both cases. Long rallies, those with nine or more shots, were relatively infrequent. When compared to other sports, it could be said that the structure of play is more similar to padel, where rallies of fewer than 12 shots (including short, medium, and long rallies in this study) are common and occur at a similar rate [17; 38; 39], in contrast to tennis, where short rallies clearly predominate, especially on fast surfaces such as hard courts and grass [18; 35; 40; 41]. Given the rarity of long rallies in men's singles pickleball, players are encouraged to quickly adapt to situations and play proactively, fostering a more offensive and aggressive style. In terms of court striking zones from where the final shot is executed, pickleball showed greater similarity to padel than to tennis. Previous research in padel has revealed that up to 40% of final shots are made from the middle zone of the court, with similar percentages from the zone near the net [17; 42]. In contrast, in tennis, final shots from the baseline dominate across all surfaces, highlighting a significant difference in point dynamics between these sports [18]. These data suggest that, in this sport, as in padel, mastering both the net and forehand and backhand volleys is crucial [43]. This contrasts with tennis, where these shots are less frequent due to the predominance of baseline rallies through groundstrokes [18; 44]. It is important to note that in pickleball there is a zone close to the net that, for regulatory reasons, cannot be used as a zone from which the final shot is executed. This reinforces the idea that controlling the area near the net is fundamental, similar to padel. A clear difference between padel and pickleball in this respect is that in the latter, the smash is hardly used, whereas in padel, it is a decisive stroke [17; 42]. In any case, the high percentage of unforced errors committed by the receiver near the net during short rallies suggests that the tactic of advancing toward the net may not be as effective as previously considered. This aspect requires further exhaustive analysis in future research.