From 4.0 to 5.0: Collin Johns on the Power of Shot Selection

At the recent JOOLA Celebration, I had the opportunity to catch up with Collin Johns, one of the most respected minds, competitors, and coaches in the world of pickleball. In the video below, you’ll find our full interview, but I wanted to share one particularly insightful takeaway that stuck with me.

When I asked Collin what it really takes for a player to develop from a 4.0 to a 5.0 level, I expected him to mention drilling routines or maybe mental game. Instead, his answer surprised me:

It all comes down to shot selection.

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Smarter, Higher-Percentage Choices

As Collin explained, at any given moment in a rally, there are often multiple shots you could take. What separates the higher-level players is not necessarily how hard they hit, or that they go for the fancy shots, but which shot they choose.

• 5.0-level players consistently select the higher percentage option over a 4.0 or 4.5 player.
• Even among advanced players, Collin noted, many still fall into the trap of forcing low-percentage shots (which sometimes works, but statistically leads to a higher unforced error rate for the player, which is often the difference between winning and losing).
• The truly elite, the ones climbing beyond 5.5, optimize every moment by choosing smarter, safer, more calculated options.

In other words, climbing the ranks in pickleball isn’t just about getting faster hands or becoming skilled in a wider variety of shots. It’s about sharpening your decision-making IQ on the court, at each moment.

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The Mental Game of Pickleball

Collin’s perspective highlights a subtle but critical truth: pickleball is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. The further you climb in skill level, the clearer it becomes that matches are won not only with athleticism, but with patience, precision, and strategy.

High-level players consistently beat lower-level players because they don’t just hit harder or execute shots better than their opponent: they think smarter.

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Watch the Interview

If you’re serious about taking your game to the next level, Collin’s advice is gold. Watch our full conversation in the video below, and you’ll see exactly how one of the sport’s best describes a key element in the player development journey from 4.0 to 5.0.

Final Thoughts

So, the next time you step onto the court, remember: improvement doesn’t just come from grinding out reps or adding more power. Sometimes the biggest leap forward is made by asking yourself a simple question:

“Am I making the smartest shot selection right now?”

And by the smartest, we mean going with the highest percentage choice.

In our newsletter, we include a Tip Of The Week section. Given the insights from Collin at the JOOLA Celebration, the next issue of the Palmera Perspective Newsletter is going out on September 30th and it will include a powerful drilling technique you can use to build effortless high-probability shot selection into your pickleball game. Subscribe to the newsletter by clicking the 'Subscribe' button at the top right corner of the Palmera website to get the free newsletter. 

If you enjoyed this post and want more interviews, insights, and tips from some of the brightest minds in pickleball, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and keep following the blog. There’s much more to come.

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