How does altitude affect the body?
In places like Colorado, less oxygen availability and dry mountain air make it easy to experience quicker fatigue and dehydration— especially if you’ ve traveled there from sea level. Players might first notice faster breathing, elevated heart rate and decreased endurance until they are acclimated.
To combat the effects, Harris advises hydrating before, during and after play, even more than seems necessary. He also recommends scheduling extra time before playing a high-altitude tournament, perhaps a day or two, with extra breaks for peak performance so the body can adjust. Sunscreen is also vital at altitude for outdoor games.
How does altitude affect the ball?
“ The ball plays noticeably faster at this elevation, and players often say their shots are going long until they adjust,” says Harris.“ The difference is significant— you’ ll notice drives move through the court, lobs travel longer, and even dinks can float a bit more if you’ re not careful. The altitude rewards quick hands and makes it easier to put the ball away, but punishes over-aggressive swings if you’ re not in control.”
Do some balls perform better at altitude than others?
According to Harris, at higher altitudes, some balls get too lively and are harder to control.“ We’ ve found that slightly softer balls like the Franklin X-40 perform well— they provide enough pop to handle the altitude but enough control to still allow for placement.” He notes that some players use the Onix DURA Fast 40 or Vulcan VPRO Flight, but mostly at advanced levels.
Does altitude affect which paddle is best?
With a plethora of pickleball paddles available, choosing the right one for your location might make a slight difference.“ At altitude, you might prefer a thicker paddle that gives you more control and feel, rather than one that’ s overly powerful,” says Harris.“ Since the ball already travels faster here, using a power-focused paddle can make it harder to keep the ball in.”
How should playing style be adjusted at altitude?
Harris recommends three game adjustments when playing at higher elevations. First, serve from a couple of feet behind the baseline to avoid long serves. Second, be more conservative on the return of serve since the ball will naturally go deeper. Third, counterattacks come faster, so keeping paddles up at the kitchen line is extra critical to improve reaction time. Shortening the swing and using more topspin can be effective tools as well.
What are the considerations for going back to play at sea level?
What goes up must come down, and for picklers traveling back to sea level, the adjustments must be made in reverse.“ When I leave Steamboat to play tournaments at lower elevations, I always try to get at least an hour on the court beforehand to reacclimate,” says Harris.“ The ball feels totally different— I can hit my serve harder, and I usually notice a bit more margin for error on aggressive shots.
“ But there’ s a trade-off,” he adds.“ It’ s harder to put the ball away, especially on overheads, because the ball just doesn’ t travel as fast through the air. I must be more patient and focus on placement and spin rather than expecting a quick finish.” •
Trish Zornio is a researcher, writer and pickleball enthusiast based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025 | MAGAZINE 43