Beginner Pickleball Tips: Fix Footwork, Win Points Fast
If you’re new to pickleball and want to improve fast, these are the beginner tips that actually matter. Not complicated jargon. Not pro-level techniques. Just simple, court-tested adjustments that help you win more points today – and build the foundation every great player relies on.
Use this as your quick-reference guide – the practical “do this, not that” list every new player wishes they had earlier.
Beginner Pickleball Tips (Quick Overview)
- Serve Smarter (Not Harder)
- Return Deep Every Time
- Get to the Kitchen Line Quickly
- Fix Your Footwork
- Hit Clean, Controlled Shots
- Aim for Smart Targets
- Use Angles Early
- Push, Don’t Punch
- Communicate With Your Partner
- Avoid Common Beginner Errors
1. Serve Smarter (Not Harder)
Most beginners try to crush the serve – and that leads to errors. Instead:
- Use a smooth, underhand swing
- Aim deep into the back third of the court
- Target your opponent’s backhand
- Use a high, safe trajectory
Deep serves immediately put pressure on the returner. Learn more: How to Improve Your Serve
2. Return Deep Every Time
The most valuable beginner skill in all of pickleball is simple: send your return deep and buy yourself time.
- Lift the ball with height
- Aim cross-court or toward the weaker backhand
- Move forward immediately after contact
More positioning help: Beginner Starter Guide
3. Get to the Kitchen Line Quickly
If you stay at the baseline, you lose. If you get to the kitchen, you control the point. It’s that simple.
- Return → pause → move forward
- Stop to hit – never swing while running
- Stay close to the line and protect it
Transition help: Beating the Transition Zone
4. Fix Your Footwork First
Most beginner problems are really footwork problems. You can’t win what you can’t reach.
- Stay on the balls of your feet – not your heels
- Use small, fast adjustment steps
- Don’t reach – move your feet
- Recover to the middle after wide shots
- Keep a wide, athletic stance for balance
Pro Insight: “Good footwork feels like a subtle dance with the court – if your feet are stuck, your game is stuck.”
More movement help: Footwork Tips
5. Hit Clean, Controlled Shots
Beginner rallies aren’t won with power – they’re won with consistency.
- Short, compact swings
- Relax your grip (tight grip = pop-ups)
- Hit the ball out in front of your body
- Follow through smoothly and softly
- Keep the paddle face stable – don’t flip it
Fix common errors: Beginner Mistakes
6. Aim for Smart Targets
You don’t need “highlight reel” shots. You just need high-percentage targets.
- Hit to the weaker backhand
- Use the middle to create confusion
- Keep opponents deep with long targets
- Avoid low-margin sidelines
7. Use Angles Early
Beginners don’t need speed – they need smarter geometry.
- Cross-court shots are safer (lower net and more space)
- Use wide dinks to pull opponents off the court
- Angles open the middle for your next shot
Pro Insight: When unsure, dink cross-court – it’s your safest, smartest beginner shot.
8. Push the Ball – Don’t Punch It
Most beginner mistakes come from swinging too hard. Power flattens the ball into the net. Control wins rallies.
- Use a relaxed wrist
- Guide the ball forward instead of slapping it
- Open the paddle face slightly for height
Think of it like gently guiding a puppy through a gate – not swatting a fly.
9. Communicate With Your Partner
Doubles breaks down fast without communication.
- Call “mine” or “yours” early
- Decide who takes middle balls
- Move forward together – side by side
10. Avoid the Most Common Beginner Errors
- Running through shots instead of stopping to hit
- Standing flat-footed
- Floating pop-ups with a tight grip
- Trying to overpower everything
- Staying stuck at the baseline
Full list: Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Your Next Steps
Once you understand these quick tips, you’re ready for deeper teaching:
Master these simple tips, and you’ll improve faster in your first month than most players do in their first year.
