Top Pickleball Mistakes and How to Fix Them Fast
How to Fix Pickleball Mistakes
Every pickleball player, from beginner to intermediate, faces frustrating challenges on the court. The good news? Most errors are easy to fix, if you know what to look for. In this guide, we’ll highlight the most common pickleball mistakes, explain why they happen, and share practical fixes to help you play smarter, win more rallies, and enjoy the game even more.
1. Not Staying Ready for the Shot
One of the most overlooked errors in pickleball is poor readiness. Many players stand flat footed or hold their paddle too low, making it harder to respond quickly.
Quick Fix:
- Keep your knees bent and weight on the balls of your feet.
- Hold your paddle in front of you around chest height (10 or 12 o’clock).
- Practice split step timing between shots.
2. Losing Sight of the Ball
Pickleball happens fast, and losing track of the ball happens even faster. Glancing at your opponent or shifting focus too soon often leads to mishits.
Quick Fix:
Drill eye tracking habits by watching the ball from paddle to paddle. Use simple warm up drills to improve focus and hand eye coordination.
3. Weak Follow Through
A short swing leads to soft or inconsistent shots. Players often stop mid stroke, sacrificing power and control.
Quick Fix:
Focus on extending your follow through, especially on groundstrokes. Think: “smooth, full motion.” Record your swings to spot bad habits.
4. Poor Court Positioning
Standing too close to the baseline or drifting sideways creates open space your opponent can exploit.
Quick Fix:
- Stay balanced and centered between shots.
- Move up to the non-volley zone line quickly after the return.
- Practice footwork drills with cones or side step exercises.
5. Inconsistent Serves
Rushed, weak, or poorly placed serves put you at an immediate disadvantage.
Quick Fix:
- Serve deep to push opponents back.
- Mix placement try crosscourt and middle serves.
- Maintain a consistent toss and swing motion.
6. Hitting Every Shot Too Hard
Power isn’t everything. Hitting too hard leads to errors and sets your opponent up for easy putaways.
Quick Fix:
Use pace variation. Mix fast drives with soft drops and dinks. Control and accuracy often win over brute force.
7. Relying Too Much on Your Backhand
Overusing your backhand can limit shot variety and reduce control, especially if it’s your weaker side.
Quick Fix:
Drill forehand footwork patterns and work on pivoting quickly to set up better forehand shots.
8. Ignoring the Dink Game
Dinks are critical in advanced play. Skipping them limits your strategy and makes you predictable.
Quick Fix:
- Practice dinks from multiple angles.
- Target the sidelines or short center zone.
- Use spin or depth variation to create errors.
9. Violating the Non-Volley Zone
Accidentally volleying in the kitchen is a fault, and it’s avoidable.
Quick Fix:
Understand the non-volley zone rules. Practice split step recoveries and don’t lean into the kitchen after volleys.
10. Playing Too Passively
Hesitating to be aggressive lets opponents take control of the rally.
Quick Fix:
- Use topspin drives to apply pressure.
- Attack high balls near the net.
- Don’t be afraid to move forward confidently.
11. Stepping Forward After Serving
This mistake leaves you vulnerable to deep returns. Stay ready instead of drifting forward after the serve.
Quick Fix:
After serving, stay back and prepare for your opponent’s return. Train your body to hold position.
12. Dead Dinks with No Purpose
Soft, lifeless dinks often get punished. If there’s no intent behind the shot, it won’t create advantage.
Quick Fix:
Add placement, timing, or spin to your dink shots. Make them intentional and hard to counter.
13. Retreating from the Non-Volley Zone
Backing away from the NVZ during dinking exchanges gives up court control.
Quick Fix:
Stay near the NVZ line and use volleys to hold pressure. Don’t retreat unless absolutely necessary.
Summary Checklist
- Stay paddle ready and alert
- Watch the ball closely
- Follow through with every shot
- Master your court positioning
- Serve deep and with strategy
- Vary your shot speed and placement
- Use forehand positioning
- Develop a strong dink game
- Respect the kitchen rules
- Play confidently, not passively
- Hold position after serves
- Make dinks purposeful
- Don’t give up NVZ ground
FAQs About Pickleball Mistakes
Most beginners fail to get into the ready position consistently, making it harder to respond to fast returns.
Slow down your swing tempo and aim for accuracy. Use soft hands at the net and mix your shot pace.
Dinks control tempo and positioning, forcing errors from opponents. They’re critical in advanced-level play.
Practice footwork drills and understand ideal positioning after each shot. Stay balanced and centered.
Next Steps for Players trying to fix their Pickleball Mistakes
Now that you know the top pickleball mistakes and how to fix them, start integrating these changes into your next match. Want more improvement tips? Explore our other pickleball strategy articles and drill guides on PickleTip.com.
Share this article with your doubles partner and help them level up too!
