Pickleball Mistakes Players Make (and How to Fix Each One)

15 Pickleball Mistakes You Might Be Making

Let me tell you something that still makes me wince. A few years back, I was leading a friendly match 10-7 in a local round robin. All we needed was one clean serve to clinch the win. Instead, I floated a lazy lob, the opponent slammed it back at the net, and we never scored another point. We lost. That game burned a tough lesson into me, one of many pickleball mistakes I’ve made (and seen countless others repeat) far too often. It felt like trying to catch a greased pig with one hand tied behind my back.

I’m writing this because we’ve all been there, whether you’re still figuring out how to dink or you’re finally mixing in drives and drops with a flourish. These mistakes can feel small in the moment, a little blip on the radar, but they snowball faster than you can say “kitchen violation.” This comprehensive guide breaks down the 15 most common pickleball mistakes players make, from the novice who’s just picked up a paddle to the seasoned intermediate looking to break into advanced play. More importantly, we’ll dive deep into how to fix them without losing your joy, your competitive spirit, or your partner’s unwavering trust.

We’ll walk through the big pickleball mistakes most players don’t even realize they’re making. Some are purely physical, like poor footwork that leaves you stranded. Others are mental, a sneaky little voice that whispers doubts about focus or strategy. And a few, well, they’ll straight up surprise you. But once you learn to spot them, name them, and confront them, your game levels up, fast. Ready to play smarter, hit cleaner, and truly master the court? Let’s dig in and turn those blunders into breakthroughs.

Table of Contents

• 1. Poor Footwork
• 2. Incorrect Grip
• 3. Letting Your Mind Drift Mid-Rally
• 4. Neglecting Strategy
• 5. Ignoring the Rules
• 6. Skipping Warmups
• 7. Overhitting the Ball
• 8. Moving Too Slowly
• 9. Poor Communication
• 10. Being Too Predictable
• 11. Lack of Anticipation
• 12. Poor Awareness
• 13. Playing Too Passively
• 14. Bad Technique
• 15. Obsessing Over Winning
• Frequently Asked Questions About Pickleball Mistakes

1. Poor Footwork

I can’t count how many times I’ve seen players with incredible paddle skills miss easy shots because their feet just weren’t in the right zip code. Pickleball rewards footwork more than brute strength. If your feet are stuck in concrete, or worse, dancing like they’re in a Zumba class while the ball zooms past, you’ll miss shots, hit weak returns, or misposition entirely. Good footwork is your dance partner on the court, guiding you to every ball with purpose.

How to Fix It:

• Adopt an Athletic Stance: Keep your feet shoulder width apart, knees soft and slightly bent, ready to spring in any direction. Think of a coiled spring.
• Use Small, Quick Shuffle Steps: Avoid long, lunge like strides that leave you off balance. Instead, use small, rapid steps to adjust to the ball’s trajectory and maintain balance between hits. These are often called “ready steps.” (Try This: Practice “shadow steps” with no paddle, 10 reps forward, backward, side-to-side on the kitchen line.)
• Incorporate Agility Drills: Train with agility ladders or cone drills off the court. These exercises dramatically improve your reaction time and ability to change direction quickly during a rally.
• Practice Shadow Swings with Footwork: As you practice your stroke, imagine the ball coming and move your feet into the correct position. Make footwork part of every drill.

Mini Recap:

• Prioritize balance and granular foot control.
• Quick, small steps consistently beat long, lunging strides.
• Your speed is useless without stability.

2. Incorrect Grip

Your grip is quite literally the foundation of your control over the paddle and the ball. If your paddle angle feels off, your hand cramps after a few minutes, or your shots lack consistency, you’re probably gripping wrong. It’s like trying to write a masterpiece with a pencil held upside down. I’ve seen players who can hit a blistering forehand struggle with dinks simply because their grip locked them into a single plane.

How to Fix It:

• Start with a Continental Grip: Often called the “handshake grip,” this is your versatile go to. It allows you to hit forehands, backhands, serves, and volleys without constantly changing your hand position.
• Relax Your Fingers and Wrist: A death grip on the paddle creates tension, reducing your finesse and power. Think of holding a baby bird, firm enough not to drop it, but gentle enough not to crush it. This improves touch for dinks and drops.
• Consider Overgrips or Build Ups: If your paddle handle feels too small, an overgrip or Hesacore can provide a more comfortable and secure hold, allowing for better control and less hand fatigue.
• Experiment with Grip Pressure: Learn to vary your grip pressure. A looser grip for soft shots like dinks, and a firmer grip for power shots like drives.

PickleTip Pro Insight: If you’re shanking backhands into the fence or popping up dinks like a helium balloon, 8 out of 10 times, it’s your grip, not your overall technique. I’ve personally fixed more strokes and improved more games just by helping players adjust their grip pressure and angle. It matters, truly.

3. Letting Your Mind Drift Mid-Rally

Ever caught yourself staring at the clouds between points, or mentally replaying that last missed shot while the next rally is already underway? A lapse in focus can lead to unforced errors, missed poaches, and those utterly silly “let” calls that cost you momentum. In pickleball, every point is a new opportunity, and a wandering mind is an open invitation for your opponent to score.

How to Fix It:

• Implement Pre Point Routines: Before each serve or return, take a short, deliberate breath, tap your paddle on your leg, or adjust your grip. These small actions cue your brain to reset and focus on the immediate task.
• Visualize Success: Between points, visualize yourself hitting a perfect shot or making a crucial save. Positive visualization reinforces good habits and reduces anxiety.
• Minimize Distractions: This sounds obvious, but put your phone away during play. Avoid unnecessary conversations on the sidelines during a game. Stay present and engaged with the game happening right in front of you.
• Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can impair cognitive function. Keep water nearby and sip regularly to maintain mental clarity.

Mini Recap:

• Recharge your mental battery between every point.
• Small routines build big focus muscles.
• Your concentration is as vital as your forehand.

4. Neglecting Strategy

Most players, especially those starting out, default to playing hard and fast, hitting the ball back wherever it goes. But that’s not always smart, and it’s certainly not strategic. Strategy in pickleball is about understanding your partner’s strengths, knowing your own preferred shots, and exploiting your opponent’s weaknesses. It’s a chess match played with paddles and a wiffle ball.

How to Fix It:

• Define Partner Roles: Before the game starts, communicate who covers the middle, who is responsible for lobs, and who will take overheads. This avoids confusion and hesitation during critical moments.
• Vary Your Shot Selection: Don’t just hit every third shot drop. Learn when to hit a drop, when to drive, and when to try a soft dink. Keep your opponents guessing.
• Attack Weaknesses: Identify your opponent’s weaker side (forehand or backhand), their tendencies (do they always hit crosscourt?), and exploit them. This doesn’t mean relentlessly pounding on them, but strategically placing balls where they are less comfortable.
• Practice Court Positioning: Understand where you and your partner should be on the court at all times. For example, moving to the Non Volley Zone (NVZ) as a team after the third shot is crucial. Want more help with court movement? Check out our Pickleball Triangle Rule guide.

5. Ignoring the Rules

This sounds like a no brainer, but I’ve seen countless games, even competitive ones, where players lose points or even entire games because they didn’t fully understand the rules. If you don’t know the kitchen rules (Non Volley Zone), the serve sequence, or the fault definitions, you’ll find yourself giving away free points, no matter how great your shots are. The pickleball rulebook isn’t just for referees; it’s your tactical advantage.

How to Fix It:

• Study the Official Rulebook: Dedicate some time to reading the official USA Pickleball rules. Pay close attention to nuanced rules like the double bounce rule, serving faults, and NVZ violations.
• Watch Rule Explanation Videos: Many online resources break down complex rules into easy to understand visuals.
• Practice with a Referee’s Mindset: During casual play, try to call out faults correctly. This helps internalize the rules.
• Clarify with Experienced Players: If you are unsure about a rule, ask more experienced players or a local instructor for clarification.

6. Skipping Warmups

Think warming up is just for pros or people with bad knees? Think again. Jumping straight onto the court and swinging for the fences is a surefire way to pull a muscle, strain a joint, or simply play sluggishly for the first few points. A proper warm up isn’t just about preventing injury; it’s about priming your body and mind to perform at its peak from the very first serve. It’s like putting premium gas in your car before a long trip.

How to Fix It:

• Light Cardio: Start with 5-10 minutes of light cardio like jogging in place, jumping jacks, or brisk walking to get your blood flowing and muscles warm.
• Dynamic Stretches: Perform dynamic stretches such as arm circles, leg swings, torso twists, and lunges. These stretches improve flexibility and range of motion without holding static positions.
• Paddle Drills: Hit some light dinks, volleys, and groundstrokes with a partner. This gets a feel for the ball, your paddle, and the court before the intensity ramps up.
• Hydrate Early: Drink water before, during, and after play. Staying hydrated is key to muscle function and preventing cramps.

Mini Recap:

• Prioritize balance and granular foot control.
• Quick, small steps consistently beat long, lunging strides.
• Your speed is useless without stability.

7. Overhitting the Ball

Pickleball isn’t a home run derby. I often see new players wind up and hit the ball with all their might, only for it to sail out of bounds or into the net. Power has its place, especially for offensive drives, but without control, it just turns into unforced errors. It’s a classic pickleball mistake of trying to kill a fly with a sledgehammer. Consistency and placement trump raw power almost every time.

How to Fix It:

• Focus on Depth and Placement: Instead of hitting hard, aim for specific spots on the court that put your opponents in a tough position. Deep serves and returns, and dinks that drop just over the net, are often more effective than powerful slams.
• Control Your Swing Speed: Dial back the swing when inside the kitchen line or when aiming for a dink. For groundstrokes, use enough power to get the ball deep but maintain control.
• Prioritize Consistency: Practice hitting 10 good dinks in a row, or 10 deep groundstrokes. Train consistency before you ever think about adding velocity. The power will come naturally as your technique improves.
• Understand When to Attack: There are times for power shots, usually when you have an open court or your opponent is off balance. Learn to identify these opportunities rather than forcing power on every shot.

8. Moving Too Slowly

Delayed movement costs points in pickleball, plain and simple. This isn’t a sport where you can react late and expect to make up ground with a heroic stretch. Pickleball is a game of quick bursts and agile adjustments. If you’re flat footed, you’re already behind the ball, and that’s a pickleball mistake that will haunt your scorecard.

How to Fix It:

• Stay on the Balls of Your Feet: During every point, maintain a light, springy stance. Avoid standing flat footed. This allows for immediate explosive movement in any direction.
• Master the Split Step: As your opponent hits the ball, perform a small hop or split step. This pre loads your muscles, allowing for a quicker first step towards the ball. It’s your secret weapon for quick reactions. Try This: Practice mini-hops as your partner hits, landing ready to explode in any direction.
• Incorporate Agility Training: Drills like ladder drills, cone drills, and short sprints significantly improve your first step quickness and overall agility on the court.
• Practice Anticipation: The better you anticipate where the ball is going, the less ground you’ll need to cover. Combine anticipation with quick movement for maximum effect.

Mini Recap:

• Stay light on your feet, always.
• The split step is your best friend for reaction time.
• Train off court to move faster on court.

9. Poor Communication

Silence isn’t golden in doubles pickleball. It’s more like a silent killer of rallies. I’ve seen so many balls drop between partners because neither called “yours” or “mine.” Talk often, even if it’s just calling “out” or “switch.” Your partner isn’t a mind reader, and assuming they know what you’re thinking is a recipe for disaster and one of the easiest pickleball mistakes to avoid.

How to Fix It:

• Call Out Balls: Simply yelling “Mine,” “Yours,” or “Switch” for balls in the middle of the court is vital. For lobs, calling “Overhead” or “Let it go” ensures clarity.
• Set Pre Match Roles: Before the game, briefly discuss who typically covers what areas, especially the middle. This reduces mid rally confusion.
• Use Simple Signals: For more advanced play, agree on simple, quick signals for poaching, stacking, or specific shots.
• Offer Encouragement: Beyond tactical communication, encouraging your partner with “Good shot” or “Nice try” builds team morale and fosters better communication.

10. Being Too Predictable

If you always drop on the third shot, always drive from the baseline, or always dink crosscourt, better players will figure you out faster than you can say “pickle.” Being too predictable is like playing with your cards face up. It gives your opponents an unfair advantage, allowing them to anticipate your moves and counter them effectively. One of my students used to only ever hit straight ahead, and it was like watching paint dry until he realized he needed to add some flair. It’s one of the biggest pickleball mistakes I see. That’s when the light bulb went on!

How to Fix It:

• Mix Up Your Shots: Don’t rely on just one shot. Vary your serves (deep, short, spin), returns (drive, drop), and dinks (crosscourt, down the line).
• Change Pace and Spin: Sometimes a soft dink is more effective than a hard drive, and vice versa. Introduce different spins (topspin, backspin) to throw off your opponent’s timing.
• Target Different Areas: Don’t always aim for the same spot. Hit to your opponent’s forehand, then their backhand, then their feet. Keep them moving.
• Practice Unpredictable Scenarios: In drills, try to intentionally hit shots you wouldn’t normally. This expands your comfort zone and adds variety to your game.

Mini Recap:

• Variety is the spice of pickleball life.
• Keep your opponents guessing, literally.
• If they know what’s coming, you’ve already lost.

PickleTip Pro Insight: I always tell my students, “The moment you feel comfortable, you’re predictable.” That feeling is your cue to change something up—whether it’s a deep serve or a surprise flick dink. It’s playing chess, not checkers.

11. Lack of Anticipation

This is where the game moves from reacting to dictating. Many players watch the ball, but advanced players watch their opponent’s paddle, their body language, and their court positioning. If you learn to read opponents, you’re already one shot ahead. Lack of anticipation is a common pickleball mistake that keeps players stuck in a reactive loop instead of a proactive one.

How to Fix It:

• Watch the Opponent’s Body Language: Before they hit, observe their paddle face, their shoulders, and their hips. These often reveal where the ball is going.
• Study Their Tendencies: Does your opponent always hit crosscourt from a certain position? Do they favor drives or drops? Learning these patterns helps you predict their next move.
• Practice Drills That Require Prediction: Play “cat and mouse” drills where you try to anticipate your partner’s next shot rather than just reacting.
• Assume the Ball is Coming to You: Always be ready to move and hit, even if your partner is closer to the ball. This keeps you alert and prepared.

12. Poor Awareness

How many “out” balls have you hit back? How often do you find yourself bumping into your partner, or blocking their perfectly set up poach? Poor awareness isn’t just about where the ball is going; it’s about knowing your surroundings, including the court boundaries, the position of other players (both partners and opponents), and the trajectory of the ball. It’s a pickleball mistake that leads to frustrating errors and missed opportunities.

How to Fix It:

• Scan the Court Constantly: Develop a habit of scanning the court between points and during rallies. This includes your partner’s position, opponent’s positions, and the boundary lines.
• Call Out “Out” Balls: If a ball is clearly going out, call “Out” early to prevent your partner from hitting it back.
• Understand Your Partner’s Movement: Learn your partner’s habits and tendencies. This helps you avoid collisions and ensures you are covering the right parts of the court.
• Practice Positional Drills: Drills that require players to move to specific zones or cover certain areas of the court enhance court awareness.

Mini Recap:

• Know the lines, know your partner, know your opponents.
• A wandering eye can save a lost point.
• Your awareness is your silent teammate.

13. Playing Too Passively

Don’t confuse patience with passivity. Defense is vital in pickleball, no doubt about it. But playing too defensively, always reacting and never attacking, can limit your ability to win points and put pressure on your opponent. If you’re always reacting, you’ll eventually get overrun. Sometimes, you need to take the bull by the horns and apply pressure, even if it feels a little risky. It’s a common pickleball mistake to hang back too much.

How to Fix It:

• Recognize Offensive Opportunities: When your opponent hits a weak return, a high ball, or is out of position, seize the moment to attack with a drive or a well placed smash. Want to stop playing scared? Try our Pickleball Drive guide for controlled aggression.
• Move to the NVZ Aggressively: After your third shot, sprint to the Non Volley Zone (NVZ). This puts you in an offensive position and forces your opponents to hit around you.
• Be Ready to Poach: In doubles, if your partner is covering their side, be ready to poach (cross over) to intercept a weak shot in the middle.
• Practice Aggressive Shots: Drill offensive shots like overhead slams, drives, and volleys to build confidence in your attacking game.

14. Bad Technique

You can’t outwork poor mechanics forever. While effort and hustle are commendable, they won’t consistently overcome fundamental flaws in your game. Your footwork, grip, paddle angle, and swing path all matter, especially on the critical third shot drop or when battling at the kitchen line. Bad technique is a fundamental pickleball mistake that acts like a ceiling on your improvement. If you’re unsure where your technique breaks down, try recording a few points or drilling with a coach. It’s often the small adjustments that unlock massive progress.

How to Fix It:

• Seek Professional Coaching: A few sessions with a certified pickleball coach can identify and correct fundamental flaws in your technique that you might not even be aware of.
• Watch Instructional Videos: Utilize online resources like YouTube tutorials to understand proper technique for various shots. Pay attention to pros’ form.
• Drill Specific Techniques: Don’t just play games. Dedicate practice time to isolating specific shots and drilling their technique repeatedly until it becomes muscle memory.
• Record Yourself Playing: Sometimes, seeing yourself play is the most powerful way to identify technical flaws. It’s like watching a replay to see where you went wrong.

15. Obsessing Over Winning

This is probably the most insidious pickleball mistakes of all. The quickest way to ruin your growth, your enjoyment, and your mood on the court is focusing too much on the outcome of every point or game. While winning is undeniably fun, if it’s your only focus, you’ll find yourself frustrated, anxious, and less likely to experiment or learn from errors. Play points, not pressure. Learn more from each mistake than each win, and progress takes care of itself. The journey of improvement is far more rewarding than any single victory.

How to Fix It:

• Set Process Goals: Instead of “win the game,” set goals like “hit 80% of my serves deep” or “make three third shot drops in a row.” Focus on the process of playing well.
• Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities: Every missed shot or lost point is data. Analyze what went wrong, and learn from it.
• Focus on Enjoyment: Remember why you started playing pickleball. It’s a fun, social sport. Prioritize enjoyment over winning, and ironically, you might find yourself winning more.
• Celebrate Small Wins: A great dink, a powerful drive, a well executed volley, celebrate these moments of good play regardless of the score.

PickleTip Pro Insight: When I finally let go of needing to win every rally, my focus improved overnight. Sometimes your best growth happens when you stop gripping the paddle, and the scoreboard, so tightly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pickleball Mistakes

Turn Pickleball Mistakes into Momentum

Pickleball mistakes aren’t the end of the road. In fact, they’re the data points your future game depends on, the breadcrumbs leading you to mastery. Spot them early, fix them with intention, and keep the joy alive in your play. I still cringe thinking about that blown lob that cost me a game, but that specific pickleball mistake made me the player I am today. It taught me invaluable lessons about focus and shot selection, and probably saved me from making the same error a dozen more times.

Learn From Your Pickleball Mistakes

Every time you step on the court, you have an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if it means hitting a few balls out of bounds. The players who improve the fastest are those who are willing to analyze their errors and actively work to correct them. So next time you make a mistake, don’t dwell on it. Instead, say “Got it!”, learn from it, and move on. Your better game is just around the corner.

Want more insight like this? Check out our guide to how to hold a pickleball paddle, it’s more game changing than you’d think, and it directly impacts many of the pickleball mistakes we discussed here.

Still catching yourself making one of these mistakes? That’s part of the journey. Print this list, circle your top two, and work on just those this week. Improvement starts with awareness, and you’re already ahead of the game.