Pickleball may be one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, but even the most enthusiastic players can fall into bad habits on the court. Whether you’re brand new to the game or have been playing for years, avoiding common mistakes is key to improving your skills, winning more rallies and enjoying every match.
At True Pickleball Treasures, we don’t just celebrate the fun side of pickleball but we also want to help players sharpen their game. Let’s take a closer look at five common pickleball mistakes and how you can avoid them.
1. Standing Too Close to the Baseline After Serving
One of the most frequent mistakes beginners make is standing too close to the baseline after serving. Because of pickleball’s “two-bounce rule,” you must let the return of serve bounce before hitting it. If you’re standing on or just behind the baseline, you’ll often find yourself cramped, forced to hit the ball awkwardly or even stepping back to adjust.
How to Avoid It: After serving, take a step or two back so you’re prepared to receive the return comfortably. This adjustment gives you more reaction time and ensures you hit a cleaner, controlled shot.
2. Charging the Kitchen Line Too Early
The “kitchen” or non-volley zone, is one of the most unique aspects of pickleball. Many players know that being close to the kitchen line is advantageous, but a common error is rushing there too quickly. Charging up without setting up your shot first often leaves you vulnerable to lobs or fast drives you can’t return.
How to Avoid It: Move toward the kitchen line strategically. Focus on hitting a strong third shot (like a drop shot) that gives you time to move forward safely. This way, you control the pace of the rally instead of putting yourself in a weak position.
3. Overhitting the Ball
It’s tempting to go for power in pickleball, especially for players coming from tennis or other racket sports. However, pickleball is often more about placement and patience than brute force. Smashing every shot usually leads to balls flying out of bounds or into the net.
How to Avoid It: Focus on shot placement over power. Target open spaces on the court and practice consistency with your dinks and drops. Remember, many rallies are won through strategy and patience rather than raw power.
4. Ignoring Footwork and Court Positioning
A lot of players get caught up in swinging their paddle but forget that good footwork is just as important. Poor positioning leads to missed shots, unforced errors and unnecessary scrambling. Staying flat-footed is one of the fastest ways to lose a rally.
How to Avoid It: Stay light on your feet and ready to move in any direction. Keep your knees slightly bent and avoid planting yourself in one spot. Good positioning not only improves your reaction time but also keeps you prepared for strategic shot placement.
5. Forgetting to Communicate in Doubles Play
Pickleball doubles is where most players spend their time, and lack of communication is one of the biggest mistakes teams make. Miscommunication leads to two players chasing the same shot or worse, watching the ball drop right between them.
How to Avoid It: Develop clear signals or phrases with your partner. Call “mine” or “yours” loudly and early. Establish who covers lobs, middle shots and sideline returns before the match starts. Effective communication can make a good team great.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding these common mistakes can transform your pickleball game from frustrating to fun. By focusing on positioning, patience, communication and smart shot selection, you’ll build consistency and confidence on the court.
At True Pickleball Treasures, we believe pickleball isn’t just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. Our unique pickleball-inspired designs celebrate the spirit of the game while reminding players to keep learning and improving every time they step on the court.
Pickleball is more than just hitting the ball back and forth; it’s about strategy, teamwork and building a community. Keep these tips in mind the next time you play and you’ll not only avoid common mistakes, you’ll start playing smarter, sharper and stronger.
