Pickleball is a fun and popular sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It can be played by people of all ages and skill levels, but there are some common mistakes in pickleball that beginners tend to make.
In this article, we’ll discuss the 10 most common mistakes in pickleball and some expert’s tips for how to avoid these common errors and get better in pickleball. So, if you’re a beginner to the sport or want to learn pickleball more to enhance your game, this pickleball guide will help you with that.
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10 Most Common Pickleball Mistakes
Here are the top 10 most common pickleball mistakes and also some tips from experts to learn how to avoid them.
Scooting Up After The Serve
Many beginners move up too close to the net after serving, which leaves them vulnerable to deep returns or lobs. Instead, you should stay back near the baseline until you see where the return is going, and then move up gradually with your partner. learn more about how to serve good in pickleball.
Getting Too Fancy With Spin
Some beginners try to add too much spin to their shots, which can result in errors or weak returns. Spin is a useful skill, but it should be used sparingly and strategically. Instead, you should focus on hitting the ball with good pace, placement, and consistency.
Smashing Balls Too Early
Some beginners get excited when they see a high ball and try to smash it for a winner, but they often end up hitting it out or into the net. Smashing is a risky shot that requires good timing and technique. Instead, you should wait for the right opportunity to smash, such as when the ball is above your shoulder and you have a clear angle.
Kitchen Faults
The kitchen, or the non-volley zone, is the area within 7 feet of the net on both sides of the court. You are not allowed to step into the kitchen or touch the kitchen line when you volley (hit the ball in the air). Many beginners commit kitchen faults by either stepping into the kitchen accidentally or by reaching over the kitchen line to volley. Instead, you should keep your feet behind the line and let the ball bounce before hitting it in the kitchen.
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Bad Serving Techniques
The serve is one of the most important shots in pickleball, as it starts every rally and gives you a chance to score points. However, many beginners have bad serving techniques that result in faults or weak serves. Some common mistakes are hitting the ball too hard, too soft, too high, too low, or out of bounds. Instead, you should practice your serve with proper form and aim for a deep and consistent serve that clears the net comfortably.
Forehands Up The Middle
Many beginners tend to hit most of their shots with their forehand, even when the ball is on their backhand side. This can result in awkward shots that expose their weaknesses or leave gaps on the court. Instead, you should learn to use both your forehand and backhand equally and hit crosscourt shots when possible to create more angles and pressure on your opponents.
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Not Letting Balls Go Out
Many beginners have a hard time judging whether a ball is going to land in or out of bounds, especially on deep shots or lobs. They often end up hitting balls that would have gone out, which gives their opponents an easy point or a chance to attack. Instead, you should watch the ball carefully and use your paddle as a guide to measure where it will land. If you are not sure, let it bounce and then decide whether to play it or not.
Standing In No Man’s Land
No man’s land is the area between the baseline and the kitchen line, where you are vulnerable to both short and long shots. Many beginners tend to stand in no man’s land either because they are afraid of getting too close to the net or because they are not confident in their groundstrokes. Instead, you should avoid standing in no man’s land and try to move up to the kitchen line with your partner as soon as possible after hitting a good third shot drop.
Playing A One-Dimensional Game
Some beginners rely on only one type of shot or strategy, such as hitting hard drives or playing defensively. This can make them predictable and easy to counter by their opponents. Instead, you should try to vary your shots and tactics according to the situation and your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. For example, you can mix up drives, drops, dinks, lobs, smashes, volleys, angles, spins, etc.
Trying To Hit Smashes On Low Balls
Some beginners try to hit smashes on balls that are too low or too close to the net, which can result in hitting them into the net or giving away easy volleys. Smashing is only effective when you have enough height and distance to generate power and angle. Instead, you should recognize when a ball is not smashable and either hit a soft shot over the net or reset the rally by hitting a deep shot to the baseline.
These are the most common pickleball mistakes that beginners make and how to avoid them. By following these expert guide & tips, you can improve your game and have more fun on the court.
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