The 10 mistakes everyone makes when starting pickleball
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We all make these mistakes. They aren't about clumsiness: they're instincts you bring from other sports, or things nobody tells you on day one.
They're ordered by what is costing you the most on the scoreboard.
1. Staying at the baseline
The mistake: planting yourself behind the baseline and playing from there, like in tennis.
Why you lose: on a court of 44 feet (13 meters), whoever is at the net controls the point. From the baseline you can only defend, and any well-placed drop shot forces you to run forward at a disadvantage.
The fix: move up to the kitchen line as soon as the two-bounce rule lets you. The default position in pickleball is next to the kitchen, not at the back. It's hard to unlearn, but it's what raises your level fastest.
2. Hitting everything hard
The mistake: trying to win the point with power.
Why you lose: the ball is light plastic and the court is short. Power goes out or arrives comfortably to the opponent, who is at the net waiting.
The fix: learn the drop shot. The shot that wins matches in pickleball is the soft ball that lands in the opponent's kitchen and doesn't let them attack. It's counterintuitive and it's the whole sport.
3. Forgetting the two-bounce rule
The mistake: volleying the return of serve.
Why it happens: pure instinct. You see a comfortable ball and go for it.
The fix: the first few matches, say "let it bounce" out loud after serving. It sounds ridiculous and it works. If you get confused, you have the rules explained here.
4. Stepping into the kitchen from momentum
The mistake: you volley from outside but the momentum of the shot carries a foot inside.
Why it happens: you're moving forward looking for the ball and don't brake in time.
The fix: hit with your weight balanced, not falling forward. If you have to stretch a lot, it's better to let the ball bounce than to volley and commit a fault.
5. Playing sideways, like in tennis
The mistake: turning your body sideways to hit.
Why you lose: at the net the game is so fast there's no time to turn. And sideways you take twice as long to get back to position.
The fix: at the kitchen you play facing forward, paddle up and in front of your body, moving only the forearm. Like a hockey goalie, not like a tennis player.
6. Dropping the paddle between shots
The mistake: letting the paddle hang at hip height while you wait.
Why you lose: at the net you have less than a second to react. If the paddle is down, you don't get there.
The fix: paddle up, at chest height, always. It's the habit that will win you the most volleys.
7. Not communicating with your partner
The mistake: playing in silence and letting the balls down the middle fall between the two of you.
The fix: call "mine" or "yours" out loud, and also "out" when you see the ball going out. In doubles, the ball down the middle is by default taken by whoever has it on their forehand.
8. Each moving on their own
The mistake: one moves up to the net and the other stays back.
Why you lose: you leave a huge diagonal gap that anyone can exploit.
The fix: the pair moves as if tied together by a 10-foot rope. If one advances, the other advances. If one goes to the sideline, the other shifts toward the center.
9. Playing too much the first week
The mistake: getting hooked and playing five days in a row.
Why it happens: pickleball doesn't leave you out of breath, so you don't perceive the load. But the volume of repeated movements —bends at the kitchen, lateral plants, paddle impacts— does add up.
The fix: two or three sessions the first two weeks, with a rest day in between. And look at how you feel the next day, not how you feel at the end of the match.
Five minutes of warm-up beforehand help more than it seems: here is an eight-minute routine.
10. Assuming your gear is fine
The mistake: showing up in your running shoes.
Why it matters: a running shoe is tall and soft because it is designed for moving straight ahead. On a hard lateral plant it tips over, and that's where ankle scares appear.
The fix: if you have padel or hard-court tennis shoes, you're set. If not, it's the first sensible purchase. We go into it in what shoes you need for pickleball.
And look at what's inside: the stock insole in almost any shoe is a sheet of foam worth next to nothing, and it's the only piece that touches your foot the whole match.
How to know which of these you're making
Almost nobody makes all ten. These three symptoms tell you which is yours:
- "I lose points even though I return everything." You're too far back. Mistake 1.
- "My balls go long or get smashed at the net." You're hitting too hard. Mistake 2.
- "I'm late on fast balls at the net." Your paddle is down. Mistake 6.
Fix one per session. Trying to fix three at once doesn't work: you end up thinking so much that you play worse than before.
The mistake that isn't technique: the third shot
If you've already solved the ten above, the next step is the third shot of the point, and it's where most amateur matches are decided.
The sequence is: you serve, they return, and that third shot is the one you have to play to be able to move up to the net. Almost everyone hits it hard and flat, and stays trapped at the back.
The alternative is a soft ball that lands in the opponent's kitchen. It stops them from attacking and gives you the two seconds you need to advance. It's the hardest shot in the sport and the one that will raise your level the most.
Three things that are NOT mistakes even if they feel like it
- Playing long points. Trading ten soft balls before attacking isn't indecision, it's the right tactic.
- The paddle making noise. Fiber paddles sound sharp. It's normal.
- Not being able to beat people older than you. It's a sport of placement, not physique. A well-positioned 60-year-old beats a 25-year-old running, and it happens constantly. If you're interested in the topic, we go into it here.
A four-week plan
- Week 1: position only. Move up to the net whenever the rule allows.
- Week 2: paddle up, facing forward, without turning your body.
- Week 3: drop shots. No smashing; everything lands soft in the kitchen.
- Week 4: the third shot. By then you're really playing pickleball.
The summary in one sentence
Move up to the net, hit softer than your body wants to, and don't play five days in a row the first week.
With that alone you'll play better than most people who are starting out.
Related guides
- What the dink is and how to practice it
- Doubles: positions and strategy
- Picking up the ball without bending down
About paddles and sets
If you're putting your kit together, in our shop you'll find the ACE paddle and the STRIDE insoles.
