5 Common Pickleball Mistakes That Are Holding Your Game Back

If you’ve been playing pickleball for a while but feel like your game has stopped improving, you might be making a few small mistakes that are holding you back. The good news? These are common mistakes that many players make—and they’re usually quite easy to fix.

Here are five things to look out for the next time you’re on the court.

1. Standing Too Far Back From the Kitchen

One of the biggest mistakes beginner and lower-intermediate players make is staying too far behind the kitchen line.

The kitchen line is where you generally want to be in a doubles rally. Being closer to the net gives you more opportunities to attack and puts pressure on your opponents.

Try to work on moving forward together with your partner when the opportunity is there. Just remember that you shouldn't blindly rush forward—you need a good drop, reset or other appropriate shot to help you get there safely.

2. Trying to Hit Winners Too Early

Pickleball isn't always about hitting the hardest or fastest shot. In fact, trying to finish the point too early is a common reason players make unnecessary errors.

If the ball is low, don't force an aggressive shot. Instead, keep the rally going and wait for a better opportunity.

A patient player who consistently keeps the ball in play will often beat a player who is constantly looking for the winner.

3. Not Moving With Your Partner

In doubles, you should generally move as a team. If your partner moves forward and you stay back, or one player moves significantly further across the court than the other, you can leave big gaps for your opponents to attack.

Try to stay connected with your partner and move together. Good communication also helps—simple calls like "mine", "yours" or "switch" can prevent confusion.

4. Always Hitting to the Same Spot

Variety is important in pickleball. If you constantly hit the ball to the same opponent or same location, your opponents will quickly work out what you're doing.

Mix things up by using the middle, sidelines, opponents' backhands and different depths. You don't need to hit spectacular shots—good placement can be just as effective as power.

5. Practising Without a Purpose

Simply playing game after game is fun, but it isn't always the fastest way to improve.

If you want to take your game to the next level, spend some time working specifically on the areas you struggle with. This could be your third-shot drop, dinking, resets, volleys, footwork or serve consistency.

Purposeful drills allow you to repeat a particular shot and build confidence before using it in a real match.

Final Thoughts

Improving your pickleball game doesn't always mean learning a new fancy shot. Sometimes, it's about fixing the simple things that are costing you points.

If you're looking to improve your game, our pickleball coaching lessons in Auckland can help identify areas for improvement and give you practical drills to work on. We offer both private coaching and group sessions, so you can develop your skills while playing with other players of a similar level.

Fix the basics, play smarter, and you'll be surprised how quickly your game can improve.

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