8 Common Pickleball Mistakes: A new video has shared valuable tips for beginners to improve their pickleball game. The video focuses on correcting common mistakes that advanced beginners often make, offering easy solutions to help players progress.
Fixing Paddle Mistakes
One common issue occurs when players hit the ball on the neck of the paddle. This not only feels awkward but sounds unpleasant too.
To fix this, players should aim for the tip of the paddle instead of the neck. While this may feel unusual at first, it can improve shot consistency by ensuring the ball hits the sweet spot.
Swinging Errors
Many players use short, choppy swings to control the ball. However, this leads to inconsistency. The solution is to use a longer, slower swing, which helps maintain control over the paddle and improve shot accuracy. Fluid, smooth motions are key to better performance on the court.
Wrist Flicking and Stability
Using the wrist too much in pickleball can lead to unpredictable shots. To fix this, players should focus on keeping their wrists stable during their swings.
A stable wrist, with the paddle following through smoothly, results in better control and consistency.
Purposeful Dinks
Another mistake is hitting aimless shots, especially during dinking. Without a target, shots can become erratic.
Players should focus on hitting soft, purposeful shots into the kitchen and aim for specific areas like their opponent’s backhand to increase precision and control.
Ready Position
When players finish a shot, some make the mistake of leaving their paddle dangling or holding it in an awkward position.
This makes them vulnerable to fast volleys. To improve, players should return to a proper ready position with the paddle in front of them and slightly angled upward, allowing for quick reactions.
Backhand Footwork
For backhand shots in pickleball, players sometimes fail to step into the shot, which affects power and control. To fix this, they should take at least two steps to prepare for a backhand shot, ensuring better balance and a more effective swing.
High Shots and Pop-ups
When a high shot comes their way, many players panic and swing instinctively. This often leads to errors or hitting the ball out of bounds.
The key is to let go of the instinct to swing at high shots, especially if they’re above shoulder height. This simple adjustment can help players avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Controlling Volleys
Overreacting to fast volleys can result in pop-ups, where the ball is sent too high and becomes easy for opponents to attack.
To fix this, players should resist the urge to overcompensate and instead focus on lightly nudging the ball with their paddle, ensuring it stays low and precise.
News in Brief: 8 Common Pickleball Mistakes
A new video provides helpful tips for beginner pickleball players. It covers common pickleball mistakes such as hitting the paddle’s neck, short swings, wrist flicking, aimless dinks, poor ready positions, and improper footwork.
It also offers advice for managing high shots and controlling fast volleys, aiming to help players improve consistency, control, and shot accuracy.
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