5 Pickleball Blunders Every Newbie Makes: New players learning pickleball often make key mistakes that can slow their progress, but with the right guidance, they can improve quickly and enjoy the game more. A new video offers helpful tips for beginners, showing them what to avoid and how to grow their skills fast.
The guide, released today, outlines five of the most common mistakes made by new pickleball players and provides simple advice on how to fix them. From avoiding soft shots to fearing the net, each pickleball tip is designed to help beginners play smarter and get better results.
The Fun Start and the First Setbacks
Pickleball is fun and easy to start. The learning curve is not steep, which helps players feel comfortable early on. But making mistakes is part of the game, and if beginners don’t correct them, they can get stuck.
“Everyone was a beginner at some point and I’ve personally made every mistake possible,”.
The goal of the video is to help players avoid frustration, speed up their improvement, and enjoy the sport more fully.
Avoiding the Soft Game
New players often like to hit hard shots. While that can be fun, it doesn’t always work. If you’re far from the net, strong returns can land at your feet and leave you struggling.
To get better faster, it’s important to learn the “soft game,” which includes drop shots and dinks at the non-volley zone.
“In my experience, it was more difficult to start with only driving the ball and then learning to soften up my shots instead of the other way around,” (host explained).
Hiding Weaknesses Doesn’t Help
Many players avoid their weak spots, like backhands. This might work at first but becomes a problem as others figure it out.
“Make a list of what they are or ask a friend, then commit to working on them or drilling them,”.
Attacking Low Balls Leads to Trouble
Another mistake is hitting hard when the ball is below the knees, also called the red zone. This often leads to errors.
“The better approach is to return an unattackable shot into your opponent’s kitchen,”(viewers).
Respect the Net or Lose the Point
Some beginners try to barely clear the net to keep the shot low. But even a small mistake can send the ball into the net.
“A high ball over the net is better than one in the net that ends the rally,” .
The Net is Your Best Friend
A major mistake is staying near the baseline during doubles play. The strongest position is close to the non-volley zone.
“Instead of hitting a third shot and watching it… focus on hitting an unattackable drop shot that gives you the time to get to the net,”.
Why It Matters
Pickleball continues to grow quickly across the country. New players are joining every day. Learning the right habits early can help more people enjoy the game and play for longer.
By fixing these common pickleball mistakes, players can progress faster and have more fun. As the video host says,
“It’s my hope that with this video you’ll learn how to avoid those mistakes that can hold you back.”
News in Brief: 5 Pickleball Blunders Every Newbie Makes
A new video highlights five common mistakes beginner pickleball players make, like avoiding soft shots, ignoring weaknesses, and staying near the baseline. It offers simple tips to fix them and improve faster. The host, who has made these mistakes, hopes to help new players enjoy the game more and grow their skills with better habits from the start.
ALSO READ: From Clubfoot to Champion: How 73-Year-Old “Zack Attack” Dominates Global Pickleball