Pickleball Unforced Errors Solutions: Pickleball players struggling with consistency may be making too many unforced errors. In a recent coaching session, a player with seven years of experience explained that these errors usually come from three areas: lack of discipline, lack of insight, and poor footwork. Fixing these problems can make a huge difference on the court.
Lack of Discipline
Many players make mistakes by trying risky shots they don’t practice. The coach said, “One thing you need to stop doing for sure, 100% is to stop doing shots you know you don’t have.” For example, hitting a two-handed backhand roll from midcourt may look cool, but it’s very hard to pull off. Most players will either miss-hit the ball, hit it into the net, or send it out.
He demonstrated this with a partner named Linda and said, “I can hardly even make the shot.” Even though he made a few, it took several tries. The coach emphasized that it’s better to avoid flashy, low-percentage shots during a match.
He also explained how driving from midcourt is a common tactical mistake. “The absolute number one unforced error when it comes to tactics that I see personally is driving from midcourt,” he said. If players drive the ball right at their opponent from midcourt, it often gets blocked or redirected to an open space. He advised using smart, spin-heavy shots instead.
He stressed that keeping the game simple helps. “You got to drop the ego. You got to drop the fancy shots. You got to drop the extravagance. The more boring your pickle ball game is, the better it is.”
Lack of Insight
The coach also talked about the need for insight—knowing what your opponent is doing or planning to do. While rallying with Linda, he used half-colored balls to see the spin and learn from her technique.
“To understand, get insight into what Linda is doing, I have to basically do two things. I have to a watch her body language and watch how she’s swinging through the ball. And then B, I have to watch the spin on the ball,” he explained.
He encouraged players to think “opponent first.” Before making a shot, they should observe their opponent’s movements and spin. That helps in choosing the right response.
When Linda hit the ball hard, he responded gently to avoid popping the ball up. “She hit that ball kind of hard, didn’t she? I saw that coming,” he said. He used this approach throughout the rally to reduce errors and improve consistency.
Another part of insight is fixing mishits. “The solution to mishits, practice more,” he said. But if players notice they always mishit on the same part of the paddle, that pattern needs attention. “If it’s consistent, then that is a different thing entirely.”
He advised trying the opposite motion to fix it. “Force it. Sit right here and then force yourself to hit it on the tip of your paddle,” he said.
Lack of Footwork
Finally, poor footwork may be the main reason for many unforced errors. The coach shared his personal motto: “Feet first, swing later.” He demonstrated this with Linda by reacting with his feet before swinging.
“The feet come first. Absolutely 100%. The feet always come first,” he said. By watching his opponent and using good foot movement, he could hit better shots.
For players with limited mobility, he recommended lunging and taking big steps for short balls. He also highlighted the need for foot resets after every shot.
“Reset my feet here. Reset my feet here. Reset my feet,” he said as he moved on the court. He warned players not to watch the ball after hitting it, but instead move into position for the next shot.
He closed by saying, “There are solutions to these problems. I promise you that.” By working on discipline, insight, and footwork, players can greatly reduce their unforced errors.
News in Brief: Pickleball Unforced Errors Solutions
A veteran pickleball player revealed how unforced errors often come from lack of discipline, insight, and footwork. He used live demonstrations with Linda to show how to fix these problems. Key advice includes avoiding risky shots, reading opponents carefully, and improving movement. These tips can quickly boost game performance.