Pickleball Common Errors: Avoid These Mistakes (2026)

Hitting the Ball Out of Bounds or Into the Net

This is perhaps the most common error, often stemming from trying to hit too hard or not focusing on proper technique and aim. Consistency is more important than power.

Correction Focus on control and placement. Slow down your swing and aim for the middle of the court, especially when under pressure. Practice dinks and drops to develop a softer touch. Ensure your paddle face is angled correctly for the desired trajectory.

Key Takeaway Prioritize getting the ball in play over hitting a winner. Many points are won by simply not making an unforced error.

Violating the Non-Volley Zone (The Kitchen)

Stepping into the kitchen or touching the kitchen line while volleying is a common fault that can cost you points. This often happens when players get too aggressive at the net.

Correction Be mindful of your footwork. Practice stopping before the kitchen line when approaching the net. If you hit a volley, ensure both feet are outside the kitchen. Remember, you can enter the kitchen to retrieve a ball that has bounced, but not to volley.

Key Takeaway Respect the kitchen. It's there to encourage dinking and strategic play, not power volleys from close range.

Poor Shot Selection (Banging vs. Dinking)

Many players, especially beginners, tend to bang the ball from the baseline, neglecting the strategic advantage of dinking at the net. This often leads to unforced errors or easy put-aways for opponents.

Correction Understand when to dink and when to drive. If you are at the kitchen line and your opponents are also at the kitchen line, dinking is often the optimal shot. Use drives when you have an open court or an opponent is out of position.

Key Takeaway Pickleball is a game of patience and strategy. Don't always go for the kill shot; set up your points with well-placed dinks.

Incorrect Serving Technique and Faults

Serving faults are common and can give away easy points. These include hitting the ball above the waist, not serving diagonally, or stepping on the baseline during the serve.

Correction Ensure your serve is underhand and the paddle makes contact with the ball below your waist. Aim for the diagonal service box. Keep both feet behind the baseline until after you've hit the ball. Practice your serve motion slowly to build muscle memory.

Key Takeaway A consistent and legal serve is the foundation of every point. Don't rush it; focus on proper form.

Not Moving to the Non-Volley Zone Line After the Serve

After serving, many players stay at the baseline, giving their opponents an advantage by allowing them to control the net. This leaves a large open court for opponents to hit into.

Correction As soon as you serve, move quickly with your partner to the non-volley zone line. This puts you in an offensive position and reduces the amount of court your opponents can hit into. The third shot drop is designed to give you time to make this move.

Key Takeaway Control the net, control the point. Getting to the kitchen line is paramount for both serving and receiving teams.