• About
  • Blog
  • Pickleball Clinics
  • Private & Group Lessons
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Work with Us
  • User Reviews

PickleballMAX

Maximize your Pickleball Potential

  • Home
  • Pickleball 101
    • Pickleball Rules
  • Strategy
  • Shots
  • Tournaments
  • Wellness
  • Gear
    • Pickleball Accessories
    • Pickleball Bags
    • Pickleball Clothing
    • Pickleball Glasses
    • Pickleball Machines
    • Portable Nets
    • Pickleball Paddles
    • Pickleball Sets
    • Pickleball Shoes
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
You are here: Home / Strategies & Tips / Top 10 Technique & Strategy Flaws Impeding Your Pickleball Progress

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.

Top 10 Technique & Strategy Flaws Impeding Your Pickleball Progress

We’ve all been there.  We exhibit meteoric pickleball improvement and progress during the first several weeks or months of playing — or perhaps, even years — and then, we hit a performance plateau. We just can’t seem to bust through any further.

Pickleball-Technique-Strategy-Flaws-Impeding-Progress

It’s happened to all of us.  When this inevitably occurs, it’s important to put on an “objective hat” and see if any of the following technique and strategy flaws may be impeding your pickleball progress.

Top 10 Technique & Strategy Flaws [that may be] Impeding your Pickleball Progress

  1. [Technique]  You are taking too big of a backswing on volleys at the NVZ line.  This is a common mistake, even for the most seasoned of players.  For volleys, you want to minimize or eliminate your back swing and always keep your paddle in front of your body.
  2. [Technique]  Your contact point (where your paddle hits the ball) is too far behind your body.  This could be relevant for the full repertoire of shots — volleys, dinks, drives and drops. Make sure your contact point is well in front of your body.
  3. [Technique]  Your paddle is “dangling” below your waist after you execute each shot.  This is a common mistake, particularly for pickleball newbies.  Instead, you want to be in a comfortable ready position.  When you are at the NVZ line, make sure your paddle is “up” so that if your opponent decides to blast one at your chest, you can simply block the ball back.  With the paddling dangling to your side, you will not have enough time to move the paddle in position on a harder shot.
  4. [Technique]  You are gripping the paddle too tightly for your dink shots and drop shots.  On a scale of 1-10, with one being the loosest and 10 being a death grip on the paddle, you want to be at about a 3.  Gripping the paddle too tightly will likely result in dinks or drops that go too far and too high — unfortunately, a veritable feast for your opponent.
  5. [Technique]  Footwork – you are crossing over (one leg over the other) when executing volley or dinks. While  this may at times be unavoidable because you are in desperation mode to get to the ball, most times you want to avoid crossing over and, instead, slide while leading with your outside leg. Doing so will help you stay square to your opponent and oncoming ball.
  6. [Technique]  You are running through your shots as you transition from the baseline to the NVZ line.  As a result, you are unbalanced and your shots come off the paddle “wildly.” To maintain balance, don’t forget to split step.
  7. [Strategy]  You are not close to the line when capturing the NVZ line — as far as a foot or two away from the line — perhaps even further.  Instead, you should be an inch or two behind the line. By being back away from the line, angles are opened up and it is easier to hit the ball at your feet.
  8. [Strategy]  Patience — You are going for too much when the ball is below the net-height level. Instead, stay patient (I know, easier said than done) and wait for a ball than you can hit with a descending blow.
  9. [Strategy]  Your returns of serves are too hard and too fast.  It sounds counter-intuitive, I know. One would think a harder return of serve is better.  But, it’s not.  Here’s why:  The harder return of serve gives you less time after you hit it to get up to the NVZ line.  A softer, higher, deeper return of serve may be the better strategic decision.
  10.  [Strategy]  You are dwelling on previous mistakes.  Like most sports, pickleball is a mental game.  Play only the next point — not previous points.  If you make a mistake forget about it.  Again, easier said than done!

pickleball technique

I hope you find these pickleball tips helpful.  Perhaps there’s one or more that will help you take your game to the next level.  Above all else, however, remember to have fun on the courts!  You got this!!!

For more strategy tips be sure to check out our pickleball strategy page.

See you on the courts!

>>READ NEXT: Top 10 Pickleball Doubles Strategies to Up Your Game!<<

Article by PickleballMAX / Filed Under: Strategies & Tips 7 Comments

Doubles Strategy Blueprint

Paddles, Shoes, Bags & More!

Pickleball Central

Pickleball Central

Order your favorite pickleball gear today!

Paddles, Shoes, Bags & More!

Fromuth Pickleball – Use Code “10MAX” for 10% Off!
  • Hundreds of pickleball paddles, court shoes, and bags in stock now and ready to be shipped.
  • Free Shipping on orders of $75+
  • Use Discount Code 10MAX for 10% off your purchase. (some exclusions apply)

Fromuth Pickleball

Order your favorite pickleball gear today!

Performance Eyewear (Sunglasses & Eye Protection)

RIA Eyewear
  • 100% UVA/UVB protection
  • Impact-resistant & shatterproof lenses
  • Lightweight, anti-fogging, and vision-enhancing (contrast of the ball to the court)

pickleball glasses
Order your RIA Performance Eyewear Today!

It’s Fun to Feel Good!

Jigsaw Health – Discount Code!
Use Code “PickleballMAX10” at Checkout for $10 off your Jigsaw Order.

Jigsaw Health

  • Relax your legs, muscles, and brain for better sleep with Jigsaw MagSoothe™.
  • Stay hydrated and energized with Jigsaw Electrolyte Supreme™.
  • Prevent muscle cramping with Pickleball Cocktail®.

Order Jigsaw Health Today!

About PickleballMAX

Tennis player turned pickleball player. I blog about how one maximizes their picklebility. Picklebility is simply defined as an embodiment of one's passion, ability and addiction to #pickleball. See you on the courts!

Comments

  1. Esbie says

    January 9, 2020 at 7:53 am

    Greatly appreciate!

    Reply
  2. Robin B says

    May 22, 2019 at 3:02 pm

    Once again, an awesome summary. I would also add that many improving players — that progress quickly from 3 to 3.5 but plateau just below 4.0 — never learn a competent overhead slam, let alone a killer one. They shuffle back facing the net and block something back with minimum power or placement. It can easily be exploited by anybody at 3.5 or above.

    Reply
    • PickleballMAX says

      May 23, 2019 at 2:58 pm

      Hi Robin, That’s an excellent observation. Proper overhead technique and positioning is crucial — not only for safety, but for finishing off points as well!

      Reply
  3. Ken says

    February 20, 2019 at 11:21 pm

    I think this is the best succinct set of tips I’ve ever read. Well done!

    Reply
    • PickleballMAX says

      February 21, 2019 at 12:56 pm

      Thank you, Ken, for your kind words. I greatly appreciate it.

      Reply
  4. Ron Rader says

    February 20, 2019 at 10:48 am

    Thanks for your simple, practical & well organized tips for improving & more importantly, enjoying this wonderful game we’ve all become passionate about.

    Reply
    • PickleballMAX says

      February 20, 2019 at 12:50 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind words, Ron. I appreciate the encouragement.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search this website

Guides

  • Pickleball for Beginners
  • Pickleball Clothing
  • Pickleball Court
  • Pickleball Equipment
  • Pickleball Net
  • Pickleball Paddles
  • Pickleball Ratings
  • Pickleball Rules
  • Pickleball Shoes
  • Pickleballs
  • Tournament Pickleball
  • What is Pickleball

Online Store

  • Paddles
  • Shoes
  • Balls
  • Online Pickleball Courses
  • Printables
  • Accessories
  • Pickleball Apparel
  • Bags
  • Ball Machines
  • Eyewear
  • Hydration & Recovery
  • Nets
  • Sets
  • Training Aids
  • Wellness
  • Home
  • Pickleball 101
  • Strategy
  • Shots
  • Tournaments
  • Wellness
  • Gear
  • Shop

PickleballMAX | PO Box 813| Mason, OH 45040
PickleballMAX participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Disclosure

x
x