Stop Losing Points to Unforced Errors! 5 Common Pickleball Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

If you’ve moved beyond the beginner stage and find yourself perpetually stuck in the intermediate skill range, you’re not alone. This is the stage where basic consistency is achieved, but winning points often hinges on small, correctible technical errors rather than a lack of effort.

At the intermediate level, unforced errors cause a huge share of lost points. The good news is that the fixes are mechanical and deliver immediate results.

Here are five all-too-common mistakes that intermediate players make, along with pinpointed corrections you can feel the next time you hit the court.

1. The “Pop-Up” Dink

This mistake is a gift to your opponents, instantly turning a neutral rally into an offensive opportunity for them.

The Mistake: Dinking with a stiff wrist, scooping the paddle upwards, and sending the ball too high over the net. This allows your opponents to hit an aggressive put-away volley.

The Fix:

• Loose Wrist, Controlled Hand: Keep your grip relaxed but firm enough to maintain control. Think of your wrist as a shock absorber, not a hinge.

• Push, Don't Scoop: The motion should be a gentle, soft, forward push, not a lift. The goal is to let the ball drop to a comfortable height (around your knees) before making contact.

• Paddle Angle: Maintain a slightly open paddle face and keep the paddle below the ball at contact. You are aiming to push the ball up and over the net tape, not into the air.

2. Serving with No Depth

A short serve is a strategic failure that puts your team on defense from the very start of the rally.

The Mistake: Short, shallow serves that land just past the non-volley zone line. This allows opponents to step well inside the baseline and return aggressively, forcing a weak third shot from your side.

The Fix:

• Engage the Core: Use your entire body for power. Initiate the serve with a rotational hip movement and integrate a smooth, full swing, not just arm strength.

• Contact Point & Drive: Make contact with the ball slightly in front of your body and visualize driving the ball toward the opponent’s baseline.

• Visualize the Zone: Aim to send the ball past the opponent’s transition zone (the mid-court area where opponents set up offense). The deeper the serve, the more time you and your partner have to advance to the Kitchen line.

• Weight Transfer: Finish your serve with your body weight moving forward, which naturally adds more power and depth to the shot.

3. The Panic Backhand Block

When the heat is on, panic leads to mistakes. The backhand block is a defensive lifesaver that requires control, not power.

The Mistake: Reacting to hard drives from the opponent with a wild poke, tense grip, or large swing, which usually results in sending the ball high, wide, or into the net.

The Fix:

• Paddle as Shield: Present your paddle out front with a relaxed grip. Think of the paddle as a shield or a wall. Your elbow should be down and close to your side for stability.

• Minimal Motion: When blocking, use minimal motion. The ball's own pace should do the work, simply absorb and redirect the shot.

• Aim for the Feet: Stay calm, "catch" the ball on your backhand, and aim to send it low and toward the opponent's feet, forcing a difficult defensive lift.

• No Swing: Avoid big, powerful swings. A good block is about control and neutralizing pace.

4. Static Feet at the NVZ Line

Flat feet in the Kitchen are fatal, especially during fast-paced hand battles.

The Mistake: Getting caught flat-footed or "frozen" at the non-volley zone (Kitchen) line, unable to react quickly to the inevitable rapid-fire exchanges.

The Fix:

• The Split Step Habit: Always use a small hop or "split step" as your opponent strikes the ball. This ensures your weight is balanced and your muscles are primed to move.

• Dynamic Posture: Stay in a dynamic, athletic posture, with knees bent and weight ready on your toes. Your opponent can't move your paddle if they can't move your feet.

• Reset After Every Shot: After every volley, even a successful one, immediately reset your split step. Never let your feet "cement" to the ground; the action-reaction time at the Kitchen is measured in milliseconds.

5. Poor Partner Awareness

In doubles, the biggest mistake is often a communication breakdown, leading to "traffic" in the middle of the court.

The Mistake: Both players going for the same ball in the middle, leaving the court center (the "no-man's-land") exposed, or reaching unnecessarily across the court and causing confusion or a missed shot.

The Fix:

• Clear Calls: Establish clear and consistent communication from the very first point. Call "mine," "yours,"or "switch" loudly and early.

• Middle Responsibility: Know who covers the middle on specific shots, especially the return of serve and fast volleys. For many teams, the player on the left takes more middle balls.

• Trust and Stay Put: Trust your partner's ability to cover their area. Avoid reaching across or drifting unnecessarily, which often causes a double error. Only hit the ball when you know the space is yours.

Implement these five targeted corrections at your next session, and you’ll instantly start winning more points. Each fix is designed for immediate mechanical improvement, just stay mindful, and enjoy more confident, competitive play.