The Ten Mistakes, in Short
Most beginner points in pickleball are lost, not won. The ten habits below account for the majority of them: over-hitting the serve, breaking the two-bounce rule, standing in mid-court, driving every third shot, volleying balls that were going out, dropping the paddle between shots, playing as two singles players, backing away from the kitchen line, never calling the score, and turning up in running shoes.
Each one has a fix that takes a single session to learn and a few weeks to make permanent.
1. Over-Hitting the Serve
The mistake. Treating the serve as a weapon. There is only one attempt, and a fault hands the rally away before it starts.
The fix. Serve at roughly seventy per cent, deep and down the middle. Depth pins the returner behind the baseline, which is worth far more than pace. Count how many serves land in during a session; the number matters more than how any of them looked.
2. Breaking the Two-Bounce Rule
The mistake. Following the serve to the net, or volleying the return out of the air. Both end the point instantly.
The fix. Say it out loud for the first few sessions: serve, bounce, return, bounce. The serving side must let the return bounce before playing it. Only after that may either side volley. The full rule sits in the beginner's guide.
3. Living in No-Man's Land
The mistake. Standing halfway between the baseline and the kitchen line - too deep to volley, too shallow to let balls bounce. Every ball arrives at the feet.
The fix. Pick an end. Either stay behind the baseline until the third shot allows a move forward, or be at the kitchen line. Transit through mid-court, do not settle there.
4. Driving Every Third Shot
The mistake. Hitting the serving side's first ball after the return as hard as possible, into a pair of raised paddles at the net.
The fix. Learn the third shot drop - a soft, arcing ball that lands in the opponents' kitchen and cannot be attacked. It buys the time to walk to the kitchen line, which is the real objective of the shot.
5. Volleying Balls That Were Going Out
The mistake. Reaching up to volley a deep, floating ball that would have landed past the baseline. The point is conceded voluntarily.
The fix. Let it go. Any ball arriving above shoulder height while both players stand near the kitchen line is a candidate to leave. Call "bounce it" to a partner. Judgement improves quickly once the habit of watching the flight exists.
6. Paddle Down Between Shots
The mistake. Letting the paddle drop to the thigh after each shot. At the kitchen line, exchanges happen faster than the hand can travel.
The fix. Paddle up, in front of the body, roughly at chest height, tip pointing upward. Reset to that position after every single shot. It is the highest-return technical habit in the sport.
7. Playing as Two Singles Players
The mistake. Each partner guarding their own half in isolation, opening a gap down the middle or leaving one side undefended.
The fix. Move as a pair, connected by an imaginary two-metre rope. When one partner is pulled wide, the other slides across to cover the middle. Balls down the centre belong to the player whose forehand is closer.
8. Backing Away From the Kitchen Line
The mistake. Retreating when the ball comes fast or high, surrendering the strongest position on court in exchange for reaction time.
The fix. Hold the line and block. A soft, absorbing block from the kitchen line beats a full swing from mid-court. Only retreat for a genuine lob, and then recover the line as soon as the ball is returned.
9. Never Calling the Score
The mistake. Assuming everyone is tracking the score. In a three-number call with two servers, they are not.
The fix. Call the score before every serve, loudly, from the correct court. Position confirms the count: the serving side's score is even from the right, odd from the left. The mechanics are set out in the scoring guide.
10. Wrong Shoes and No Heat Plan
The mistake. Running shoes on a court, and no plan for playing in Malaysian humidity.
The fix. Court shoes with non-marking soles and lateral support. Running shoes are built to roll forward, not sideways, which is how ankles turn. Then plan the session: water before and between games, a spare grip or an overgrip, a towel, and a preference for covered courts or evening slots over an afternoon in the sun.
The Quick Reference
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Over-hitting the serve | Seventy per cent pace, deep and central |
| Breaking the two-bounce rule | Serve, bounce, return, bounce - then volley |
| Living in no-man's land | Baseline or kitchen line, never in between |
| Driving every third shot | Learn the third shot drop |
| Volleying balls going out | Let anything high and deep bounce |
| Paddle down | Reset to chest height after every shot |
| Playing as two singles players | Move as a pair, cover the middle |
| Backing off the line | Hold and block |
| Not calling the score | Call it before every serve, from the right court |
| Wrong shoes | Non-marking court shoes with lateral support |
A Four-Week Plan
- Week one - the serve and the score. Every session begins with twenty serves and ends with a game where the score is called before every serve, without exception.
- Week two - the kitchen line. Five minutes of cross-court dinking before play. The soft game is where matches are decided, and it is covered in the non-volley zone guide.
- Week three - the third shot. Ten drops from the baseline into the opponents' kitchen, then walk in behind them.
- Week four - movement. Play three games consciously mirroring a partner's lateral movement. Nothing else.
Four habits, four weeks. Nothing on this list requires athleticism, and none of it takes more than a few minutes of a session.
Where to Put It Into Practice
Court time beats theory. The club's flagship at i-City Central Mall, Shah Alam is taking reservations now, running daily from 10:00 to midnight, with pickleball arriving at the Kelana Jaya and Paradigm Mall PJ venues. Further reading sits in resources.
FAQ
What is the most common mistake in pickleball?
Standing in mid-court, between the baseline and the kitchen line. Balls arrive at the feet there, which is the hardest position from which to hit a controlled shot. Choose one end of the court and move through the middle rather than settling in it.
How can I get better at pickleball quickly?
Fix positioning and the soft game before power. Hold the kitchen line, keep the paddle up at chest height, and practise dinking for five minutes before every session. These change results faster than any change in swing.
Why do I keep hitting the ball into the net in pickleball?
Usually because the contact point is too low and the swing is too flat. Bend the knees, make contact in front of the body, and lift through the ball rather than hitting across it. Aim for a target above the tape, not at it.
Should I let the ball bounce or volley it?
Volley anything comfortably below shoulder height when at the kitchen line. Let deep, high, floating balls bounce - many of them land out, and those that do not are easier to control off the ground.
How long does it take to learn pickleball?
Most players sustain a rally in their first session and enjoy competitive doubles within a month of weekly play. The soft game at the net takes considerably longer, which is what keeps the sport interesting.
What shoes should I wear for pickleball?
Court shoes with non-marking soles and lateral support. Running shoes are designed for forward motion and offer little protection against the side-to-side movement the sport demands.