10 Common Pickleball Mistakes Beginners Make | Canada Pickleball Courts | Pickleball
10 Common Pickleball Mistakes Beginners Make
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Why Beginners Keep Making the Same Mistakes
If you have picked up a paddle in the last little while, you are in good company. Pickleball Canada reports that membership has grown sharply over the past several years, and the Sport Information Resource Centre notes that participation has climbed steadily across all age groups. The good news for new players is that the most common pickleball mistakes beginners make are also the easiest to fix.
Almost every newcomer falls into the same handful of habits. These errors feel natural at first because they come from instincts borrowed from tennis, ping pong, or just plain nerves. Once you know what to look for, you can correct them with a little focus and a few games of practice. Below are 10 common pickleball mistakes and exactly how to fix each one.
1. Standing Too Far Back From the Kitchen Line
New players often hang out near the baseline because it feels safer, like they have more time to react. The problem is that most points are won at the net, not the back of the court.
Why it happens: deep court positioning feels comfortable and gives you room to chase down shots. But it also leaves the middle of the court wide open.
The fix: after your return of serve, move up to the non-volley zone line as a team and hold that position. Standing at the kitchen line lets you hit downward angles and pressure your opponents. If you are unsure where the line is and what you can do there, read our guide to the kitchen rules and non-volley zone.
2. Trying to Smash Every Ball
The player who hits everything as hard as possible has a nickname on the courts: the banger. It works against other beginners, but it falls apart fast against players who keep their cool.
Why it happens: power feels productive, and slamming the ball is satisfying. Soft shots feel passive by comparison.
The fix: learn to mix pace with placement. A well placed soft shot forces errors more reliably than a hard shot that sails long. Control beats power as you climb in skill, and you can study the tactics in our article on how to beat bangers with the soft game.
3. Always Serving to the Middle of the Court
Many beginners serve safely down the center every single time. It keeps the ball in play, but it gives your opponent an easy, predictable return.
Why it happens: the middle is the largest target, so it feels low risk.
The fix: aim deep and vary your placement. A deep serve pushes the returner back and buys your team time to get to the net. Practice hitting different spots so your serve stays unpredictable. Our breakdown of serve techniques and types covers how to build placement into a reliable serve.
4. Skipping the Third Shot Drop
The third shot drop is the soft shot the serving team uses to reach the kitchen line. Beginners often skip it and try to drive the third shot hard instead.
Why it happens: the drop is a touch shot that takes practice, and driving feels easier and more aggressive.
The fix: practice a soft, arcing shot that lands gently in the kitchen. This gives you time to move forward and even out the rally. It is one of the biggest dividing lines between casual and competitive play, which is why we wrote a full guide on mastering the third shot drop.
5. Rushing to the Kitchen Too Fast
Getting to the net is important, but charging forward before the ball is under control leaves you caught in no man's land.
Why it happens: beginners hear that the net is where points are won, so they sprint up without reading the situation.
The fix: move forward in controlled steps and split step as your opponent strikes the ball. Advance only after a shot that sets you up, like a deep return or a good drop. Good positioning starts with good movement, and our footwork fundamentals guide can help you move with more balance.
6. Watching the Ball Instead of Reading the Opponent
Keeping your eye on the ball is fine, but staring at it the whole time means you miss what your opponent is about to do.
Why it happens: it is a natural instinct to lock onto the ball, especially when you are nervous about making contact.
The fix: glance at your opponent's paddle and body before they hit. Their shoulder turn and paddle angle tell you where the ball is going. Reading these cues gives you a head start and helps you anticipate instead of react.
7. Poaching Without Communication in Doubles
Poaching means crossing over to take your partner's ball. Done well, it is a strong tactic. Done silently, it leads to collisions and open courts.
Why it happens: beginners get excited and grab a ball they think they can win without telling their partner.
The fix: talk constantly. Call "mine," "yours," or "switch" on every shot near the middle. Clear communication prevents the awkward moment when both players freeze and watch the ball drop. Our doubles strategy tips cover how partners can move and talk as a unit.
8. Gripping the Paddle Too Tightly
A white knuckle grip kills touch and tires out your forearm. It is one of the most overlooked beginner errors.
Why it happens: a tight grip feels secure, and tension creeps in when you are concentrating hard.
The fix: hold the paddle at roughly a 4 or 5 out of 10 on the pressure scale, firm enough to control but loose enough to feel the ball. A relaxed grip improves your dinks, drops, and resets at the net.
9. Forgetting to Warm Up
Plenty of beginners walk straight onto the court and start playing. That cold start hurts your first few games and raises your injury risk.
Why it happens: people are eager to play, and warming up feels like a chore that delays the fun.
The fix: spend five to ten minutes on light movement and dynamic stretches before you play. A simple routine of arm circles, leg swings, and gentle dinking gets your body ready. For a full routine, see our guide to injury prevention and warm-ups. If you have any existing health concerns, check with a healthcare professional before starting a new activity.
10. Not Keeping Score Correctly
Pickleball scoring confuses almost everyone at first, with its three numbers and server rotations. Beginners often lose track and disrupt the flow of the game.
Why it happens: the scoring system is different from most racquet sports, and the third number throws people off.
The fix: remember the format is server score, receiver score, and server number. Call the full score out loud before every serve. It becomes second nature quickly, and our pickleball scoring guide walks through it step by step.
Your Next Step on the Court
None of these mistakes mean you are bad at pickleball. They mean you are a normal beginner, and every strong player made the same errors when they started. The fixes are simple, and the only thing standing between you and steady improvement is practice.
Pick one or two habits from this list and focus on them during your next few games. Once they feel automatic, move on to the next. For a broader foundation, our beginner's guide to pickleball in Canada ties these skills together.
Ready to put in the reps? Browse courts by region to find a place to play near you and start fixing these mistakes today.