If you find yourself constantly losing pickleball games, it might not be because you’re a bad player. Instead, you might just be falling victim to some incredibly common, yet highly flawed, advice. Let's debunk five common lies that pickleball players believe which might be holding your game back.
Lie #1: Take Every Dink Out of the Air as Much as Possible
It’s easy to see why this advice is so popular: taking a ball out of the air (volleying) denies your opponents time to react. However, this advice is highly incomplete. Just because you can reach a ball doesn't mean you should volley it.
- The Problem: Volleying a really shallow dink forces you to fold over into a highly compromised position, giving up your physical advantage.
- The ROI Approach: Instead of blindly reaching, ask yourself: "What is my return on investment (ROI) for hitting this shot?"
- The Fix: Only volley the ball if you can keep your chest relatively still and facing your target. If you have to bend over awkwardly, let it bounce. Stepping back to let the ball bounce can actually give you a higher, more comfortable contact point to hit a much more offensive shot.
Lie #2: The Speed-Up is the Winner
We all love the feeling of ripping a fast shot past an opponent, but treating the speed-up as the ultimate point-winner is a mental trap.
- The Problem: When you assume your speed-up is the winner, you relax. If the opponent manages to block it back, you get caught completely off guard.
- The Real Goal: The true purpose of a speed-up is to set up the next shot. You can do this through clever placement or controlling the pace of your attack.
- The Fix: After you hit a speed-up off the bounce or out of the air, immediately reload, stay balanced, and get ready for the next ball. At higher levels, learn the patterns of play. For example, speeding the ball up in a straight line usually results in a straight line return; speeding it up at an angle usually gives you an angle back.
Lie #3: You Should Always Hit a Third Shot Drop
Historically, back when pickleball was in its "prehistoric" era (around 2019), the third-shot drop was treated as an absolute rule. But the game has evolved.
- The Problem: The drop shot is not the ultimate goal of pickleball; the goal is simply to safely get to the kitchen (non-volley zone) line. A drop is merely one tool to get you there. Sometimes, hitting a drop is inefficient and forces you to hit multiple scramble shots just to reach the net.
- The Fix: Don't get emotionally attached to one specific shot. Think situationally rather than in rigid rules. Consider mixing it up with:
- The Drive: A hard, low drive to put immediate pace on your opponents.
- The "Drip": A hybrid, high-pressure drop/drive shot.
- The Third-Shot Lob: A surprise high ball to keep your opponents guessing.
Lie #4: Never Hit to the Stronger Player
While targeting the weaker player can be an effective strategy, making it a rigid rule can backfire spectacularly.
- The Problem: If you completely ignore the stronger player, they will start "floating" forward toward the net, cutting off your shots, and creating massive pressure on your team.
- The Fix: Don't be afraid to target the stronger player to keep them honest. Hit a deep, paced return — ideally to their backhand. Pushing them deep forces them to hit multiple tough shots to get to the kitchen, wearing them down and neutralizing their ability to poach or dominate the kitchen line.
Lie #5: Just Be Patient
Patience is a virtue, and consistency absolutely rewards you in pickleball. However, there is a very fine line between being patient and being passive.
- The Problem: Many players get so terrified of making a mistake in tournaments that they just dink endlessly, refusing to ever pull the trigger. When you play too safely, you lose the competitive nuance of the game.
- The Fix: Shift your mindset from "I need to avoid mistakes" to "What is going to win us this point?" Stay loose, take calculated risks, and confidently seize aggressive opportunities and speed-ups when they present themselves.
To take your pickleball game to the next level, stop playing by rigid, outdated rules. Start thinking situationally, analyze your ROI on every shot, and don't be afraid to keep your opponents guessing.