I hit too many pop-ups.
That ball was going wide!
MISTAKE # 4
“ I hit too many balls that are going out deep or wide.”
HOW TO FIX IT
Paranto:“ Do a drill in which your partner purposely hits balls that are going out. Practice letting them go out.”
Rif:“ I think this is one of the most difficult things to learn in pickleball, not only for intermediate players but even advanced players. A common theme used to be‘ Above the chest, let it fly,’ but with today’ s new carbon fiber paddles, players can get more topspin on balls that just a few years ago would go out and now stay in. Have a coach hit balls at you while you’ re at the nonvolley zone and purposely hit balls that would be in or out. Practice looking at the player’ s paddle angle when striking the ball. An open face will at least give you an initial indicator, but experience and deliberate practice is necessary to get better at recognizing out balls.”
Coach Mo:“ There are things you can watch for to see if a ball might go out. If your opponent’ s contact point is below the net, it is usually going out. If your opponent is running to the ball and is halfway to the net, it is usually going out. Also know which way the wind is blowing.”
MISTAKE # 5
“ I hit too many easy put-aways out deep or wide, or into the net.”
HOW TO FIX IT
Paranto:“ Quit hitting‘ hero shots.’ By going for lines, you hit many easy winners out and bail out your opponents. Most of the time I see players going for lines when they have a high ball, and then they miss it wide. This is a high-risk shot. The better shot would be to hit the high balls down at the feet or between the opponents. Don’ t take high-risk, low-reward shots.”
Rif:“ The most common reason for this is overswinging and trying to hit the ball too hard for a winner. Placement over power is always key in pickleball. Try shortening the stroke and practice put-aways with cones 2 feet inside the baselines and sidelines.”
Coach Mo:“ You should not be running at the point of contact of your opponent’ s shot. You will make more unforced errors if you do not split-step. Only hit the ball as fast as you can be accurate and consistent. Have someone feed balls to you and hit to their feet.”
Some instructors advise 3.5 players who have a seemingly easy put-away to imagine that the court is 2 feet shorter and 2 feet narrower, thus giving themselves room for error.
In recreational games between 3.5 players and below, Coach Mo says you should try to hit 80 percent of your shots down the middle and 20 percent angle shots. The best shot, of course, is at your opponent’ s feet. He even goes a step further, noting that it’ s even better if you can hit it at the backhand heel— if your opponent is a righthanded player, try to hit your shot at the left heel. •
Matthew Schwartz spent 40 years in television news and won more than 200 awards, including four Emmys and four Edward R. Murrow awards for investigative reporting. His 2020 memoir,“ Confessions of an Investigative Reporter,” was an Amazon # 1 bestseller. He writes a weekly blog for Hudef Sport and plays pickleball regularly.
SPRING 2026 | MAGAZINE 23