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Avoid these beginner mistakes
Paul from Pickleball Daily
February 12, 2026
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Tip of the day
The Pickleball Clinic identifies common errors that hold back new players and provides practical adjustments to improve consistency and power.
Weight balance is the first major focus, as many beginners sit back on their heels and get pushed around by hard-hitting opponents.
Keeping your weight on the balls of your feet allows you to lean forward and angle the paddle face down to counter aggressive shots.
Another frequent mistake is failing to step back after a serve, which often results in getting jammed by deep returns.
Pushing back behind the baseline after serving creates the necessary space to hit your third shot with forward momentum and better control.
Beginners often overcompensate with excessive wrist movement, which leads to unpredictable shots and a loss of accuracy.
The swing for drives, drops, and dinks should primarily come from the shoulder while keeping the wrist set and stable through contact.
Learning to navigate the midcourt transition zone is essential, as getting caught too close to the baseline makes you vulnerable to balls at your feet.
A proper ready position requires keeping the paddle up and out in front with the elbow tucked in to defend both sides of the body efficiently.
Key Points:
Lean forward onto the balls of your feet to prevent popping the ball up during fast exchanges.
Take a step back behind the baseline after serving to give yourself more time to react to deep returns.
Keep your wrist stable and move from the shoulder to ensure your shots remain predictable and controlled.
Avoid staying in the transition zone within seven feet of the baseline where you are most vulnerable.
Tuck your elbow in toward your center in the ready position to eliminate the common chicken wing defensive error.
Deal of the day
Meme of the day
Parental consequences 🤣
That’s it for today! As always, thank you for reading. 🙏
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Happy pickling,
Paul