Whether you’ve been playing pickleball for a few months or a few years, you will find that there is room in your game to improve. If you find yourself to be at an intermediate level, here are the top 10 intermediate pickleball mistakes to watch out for.
Top 10 Intermediate Pickleball Mistakes
1. No backhand/Weak backhand
For most people, the backhand tends to be the weaker side. As a beginner, you may not be able to use your backhand and you may be able to get away with it. However, you don’t want to neglect using your backhand as you advance in pickleball.
There are many people that even switch hands when a shot is given to their backhand. The problem is, that you tend to lose time when you’re switching hands. At intermediate levels and above, people you’re playing against can be a lot more observant of the opponent’s weaknesses. If your opponent picks up your weakness, it becomes a huge target.
2. Not understanding how spin works
Once you level up from a beginner, you may play with and against those that are using spin in their shots. Whether that is a topspin serve, a slice return, a spin drop, or a spin dink, you should be able to read and return what shot is being given.
A commonly missed shot is when the opponent returns a serve with a slice. Both beginners and intermediates tend to have a hard time with “lifting” the ball so the third shot goes into the net. If you recognize that the serve return is with a slice, creating a backspin that keeps the ball low, you can better prepare a return shot.
For more details on spins in pickleball, check out the next article.
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3. Having no finisher
At beginner levels of pickleball, shots, and touch of the ball are still so new that many people still make simple unforced errors. Many beginners have trouble with spin, drives, and dinks so points do not last as long until someone makes a mistake. Therefore, you may not have had to “attack” as much
However, at intermediate levels and above, learning to attack the right balls and being able to finish the point is essential. That may mean forcing your opponents to prop the ball up or to make a weak return. But you should be able to see good opportunities for attacks and be ready to put the ball away.
4. Attacking while in transition
One of the biggest intermediate pickleball mistakes is attacking while in transition to the kitchen net. You may be in No Man’s Land, trying to join your partner in the non-volley zone when you receive a shot. While it may be tempting to hit back hard, remember your goal is to get to the kitchen line.
You don’t want to attack when your opponents are in a stable, more advantageous position at the kitchen line while you’re still making your way up. Your opponents have more angles to work with the further back you are. Instead, you would want to drop the shots back safely in your opponent’s kitchen to buy you or your partner time to get to the kitchen.
5. No shot variation
Everyone may have a preference and style of how they like to play pickleball. Some like to put a lot of spin on the ball while others like to hit it flat. While you don’t have to know how to use every type of spin, you should be able to have enough shot variation that your every move is not predictable.
You could switch up your service by using topspin, lobbing, or slicing. You could drive your third shot when it is a short, high-service return instead of dropping. If one of your opponents likes to creep in the middle to cover their partner, you could drive the ball down the sideline where they’re not at.
You could even vary your dinks with purpose. Instead of dinking simply because that’s what everyone is doing at the kitchen line, you could aim at certain spots to make your opponents move. Or use more of an aggressive dink to tempt your opponents to prop the ball up while you’re waiting for a counter. Having different shot variations in your arsenal is important to continue advancing in pickleball.
6. Not syncing with your partner
Playing pickleball doubles is undoubtedly a team effort. That is even more so the case as you move up in pickleball levels. While you may get away with focusing on your own game as a beginner to make minimum errors, working with your partner will become a lot more important as an intermediate.
You should be aware of where your partner is before making your shot. You should also be covering the areas that they’re not and moving with them. If they’re pulled out wide or they’re out of position, you should make your next shot to buy them time.
7. Playing the same way with every opponent
Since people play differently, you shouldn’t play the same way with every opponent that you face. Once you recognize what your opponents have trouble with, you should be adjusting your game to exploit them accordingly.
While many factors differentiate a beginner and an intermediate, one that should easily separate between the two is being observant of your opponents. At intermediate levels, you should be able to get a feel for your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses as the game progresses.
8. Not taking note of the environment
If you’re playing pickleball outdoors, environmental factors such as wind direction and sun can be so important in a game. Wind direction can also change during a match so you want to be aware of where the wind is blowing.
You can look for a windsock, a flag, or trees around you to check before serving or planning to lob. If you’re going for an overhead smash, the sun or even court lights at night can hamper your sight. Being aware of the environment around you can make a big difference to the results of your game.
9. Not taking care of your body
One of the least talked about intermediate pickleball mistakes is when it comes to taking care of your body. This is especially the case when it comes to playing in tournaments. Whether it is not having a stretching routine before to prep and stretch the muscles. Or not drinking enough water and electrolytes to replenish the liquids.
You may see players facing muscle cramps or pulling a muscle. Or worse, get bigger injuries that may put them out of playing for weeks or months. While you may get away from “jumping in” a game and warming up that way at rec play, you want to establish good habits to take care of your body.
Always bring a source of hydration for yourself, snacks to keep you energized, and take the time for stretching and warming up routine before playing for hours. Especially during tournament days.
10. Overrating yourself
Many people tend to play with the same groups or in the same areas so it is not uncommon for players to overrate themselves. Especially when it comes to playing tournaments. If you have easily been beating the same group of older players that are not as fast, it may be tempting to think you can take on all types of players.
Since pickleball has become such a fast-growing sport, attracting athletes from a variety of backgrounds, the competition is only becoming stronger. How popular pickleball is in your state is also a big factor when it comes to gauging your skill level.
While it is good to push yourself, you don’t want to overrate your skills and spend a large sum of money to travel for a tournament, only to get knocked out in the first few rounds.
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