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Common Mistakes— From Kyle Koszuta

Hey guys, it’s Kyle from ThatPickleballGuy. Welcome to Part 2 of our series on common mistakes beginners make in pickleball. If you think you don’t make any of these mistakes or you’re not a beginner, my guess is you’re probably making Mistake #4. Today, I’ve got my friends Jack, JT, and Lili helping me out—and yes, I’m paying them way more than I paid Danny in Part 1. Let’s get into it!

Mistake #1: Big Swings

The Problem

In pickleball, you should be taking shorter swings, not bigger ones. But a lot of times, we’re at the kitchen line, someone hits a hard ball, and we just take this huge swing. Pickleball is so fun, it’s tempting to hit the ball as hard as possible, but those big swings lead to errors.

The Fix

• Volleys: When you’re at the kitchen line, keep your swings tight and compact. Ball comes and I stay in my stance and move my feet to take short, controlled swings. Big, elongated swings? That’s how you make errors.

• Third Shot Drops: Paddle out in front, shorter swing (figure 1). When you take a big swing, you add more force, and the ball pops up, giving your opponents an easy put-away.

• Dinking and Speeding Up: At the kitchen line, short swings are key for both dinks and speeding up the ball. Plus, with short swings, your dink and speed-up look the same, creating deception that can throw off your opponent.

Mistake #2: Hitting Out Balls

The Problem

This one gets me too. I played a tournament last weekend, and there was a ball flying over the mountains behind me—and I still hit it. Most of us have heard “Shoulder High, Let It Fly” or “Eyes High, Let It Fly,” but actually letting out balls go is easier said than done.

The Fix

1. Backswings: Watch for a big backswing. If your opponent’s mid-court and takes a huge swing, odds are that ball’s going out.

2. Footwork Changes: Pay attention to their footwork. Beginners often get frantic, take a big swing, and hit it as hard as they can. If you see that, let it go.

Next time you play, let the first or second ball go out. If it lands in, that’s fine—it’s just data. Over time, you’ll get better at judging which balls to let go.

Mistake #3: Short Returns

The Problem

Short returns (figure 2 in red) make it easy for your opponents to go on the attack. If you’re playing against a banger—someone who hits everything hard—short returns give them the perfect setup.

The Fix

Aim for deep returns (figure 2 in green), about three feet from the baseline. A deep return gives you time to get to the kitchen and makes it harder for your opponents to attack. When you hit a deep return, your opponent often has to back up, which can lead to mistakes or pop-ups.

Mistake #4: Lack of Communication

The Problem

The biggest problem with communication is thinking it’s happening when it’s not. Most players communicate less with partners they don’t know, but that’s when you need it the most.

The Fix

Communicate on every ball, even when it’s obvious. Use clear calls like “Mine” or “Yours” to build the habit of high-level communication. This removes any confusion and lets you focus on the game.

Example:

• Ball goes to teammate: “Yours.”

• Ball comes to you: “Mine.”

Try communicating on every single ball during your next game. It might feel weird at first, but it’ll improve your teamwork and reduce mistakes.

Mistake #5: Poor Reaction to Pop-Ups

The Problem

When you or your partner pops the ball up, some players freeze or don’t know what to do. That leaves you vulnerable to getting slammed.

The Fix

If the ball pops up, retreat immediately. Give yourself more time and space to react. For example, if my teammate is at the kitchen line and I pop the ball up, he should back up four or five steps, get balanced, and prepare to defend. Then, he can work his way back to the kitchen line once the threat is neutralized.

Bonus Tip: Kitchen Misconceptions

A lot of beginners think you can never step into the kitchen. That’s wrong! You can step in the kitchen as long as you’re not volleying the ball. If the ball bounces, it’s perfectly fine to step in and hit it. The key is knowing when and how to move in and out of the kitchen without breaking the rules.

Wrapping Up

These five mistakes can hold you back, but with awareness and practice, you can fix them. Shorten your swings, let out balls go, aim for deep returns, communicate effectively, and retreat on pop-ups. Got a friend who doesn’t know the rules?

Think you know pickleball inside and out? Challenge yourself with ThatPickleball IQ Test and see if you can score a perfect 10 out of 10! 

Secrets to a Killer Offensive Lob— From John Cincola

Hey guys, it’s John from John Cincola Pickleball. There are very few shots in pickleball that are more frustrating than watching a lob go up and over your head, especially when it happens multiple times in a match. If you want to learn the secrets of an offensive lob that’ll have your opponent scrambling all over the court, stick around.

Why the Kitchen Line Lob is So Effective

The kitchen line lob can be an incredibly successful play in pickleball, but there’s a lot to learn if you want to get it right. You need to know:

• When to hit the lob and when not to.

• The proper technique to execute it effectively.

• Five essential tips to skyrocket your success rate.

We’re going to cover all that and more in this guide, so let’s dive in!

The Most Common Lob Mistake

The most common mistake I see with kitchen line lobs is using them in the wrong situations. Here’s what happens:

You’re in a dinking rally, and someone hits a good shot. You’re scrambling, off balance, maybe backing up or reaching for the ball. In that moment of panic, you throw the ball up into the air, hoping the lob will get you out of trouble.

Why This Doesn’t Work:

• The margin for error is tiny. Getting the ball over your opponent’s head is hard.

• Keeping the lob in the court is even harder when you don’t have good balance or body control.

• Most likely, the lob goes too long, or it pops up short, leaving your opponent with an easy overhead smash.

What to Do Instead:

When you’re in trouble at the kitchen line, the best play is still a reset dink. Get out of the habit of thinking the lob is your “escape button.”

At the baseline, a lob can work to buy time or get out of trouble, but it’s not the right tool when you’re at the kitchen line.

How to Execute the Lob

The lob is actually a lot simpler than most people think, and the technique is almost identical to a neutral dink:

1. Open Paddle Face:
   When you dink, especially a neutral dink, you use an open paddle face. The ball’s trajectory in a dink is almost like a mini lob (figure 1).

2. Adding Acceleration:
   For the lob, keep the same open paddle face but add more acceleration. This gives the ball the height to go over your opponent’s head.

3. Power Regulation:
   The hardest part of lobbing is controlling power. Too little power, and the lob doesn’t clear your opponent. Too much, and it goes out of bounds. It takes practice to find that perfect balance.

Five Keys to a Successful Lob

Mindset and Decision-Making:
Think of the lob like an attack. Use it in similar situations where you’d go for an offensive shot. If you wouldn’t attack off balance or from a bad position, don’t try to lob from those spots either.

Position Matters:
The closer you are to the net, the better your lob will be. The farther back you are, the lower the apex of the lob, making it easier for your opponent to hit an overhead.

Don’t Go Too High:
A common misconception is that a lob needs to be sky-high. In reality, you only need to clear your opponent by about 2 feet. A lower lob comes down faster, giving them less time to react.

Target the Backhand:
If you mess up and leave the lob short, it’s less dangerous if your opponent is hitting it on their backhand side. Avoid lobbing over their forehand unless you’re confident it’ll land perfectly.

Situational Awareness:

• Wind: Lobbing into the wind works because it helps keep the ball in play. Lobbing with the wind at your back? Not so much.

• Opponent Skills: Consider their height, speed, and overhead ability. Taller or more athletic players can handle lobs better, while those who play close to the kitchen line are easier to lob.

Practice Makes Perfect

This shot takes practice. Spend time on the court learning to regulate your power and refine your technique. A good starting drill? Have a partner stand in front of you with their paddle extended as high as they can. Practice lobbing just 2 feet above their paddle tip to develop control.

Now, take all these tips to the court and start practicing! Remember to grab a screenshot of these key points so you’ve got them handy next time you play. Good luck, and I’ll see you in the next article!

For exclusive content and full-version tutorials, make sure to check out my YouTube channel, ➡️ John Cincola Pickleball.