If you’re a tennis player stepping onto the pickleball court, welcome! You’re about to discover why so many former tennis players are hooked on this fast-paced, strategic sport. But here’s the catch—your tennis instincts might actually be holding you back.
Pickleball and tennis share some similarities, but key differences in court size, paddle mechanics, and strategy mean you’ll need to adjust your game. Many tennis players make common mistakes when transitioning, leading to frustrating losses and missed opportunities.
But don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. Let’s break down the most common mistakes tennis players make in pickleball and, more importantly, how to fix them so you can start winning more matches.
Mistake #1: Overpowering Every Shot
The Tennis Mindset:
Tennis rewards powerful groundstrokes, aggressive serves, and deep baseline rallies. In pickleball, however, brute force isn’t always the answer—especially in doubles play.
The Pickleball Reality:
- The court is much smaller, so blasting shots past your opponent is harder.
- A fast-paced drive can easily be countered by a well-placed block or reset shot.
- Controlled placement beats raw power—especially at higher levels.
How to Fix It:
✅ Use power strategically—big drives work well from the baseline, but at midcourt, focus on drops and dinks.
✅ Develop a finesse game—soft hands, precise dinks, and resets will win you more points.
✅ Follow this rule: “From the baseline, rip it. From midcourt, drop it.”
Mistake #2: Using a Big, Loopy Swing
The Tennis Mindset:
Tennis players are trained to take long, looping backswings to generate topspin and power.
The Pickleball Reality:
- Big swings are a liability—pickleball is a faster-paced game, and the ball comes back quickly.
- A long backswing leaves you out of position for the next shot.
- With the shorter paddle and smaller court, compact swings work best.
How to Fix It:
✅ Shorten your swing—keep it compact and efficient for quick reaction times.
✅ Keep your paddle up and ready between shots.
✅ Watch the pros—they barely take a backswing on volleys and dinks.
Mistake #3: Ignoring the Kitchen
The Tennis Mindset:
Tennis players love staying at the baseline, where they can dictate points with deep shots.
The Pickleball Reality:
- The kitchen is where points are won.
- The team that controls the net usually wins the rally.
- Staying back means you’ll be stuck playing defense, making it easier for your opponents to dominate.
How to Fix It:
✅ Make getting to the kitchen a priority—hit a good third shot drop and move forward.
✅ Watch pro matches—notice how quickly they move up after the return.
✅ Drill dinking and kitchen play—this is where games are won and lost!
Mistake #4: Using the Wrong Volleys
The Tennis Mindset:
Tennis teaches you to volley with an open paddle face, high-to-low swing, and a step forward.
The Pickleball Reality:
- Pickleball volleys require a square paddle face and minimal motion.
- A big swing = too much power, leading to errors.
- Stepping forward can send you into the kitchen, leading to a fault.
How to Fix It:
✅ Keep your volleys compact, controlled, and square.
✅ Avoid excessive slicing—push through the ball rather than cutting it.
✅ Practice rolling volleys instead of slicing—this keeps pressure on opponents.
Mistake #5: Ignoring the Reset Shot
The Tennis Mindset:
In tennis, when you’re on the defensive, you either hit a deep lob or try to counter with a powerful shot to regain control.
The Pickleball Reality:
- In pickleball, ripping a shot when you’re off balance often leads to easy putaways for your opponent.
- Instead of forcing power, top players use reset shots to neutralize fast exchanges and regain position at the kitchen.
- A good reset shot drops softly into the kitchen, slowing the game down and taking control away from your opponent.
How to Fix It:
✅ When under pressure, reset the ball instead of forcing an attack.
✅ Use a soft touch with minimal swing—the goal is to take speed off the ball.
✅ Focus on getting back into position rather than hitting a winner.
Pro Tip: Next time you’re in a fast rally, try dropping a reset shot instead of countering with power. You’ll immediately feel the difference in control!
Mistake #6: Using a Tennis Grip for Every Shot
The Tennis Mindset:
Tennis players often use a Western or semi-Western grip, which helps generate topspin.
The Pickleball Reality:
- Pickleball paddles don’t have strings, so Western grips can cause balls to go into the net.
- The continental grip (handshake grip) is more effective for versatility.
How to Fix It:
✅ Switch to a continental grip—this works for volleys, dinks, and resets.
✅ Keep your grip looser—this helps with touch shots.
✅ Practice switching grips for different shots—a slight grip change can add variety.
Mistake #7: Serving Without a Plan
The Tennis Mindset:
Tennis players rely on powerful serves to win free points or set up an aggressive return.
The Pickleball Reality:
- In pickleball, the serve isn’t a weapon—it’s just a way to start the point.
- A well-placed serve is better than a fast one—it’s about setting up your next shot, not blasting aces.
- Many tennis players hit the serve too hard, which leads to faults or easy returns.
How to Fix It:
✅ Focus on serve placement—deep, near the corners, or with slight spin to make returns harder.
✅ Develop a variety of serves—mix in different speeds, spins, and placements.
✅ Think of your serve as the setup for your next shot, not a point-ending weapon.
Pro Tip: A deep serve with good placement is often more effective than a fast, flat serve that’s easy to return.
Mistake #8: Overcommitting to One Side
The Tennis Mindset:
Tennis players are used to covering a large court, so they often commit heavily to one side, especially on forehands.
The Pickleball Reality:
- In doubles, staying balanced is key—overcommitting leaves huge gaps for your opponents to exploit.
- Many tennis players cheat toward their forehand side, leaving their backhand (or their partner’s side) vulnerable.
- In fast hands battles, staying centered helps you react quicker.
How to Fix It:
✅ Stay centered and be mindful of your positioning—don’t drift too far to one side.
✅ In doubles, trust your partner to cover their area instead of overreaching.
✅ Keep your paddle in front of your body—this improves reaction time in quick exchanges.
Pro Tip: Instead of relying too much on your forehand, develop a strong two-handed backhand punch volley for better balance at the net.
Mistake #9: Treating Every Lob Like a Tennis Overhead
The Tennis Mindset:
In tennis, when you get a lob, you smash it like your life depends on it. The court is big, and an overhead can easily end the point.
The Pickleball Reality:
- In pickleball, a powerful overhead doesn’t guarantee a winner—the court is smaller, and opponents can often return even your best overheads.
- Unlike a tennis ball, a pickleball doesn’t bounce high, so mistiming your overhead can lead to errors.
- A bad overhead can put you out of position, giving your opponent an easy counterattack.
How to Fix It:
✅ Instead of smashing every lob, aim for controlled placement—hitting at your opponent’s feet is often better than going for pure power.
✅ Use angles rather than trying to blast the ball straight down.
✅ If you’re off-balance, consider resetting the point with a well-placed deep lob instead of forcing a smash.
Pro Tip: Don’t assume the point is over after an overhead. Stay ready—many pickleball players are excellent at defending lobs and returning smashes!
Mistake #10: Not Adjusting Footwork & Court Positioning
The Tennis Mindset:
Tennis players stop their momentum before hitting a return, then recover to the baseline.
The Pickleball Reality:
- Pickleball is faster-paced, and you need to move forward as you return.
- Pausing after a return gives opponents time to attack your feet.
- Open stance is more effective than closed stance in many situations.
How to Fix It:
✅ Practice returning while moving forward—this helps you get to the kitchen faster.
✅ Use an open stance when hitting drives for quicker recovery.
✅ Keep your footwork light and efficient—pickleball rewards quick reactions.
Making the Transition from Tennis to Pickleball
Switching from tennis to pickleball can feel frustrating at first, but once you adjust your technique and mindset, you’ll start dominating the court.
Quick Recap of Key Adjustments:
✔ Use power wisely—finesse and placement win points.
✔ Shorten your swing—big, loopy strokes don’t work.
✔ Get to the kitchen—this is where you win games.
✔ Fix your volleys—compact, controlled shots work best.
✔ Mix in soft shots—don’t just smash everything.
✔ Adjust your grip—continental grip gives you better control.
✔ Move forward after returns—positioning is everything.
✔ Don’t rely on overhead smashes—placement beats power on lobs.
✔ Stay balanced at the net—overcommitting leaves openings.
✔ Serve with purpose—placement matters more than speed.
If you make these adjustments, you’ll quickly improve and start winning more games. So get out there, start drilling, and enjoy the game!
