5 Beginner Pickleball Mistakes (And Easy Fixes)

We’ve all been there. You show up to your first few pickleball games, paddle in hand, ready to dink, serve, and score—and suddenly you’re getting lobbed over, slammed at, or just… confused.

Here are five of the most common beginner pickleball mistakes I see as a coach—and exactly how you can fix them. No judgment. Just real talk to help you get better fast.

1. Not Getting to the Kitchen on the Return

This is the first thing I try to help new players learn.

Why? Because the kitchen is the most powerful spot on the court. But I get it—it’s intimidating up there. You feel like you’re about to get blasted in the face. And if you are getting blasted, then guess what…

👉 Fix: Your return of serve needs work (see #2). But in the meantime, just know this: the goal is to hit your return and immediately move up to the kitchen. It puts you in a better position to win points—and you’ll improve your reflexes with time.

Note: Getting to the Kitchen as the serving team is much more difficult and I usually discuss that later on in my students journey once they’ve mastered doing it on the return.

2. Your Return of Serve Is Too Gentle

This one pairs with #1 like peanut butter and jelly. If you’re hitting a soft, floaty return, your opponent is going to tee off on it—and you’ll pay the price.

👉 Fix: Aim for a return with some pace. It doesn’t have to be a rocket, but a solid, deep return toward the middle of the court will do wonders. Deep and heavy beats high and floaty every time.

Bonus: a firmer return makes it much more difficult for your opponents to get to the kitchen.

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3. You’re Protecting the Sidelines Too Much

I see this all the time—players standing way too close to the sidelines like they’re guarding them with their lives. Usually, it’s because they’re worried about bumping paddles with their partner or missing a sharp angle shot.

But the truth is? Most balls that cost you points go right down the middle.

👉 Fix: Scoot in just a little. I’d rather see you cover the middle too much than leave a gaping hole between you and your partner. Communicate who has the middle, and don’t be afraid to step across if it’s yours to take.

4. You’re Starting in the Wrong Spot

This one’s all about the Two-Bounce Rule—and knowing where you should stand before the point starts.

Only one player typically gets to start at the kitchen: the partner of the person returning the serve. Everyone else needs to stay back because they’re going to have to let the ball bounce.

👉 Fix: Remember the rule of thumb:

The returner starts at the baseline
The server and their partner starts at the baseline
The returner’s partner can start at the kitchen

If you’re not sure—start back, then move forward. It’s easier to come up than to backpedal.

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5. You’re Struggling to Keep Score

We’ve all been in the middle of a game going, “Wait… is it 4-2-1 or 4-2-2? Who just served?!” Don’t worry—pickleball scoring is weird at first.

👉 Fix: Here’s a quick cheat sheet for doubles:

The score is always called: Your team’s score – Opponent’s score – Server number (either 1 or 2).
If you’re the first server on your team’s side out, you’re “server 1.”
If the rally is lost, your partner becomes “server 2.”
After both players lose their serve, it’s a side out, and the other team serves.
And remember that normal scoring only allows the serving team to score a point if they win the rally.

Practice saying the score before every serve. And don’t be afraid to ask your partner, “Am I the right server?” It’s a team sport—help each other out!

Final Thoughts

Every new player seems to makes these mistakes—what matters is how you grow from them. Focus on one at a time, and you’ll see progress fast. And remember, pickleball isn’t just about skill—it’s about having fun, being social, and learning together.