The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. These six pickleball habits are patterns that repeat, and they're costing you points.
If you've been stuck at the 3.0 to 4.0 pickleball level and can't seem to break through, you might not have an athleticism problem. You might have a pickleball habit problem.
Coach Jess from Athena Pickleball has coached thousands of hours and sees the same stubborn patterns over and over again, holding players back from leveling up. The good news? These pickleball habits are fixable, and recognizing them is the first step.
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Pickleball Habit #1: Dinking Without Direction Is Just Hitting Balls
Why This Dinking Pickleball Habit Is Holding You Back
The first pickleball habit Coach Jess sees constantly is complacent dinking. Players fall into a rhythm of hitting to the same spot every time because it feels comfortable, but comfort isn't the goal in pickleball.
When you dink to the same location repeatedly, you're not creating anything. Your opponent knows exactly where the ball is going, and they know you're not a threat. That's the opposite of what you want.
Instead, move your dinks around. Hit no spot more than twice. Think about the outside foot, then the inside foot.
When you can move your opponent side to side and create a pop-up, that's when you attack.
The dink isn't a boring exercise your coach makes you do. It's a weapon for creating advantage.
Pickleball Habit #2: Driving Through Transition Is a Trap
Here's a scenario: a low ball lands in transition, and you decide to drive it hard. Sounds aggressive, right? Wrong.
When you hit a low ball hard through transition, it goes up and comes back down equally hard at your feet. You end up locked in a drive-and-smackdown cycle that gets you nowhere. You're not advancing to the kitchen line; you're just trading hard shots.
The solution is to drop that low transition ball into the kitchen with some arc. Give it a softer touch. This gives you time to advance while keeping your opponent back.
You're trading aggression for positioning, and positioning wins points.
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3. Footwork Isn't Optional
Pickleball is a footwork game, but many players treat it like it's not. They reach for balls instead of moving their feet to get their body behind the shot.
When you reach, your wrist gets involved, and your wrist has way less control than your core and legs. That's how pop-ups happen. Instead, move your feet so you can hit balls in front of your body and between your feet.
If a ball is to your left, shuffle left. If it's to your right, shuffle right. Keep everything in front of you.
Yes, you'll feel a little workout, but that's the point. Good footwork feels like work.
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4. Return and Run Isn't Just a Saying
The Return and Run Pickleball Habit That Wins Points
When you return serve, you have an advantage. You get to the kitchen line first. So why do so many players stand at the baseline and hit their return, then stay back?
When you return and stay back, you're hitting from your feet at the baseline. Your opponent has tons of space to hit at your feet. When you return and run, you catch the ball higher and closer to the net, which puts pressure on the serving team.
Start a little further behind the baseline so you can move forward. Plant into your outside leg, take a step forward, and get as close to the kitchen line as you can. You won't always make it all the way, but getting closer changes everything.
The Dink Media Team
5. Off-Balance Aggression Is a Losing Bet
Sometimes you're out of position. Sometimes you're falling backward. In those moments, the temptation is to speed up the ball and hope it works.
Don't.
Hitting hard when you're off-balance works maybe one out of a hundred times. The other 99 times, your opponent is sitting on a high ball ready to put it away. Instead, neutralize.
Soften your hand and get the ball back into the kitchen so you can reset.
Think of it as an equal and opposite reaction. If the ball comes at you aggressively, you need to find softness in your hand to counteract it. Neutralization is your best friend.
6. Drop Shots From Overhead Are Coach Jess's Pet Peeve
This is the pickleball habit that gets Coach Jess fired up, and for good reason. You and your partner have the advantage at the kitchen line. Your opponents are back.
They pop up a ball, and instead of hitting an aggressive putaway, you try a drop shot.
Here's what happens: you hit it past the kitchen line, your opponent comes in, and now you're in trouble. You had the point won, and you tried to be cute.
Drop shots have a time and place. That time is when your opponent is well behind the baseline and hits a ball with some slope. You can hit the drop shot from below the net with touch.
But from an overhead position when you're in control? Remove it from your game.
If you're in an aggressive position with a ball at your head or higher, put it away. Don't drop shot it. You're going to win way more points that you already have the advantage on.
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The Pattern Is the Problem
Coach Jess frames this perfectly: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. These six pickleball habits are patterns that repeat, and they're costing you points.
The good news is that once you see them, you can fix them. Identify which pickleball habit shows up in your game, work on it, and watch your level jump.
That 4.5 or 5.0 level you're chasing? It's closer than you think.
Ready to fix those habits? Watch a pickleball pro fix the habits holding you back for a real coaching session with before and after results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common pickleball habit that holds players back?
Complacent dinking is the most widespread pickleball habit among recreational players. When you dink to the same spot repeatedly, your opponent stops feeling threatened and starts waiting for opportunities to attack.
How do I fix the bad pickleball habit of driving through transition?
Instead of attacking a low ball hard from the transition zone, drop it softly into the kitchen with arc. This gives you time to advance to the kitchen line while keeping your opponent back and off-balance.
Why is footwork so important in pickleball?
Footwork determines whether you hit balls with full-body control or reach for them with your wrist, which causes pop-ups. Getting your feet set before contact is the single most reliable way to improve your shot consistency.
Is off-balance aggression ever a smart play in pickleball?
Rarely. Hitting hard when you're falling or out of position works roughly once out of a hundred attempts. The smarter play is to soften your hand and reset into the kitchen, then look for your next opportunity from a stable position.
When should you actually use a drop shot in pickleball?
Drop shots work best when your opponent is deep behind the baseline and hits you a ball with a downward slope, allowing you to contact it from below the net with touch. Attempting a drop shot from an overhead position when you already have the advantage is one of the most avoidable common pickleball mistakes players make.
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