Have you ever played a game that ended so fast you were left wondering what even happened? You can’t figure it out because it’s all just a blur.
Maybe it’s as simple as you were up against a team that outplayed you or one that had a higher skill level.
But on the other hand, how many games have you walked away from thinking, “we should have won that game” or “they didn’t do anything that special to win”?
Most often, it’s not the flashy shots or risky plays that win games - it’s the teams that stay consistent, stick to the fundamentals, and make fewer unforced errors.
By using solid technique and a simple strategy, teams can control the game without doing anything extraordinary.
Here are a few ways your opponents might be beating you - and how to start fixing them.
If you want to see where your weak spots really are, try recording your matches. Watching your own play is one of the best ways to see if you and your team are being beaten in these subtle but important ways.
Here’s a common misconception: pickleball is easy because you don’t have to move very much.
Well, compared to tennis, I’m not sure how accurate that is. Yes, tennis players cover a larger court, but consider squash - the ball in squash and pickleball dies off the surface, unlike tennis where it bounces up toward you.
Because of that, there’s actually much more movement in pickleball than most people realize.
If you start out playing with bad movement habits, chances are you’re unintentionally leaving open space that your opponents are more than happy to exploit.
The middle of the court, especially, must always be protected - it’s the highest percentage zone on the court.
If your opponents are consistently hitting winning shots through the middle, or if it feels like they’re “placing the ball in the right areas” while you’re constantly chasing and scrambling, they’re likely controlling the rally and exposing your team’s lack of court coverage.
The best way to fix this is to start moving your feet. Roll your weight forward onto the balls of your feet and track the ball with your whole body, not just your eyes.
On the other hand, if you’re moving too early or leaning too much toward the middle, a well-disguised line drive will catch you completely off guard.
Some players even bait you into this - they’ll set up a pattern that tempts you to cheat toward the middle, only to rip a drive straight down the line.
To avoid this, stop leaning so heavily in one direction and cut down on obvious body language cues that telegraph where you’re shifting.
Backing off the non-volley line can make you an easy target too.
When you give up space at the kitchen line, you’re creating the perfect lane for your opponent to drive through and you’re exposing your feet which is the best place to pressure a person, often resulting in a pop up.
Usually, players back off the line because they’re nervous, unprepared, or trying to buy extra time for a swing. If you’re facing a strong drive off a big serve, try directing your return to the player with the weaker drive.
Keep your paddle up, stay balanced, and track the ball carefully - you’ll be in a much better position to handle those aggressive shots.
Let’s talk about the lob shot. It’s making a serious comeback in pickleball, especially as an offensive weapon.
A well-timed lob off a volley at the non-volley line can catch even experienced players off guard. The key to avoiding getting lobbed is body posture - don’t stay crouched too low for the entire rally.
Staying low helps with balance, but it also gives your opponent more space to lift the ball over you. It makes it harder to get vertical for an overhead smash or even to pivot and chase the ball down.
Start learning to read your opponent’s body language.
Players who lob often telegraph it - they’ll drop their head slightly, their paddle will point downward, or on the backhand, the face of the paddle will sit wide open.
The earlier you can recognize these cues, the better you’ll be at anticipating and defending the lob.
If you’re losing points right off the serve, it’s time to check your return habits. Sending returns out of bounds, into the net, or floating them short gives your opponent an easy opportunity to attack.
Often this happens because you’re standing flat-footed instead of ready with a light split step. It could also be that you’re preparing too late and making contact behind your body.
If space allows, take a small step back from the baseline to give yourself more time to see the serve, read the spin and pace, and set up for a cleaner return.
Small adjustments like that can make a huge difference in controlling the point from the start.
When it comes to dinking, also being flat-footed is one of the fastest ways to lose precision and get behind the pace of the rally.
If you find yourself getting pulled wide or popping the ball up, chances are you’re being beaten on angled dinks. And it’s not luck - it’s placement.
Skilled opponents use those sharp angles to stretch you out, open the middle, and force errors. Stay light on your toes, keep your paddle out in front, and communicate with your partner.
Don’t reach across your body for balls that your partner can handle. Teams that maintain tighter spacing and stay connected will cover those angles far more effectively.
Finally, let’s talk about your mindset. Sometimes the biggest factor isn’t physical - it’s mental.
Maybe you went into the match distracted, tired, or not mentally locked in. That’s okay - it happens to everyone.
But at higher levels, mental preparation becomes just as important as physical skill. When your focus slips, your reactions slow, your shot selection suffers, and frustration takes over.
When you’re facing a better team, it’s not always about shot power or speed - they’re often calmer, more patient, and mentally composed.
They reset faster after mistakes and stay in control of the match’s rhythm.
You can start closing that gap by creating mental routines: take a deep breath before each serve, focus on just one shot at a time, and let go of mistakes as soon as they happen.
Composure doesn’t just help you stay in the game - it’s what wins the long battles.
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