Simple Fixes For The Biggest Pickleball Mistakes

Transform your game with these proven strategies...

Author

Shea Underwood
November 22, 2024

WEEK 40 ANSWERS

Welcome back to the Road to Pro!

Earlier this week I asked you the question, “Do you analyze your tournament and/or rec games? If so, what does that process look like for you?” A big shoutout to everyone who sent in their answers to last issue's question!

Time to reveal the top three responses. This is your chance to see what other pickleball players have to say, and YOU get to vote for the response you think is the best. Please vote for your favorite answer using the poll at the bottom of this issue. The person who gets the most votes gets a new paddle!

Let's get to it!

SwingVision Offer

If you’re not filming your matches, then you’re missing arguably the most effective way to progress in pickleball. You’re much more likely to see your tendencies when you watch yourself play, and the best way to record your matches is with SwingVision.

Not only do you get access to AI highlight compilations of your longest rallies and most tiring points, but you also get access to LIVE LINE CALLS 🤯. It even uses AI to automatically take out all the dead space from your videos so you can watch your match back without having to fast forward through all the boring parts.

Click the image below for a FREE $100 Swing Stick when you purchase SwingVision Pro! For a limited time only during the holidays, SwingVision is only $12 per month!

Sean’s Response

As a beginner pickleballer, I’ve discovered that the real learning happens after the game ends. Each match is like a living textbook of my skills, mistakes, and potential.

Key Moments - After every game, I’ve started a ritual of mentally replaying critical rallies. These aren’t just random moments, but strategic snapshots that reveal:

  • My decision-making under pressure

  • Technical strengths and weaknesses

  • Emotional responses during challenging points

Self-Reflection/Post-Game Introspection - I ask myself questions:

  • What shots worked really well today?

  • Where did I lose my composure?

  • Which strategies felt natural vs. forced?

This isn’t about being hard on myself, but understanding my game’s nuances.

Learning from Others - I’ve learned that my opponents and partners are unexpected coaches. By asking:

  • “What did you see in my play?”

  • “Any tips for improving my technique?”

I gain insights I might have missed while playing.

Learning from the Pros - I’ve subscribed to Shea’s newsletter and also watch:

  • Shea Underwood - Pickleball (Youtube)

  • PrimeTime Pickleball (Youtube)

  • ThatPickleballGuy (Youtube)

  • Briones Pickleball (Youtube)

  • Cracked Pickleball (Youtube)

  • Enhance Pickleball (Youtube)

Targeted Practice Approach - My practice is no longer random. Based on my game analysis, I create focused drills:

Am I struggling with:

  • Weak backhand returns? → Specific backhand drills

  • Positioning issues? → Movement and court coverage exercises

  • Serves? → Dedicated serve practice

Goal Setting - I set clear, measurable goals:

  • Improve serve accuracy by 20%

  • Reduce unforced errors

  • For now, concentrate mainly on hitting down the middle to improve consistency

The Bigger Picture - Analyzing my pickleball journey isn’t just about getting better—it’s about enjoying the process of continuous improvement. I know it sounds corny, but each game is a lesson, each drill a step forward.

Next up? - I’ve decided to keep a notebook to track my progress.

Ramona’s Response

I am a rec player but always looking to improve my game play. I try to record my games so I can rewatch the play and decisions made leading to the outcome of each point.

For points that lead to my opponents winning the point or earning the side out, I see what decisions were made that may have lead to an error (eg. was I pulled out wide, what caused the popup). I try to figure out what I could have done different; and also watch my opponents shot setup/selection. I try to see what advantage they saw that I might have missed that lead to the outcome.

This goes the same for points my side wins. What decisions were made to lead to that outcome. I break it down to things like: did we make it to the kitchen, were we in good position, were we dictating the point and also what I could have done different to lead to a similar outcome.

Lastly I rewatch the video to look for patterns (if any) that I may have missed during game play.

During game play (when I don’t record), I make mental notes on opponents tendencies (like to go cross court, speed up, lobs, attack down the line etc.) I also make note of their positioning, their weight distributions (sitting heavy on their heels, leaning in towards kitchen) and if they prefer backhand over forehand or vice versa. I test how they handle drives and attacks, as well as soft shots.

I probably missed some things but this is the gist of my in play analysis.

Eugene’s Response

Analyzing both tournament and recreational games is a key part of improving my game, my performance and area to train on.

Here’s a typical process I often follow:

1. Recording Games

I started recording most of my matches whether is tournament or rec games, using cameras placed in a position that captures the entire court. This allows me to have a clear perspective of both my movements and those of my opponents.

2. Review

After a match, I do an initial review to look at overall performance. I watch to identify key moments: where points were won or lost, and what worked or didn’t work in my strategy.

3. Identifying Patterns and Trends

I focus on recognizing specific patterns, like tendencies of my opponents, or areas of my own game that led to errors or successes. For example: How effective my serves and returns were? Where I might have made unforced errors? If my placement of shots put enough pressure on the opponents? Evaluating my success rate in transition (approaching the net).

4. Shot Selection and Strategy Evaluation

I often look at shot selection: Did I choose the right shot for the given moment? Was my dink game effective? How well did I handle third-shot drops or drives? The goal is to determine if I was playing to my strengths and exploiting the opponent’s weaknesses.

5. Technical Analysis

Analyzing own footwork, positioning, and overall technique is crucial. I often look at my court positioning during rallies, movement when transitioning to the kitchen, and my stance and balance, especially during volleys and smashes.

6. Mental Game Review

One of the most crucial part of this exercise is to gauge my mental game approach. Whether did I stay calm and focused, or did I let mistakes compound? Analyzing mindset during critical points helps develop better mental toughness in future matches.

7. Friend or Playing Partner's Insights

Friend or Playing Partner's perspective can be valuable in identifying areas for improvement that I may not notice on my own. We usually discuss on our recurring weaknesses and how we can strategize better to improve our partnership.

8. Training Plan

I often search on YouTube to learn on drills to fix my weaknesses. Working with partners to execute and train on those drills to improve my game play. Continue to play a lot of rec games to build the muscle memories and strengthen the mental approach.

The core idea is to use objective data from matches to identify weaknesses, adjust strategies, and integrate focused practice sessions. Consistent analysis helps me understand my own game at a deeper level, allowing them to adapt and continually improve.

Discounts for You

Share the Road to Pro Newsletter

Share this newsletter with others! The button below will take you to my website where you can copy the URL to send to anyone you think may enjoy this content.

OR copy and paste this link: https://shea.beehiiv.com/