Six More Stubborn Habits Losing You Pickleball Points

Pick one this week, work on it during your rec games, and let it become automatic. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a 5.0 game.

Coach Jess from Athena Pickleball has a theory about why you keep losing pickleball games, and it's not because you need a better paddle or more court time.

In her latest video, she breaks down six stubborn habits that intermediate and advanced players (3.0–4.0+) fall into without realizing it. These aren't flashy mistakes; they're the quiet, everyday decisions that cost you points in ways you might not even notice.

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1. Serve and Stay (But Not Too Early)

You've heard it a thousand times: serve and stay, return and run. But here's the catch. Many players creep forward before the return even comes back to their side of the court. The problem? If your opponent hits a deep return, you're suddenly scrambling backward and short-hopping the ball just to make sure it bounces. That's not the position you want to be in.

The fix is simple but requires patience.

• Hit your serve, then hold your ground until you see where the return is going.
• If it's heading to your partner, great. Creep in and look for a poach opportunity.
• If it's coming at you, you're already in a solid spot to step into your third shot.

This small adjustment removes the panic and puts you in control.

2. Stop Attacking Crosscourt

This one comes down to geometry. When you attack crosscourt, the opponent diagonal from you has the most time to react, and your partner (who doesn't know the attack is coming) has the least time. That's a recipe for your partner getting put away.

Instead, think about attacking straight ahead, especially toward their right hip or shoulder. This does two things: it gives you a ball coming back at you that you can counter and finish, and it keeps your partner out of harm's way. Yes, the middle sometimes looks open, but the court is small enough that a hard crosscourt shot often just flies out anyway.

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3. Expect the Ball to Come Back

At lower levels, you speed up a ball and it doesn't come back.

As you improve, one ball comes back. Then two or three.

The mental shift here is crucial: stop thinking you're hitting winners.

In pickleball, there aren't many clean putaways. After you speed something up, your paddle should stay up and ready for the next shot. Stay on your toes, keep your swings short and compact, and assume your opponent is going to find a way to keep the ball in play.

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4. Hold Your Ground at the Kitchen Line

When a drive comes at you with pace, your instinct might be to back up. Don't. Backpedaling opens your paddle face and creates a pop-up that your opponent will happily put away.

Instead, stay strong in your stance, keep your weight on the balls of your feet, and think about punching the ball back with your arm and shoulder. Meet the ball in front of your body, about 8–12 inches outside your hip, and stick the landing. It's a fearless mentality that takes practice, but it transforms how you handle pace.

5. Tame the Happy Feet

Some players move too much during dinking. They step in and out constantly, twist themselves up, and suddenly they're out of position when a speed-up comes. The solution is efficiency: one step in any direction. If the ball is short, step in. If it's deep, take a drop step back. Stay parallel to the net, keep your chest facing the court, and avoid unnecessary footwork. When you do need to move laterally, use a quick double shuffle or take the ball out of the air with a volley. Less movement means you're ready for whatever comes next.

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6. Hit Forward, Not Down

That juicy, high ball looks like a winner. You swing hard, pull your paddle up, and watch it sail into the tape. The culprit? You're thinking about hitting down instead of hitting forward.

When your paddle face points to the sky and your elbow drifts behind your body, the only hinge you have left is your wrist, and that's a losing proposition.

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Get your paddle out to the side, keep your elbow in front of your body, and move the paddle forward toward your target. Depending on where you are on the court, "down" is actually forward and down. You're aiming for your opponent's feet, not the net. This shift in thinking alone will eliminate a ton of unforced errors.

The Real Takeaway

Coach Jess's advice boils down to one thing: pickleball is a game of geometry, positioning, and decision-making, not just athleticism. You don't need to fix all six habits at once. Pick one this week, work on it during your rec games, and let it become automatic. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a 5.0 game. But clean up even one of these habits, and you'll feel the difference immediately.