Stop Hitting Stupid Shots: Why Balance Changes Everything in Pickleball

It's not about being passive. It's about being strategic. You're not giving up the point; you're buying yourself the chance to win it on your terms, not theirs.

You know that moment in pickleball when you're scrambling, your feet are all over the place, and suddenly you think, "This is it. I'm going for the winner"?

Yeah, that's when things usually fall apart.

Kyle Koszuta just dropped a new video – the second installment of his 21-day pro concepts series – and it's a reality check wrapped in four simple words: don't hit stupid shots.

Love pickleball? Then you'll love our free newsletter. We send the latest news, tips, and highlights for free each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Sounds obvious, right? Except it's not. Because most players, even decent ones, fall into this trap constantly. We've all been there; here's how to stop playing the hero and start playing smarter instead.

The All-or-Nothing Trap

Here's the thing about being off balance: it creates this weird psychological pressure. You're vulnerable, so your brain tells you to go big or go home. Hit that speed-up or drive winner. End the point. Take the risk.

The problem? It works just enough times to keep you thinking it's a good idea.

Koszuta nails this in his video.

Players hit these reckless shots often enough to win a few points, which reinforces the behavior.

It's like that slot machine that pays out just frequently enough to keep you coming back. Except in pickleball, those failed attempts cost you points. And games.

The real pros know something different. They understand that being off balance isn't a moment to attack; it's a moment to reset.

The Lob: Your Get-Out-of-Jail Card

When you're scrambling and your feet aren't under you, Koszuta recommends hitting a lob. Not a weak one. A high and deep lob that gives you actual time to reposition yourself on the court and get back on balance.

This is counterintuitive for a lot of players. You're thinking, "I should be aggressive here," but the pros are thinking, "I need to survive this point and get my feet right."

The lob buys you that window. It's not flashy. It's not going to get you hyped up. But it works because it addresses the real problem: your positioning.

Once you're back on balance, you're back in control. And that's when the aggressive opportunities actually show up.

For the Perfect Lob, It Helps to Be a Little Ruthless

A well-struck lob can get you out of a tricky point or pour gasoline on a routine dink rally. It all comes down to deception, timing, and picking on the weaker opponent.

The Dink PickleballEric Roddy

The Reset Game

Koszuta offers another scenario: they hit you out wide on a dink, and now you're stretched. What do you do?

Reset the ball back into the kitchen. Get back on balance. Then look for your opportunity later in the point where you can actually be aggressive while on balance.

Notice the pattern here?

It's not about being passive. It's about being strategic. The reset isn't giving up the point; it's buying yourself the chance to win it on your terms, not theirs.

This is where the gap between good players and great players really shows. Good players hit the reset and hope. Great players hit the reset knowing they've just shifted the momentum back in their favor. They're patient, but they're not passive. There's a difference.

5 Simple Pickleball Tips That Actually Work (No Drilling Required)

You don’t need to spend eight hours a week on the court to see improvement. Sometimes a mindset shift or a focus on one specific element is enough to move the needle.

The Dink PickleballThe Dink Media Team

The Bigger Picture

The game has evolved past the days when raw power and aggression won matches. Now it's about positioning, patience, and knowing when to strike.

The players who understand this, who can stay calm when they're off balance, who can hit a lob or a reset without feeling like they're losing, those are the players who win consistently. They're not the flashiest. They're not always the most athletic. But they're the ones still standing at the end of the match.

So next time you're off balance, resist the urge to go for broke. Hit that lob. Reset that dink. Get your feet back under you. Then, when you're on balance and ready, that's when you look for your aggressive opportunity.

Heads up: hundreds of thousands of pickleballers read our free newsletter. Subscribe here for cutting edge strategy, insider news, pro analysis, the latest product innovations and more.