Are the mistakes hurting your pickleball game from the habit of rushing, and you don’t even realize it?
You’re not alone. Most players think they have a “technique” problem, when in reality they have a rushing problem. They’re moving fast, their brain is moving even faster, and their paddle and feet are just trying to keep up.
That’s when the balls start sailing long, dropping into the net, or popping up like little gifts for your opponents.
Let me show you how that sneaky habit of rushing shows up—and what to do instead so you feel calmer and more in control every time you step on the court.
Why Rushing Is Such A Sneaky Pickleball Problem
Rushing is tricky because it doesn’t always look chaotic from the outside, yet is is a leading cause of the mistakes in your pickleball game.
You might look “quick” to your partners. You’re hustling. You’re getting to balls. You’re talking fast, calling the score, bouncing the ball, moving your feet. It feels like you’re doing the right things.
But inside?
- Your mind is racing, leading to common pickleball mistakes.
- Your grip gets tighter
- Your swing gets bigger
- Your timing gets earlier and earlier
And that’s where the trouble starts.
Think of it like driving a car in the rain. The faster you go, the less room you have for error. A tiny turn of the wheel at 30 mph is no big deal. The same turn at 80 mph? You’re sliding all over the highway.
It’s the same in pickleball. When you rush, small mistakes in timing, footwork, or paddle angle turn into big errors on the scoreboard—especially for those of us 50+ whose reaction times aren’t quite what they used to be.
The good news? You don’t need to become slower. You just need to be quicker to the ball and calmer with the shot.
Let’s walk through five common rushing mistakes and the simple fixes that will help you feel more steady, confident, and in control.
Rushing Mistake #1: Running Through Your Return (Or Any Groundstroke)
One of the most common mistakes is caused by rushing running through the shot—especially on the return of serve.
Some coaches teach players to run through the return so they can get to the non-volley zone faster. And technically, they’re not wrong. It is a quicker way to move up.
But here’s what often happens.
You’re tracking down a shorter serve. You’re running forward. Your body has all this forward momentum. You swing… and the ball sails out the back.
Why? Because you didn’t just hit with your arm and paddle. You hit with all the extra energy from your moving body.
Moving while you hit is a more complex motion. For most recreational players, especially over 50, it’s just harder to control.
The fix:
Be quick to the ball, but don’t rush through the shot.
- Move into position for your return, and avoid another pickleball mistake.
- Stop and set your feet.
- Get balanced.
- Then swing and let your body move through the shot in a controlled way.
When you’re set, you can control how much energy goes into the ball. When you’re running through it, anything can happen.
Legendary basketball coach John Wooden said, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.” That’s perfect advice for your pickleball returns.
Rushing Mistake #2: Popping Up Dinks Because You’re Leaving Early
This one usually shows up at the non-volley zone line on your dinks.
You actually start well here—you get low, you get into position, you’re set for the shot. But right before you finish the dink, you’re already coming out of it. You’re standing up, turning, or pulling back your paddle to get ready for the “next thing.”
That’s rushing.
And when you rush out of a dink, you:
- Lose control of the paddle face
- Add extra motion you don’t need
- Pop the ball up and invite your opponent to attack, making pickleball mistakes.
The result? A simple dink turns into an easy put-away—for them.
The fix: Pose for a picture.
- Get low and in position for the dink.
- Hit the dink.
- Hold that finish for a moment—like you’re posing for a quick photo.
- Then recover to your ready position.
It’ll feel a bit slow at first, even exaggerated. That’s okay. For players 50+, this “pose” gives your body time to stay connected to the shot instead of rushing ahead and losing control.
Rushing Mistake #3: Starting To Play Before You’re Actually Ready
You’ve probably lived this one.
You walk onto the courts feeling pretty calm. You’re the last one in your group to arrive. Everyone’s waiting. Someone says, “You ready? Let’s go!” You hit two warm-up balls—maybe—and suddenly the game has started.
Your mind is rushing. Your body feels out of sync. The first game? Pretty much a throwaway. And sometimes that “off” feeling stays with you the entire session.
Two simple fixes:
1. Don’t start until you feel ready.
Give yourself a few minutes to:
- Warm up your body
- Hit a few balls
- Take a breath and mentally arrive, preventing common pickleball mistakes.
That’s not being fussy. That’s being smart—especially as we age and it takes our bodies a bit longer to warm up and our brains a bit longer to settle in.
2. If you feel rushed mid-game, drop the paddle between points.
Literally take the paddle out of your playing hand for a moment.
There’s a real connection between tension in your body and speed in your brain. When your grip tightens and your shoulders tense, your thoughts start racing, too.
Set the paddle down or hold it lightly in your non-dominant hand between points. It’s a tiny reset that helps your body relax and slows everything back down.
Rushing Mistake #4: “Insta Serving” Without A Routine
You step to the baseline, call the score super fast—“11–2–1”—and boom, you swing. No pause. No plan. No clarity. Just… serve and hope.
Sometimes it works. A lot of times, you have no idea where that ball is going.
When you rush your serve:
- Your mind isn’t clear on the target
- Your body just flings the ball back
- You lose one of the few shots you fully control, leading to pickleball mistakes.
The fix: Build a simple pre-serve routine.
Here’s an example:
- Step to the line.
- Call the score clearly: “1… 1… 2.”
- Bounce the ball a couple of times (with your hand or your paddle—your choice).
- Step back and look at your target.
- Take a slow, deep breath.
- Then serve.
This slows your verbal pace, which slows your mental pace, which settles your body. Suddenly your serve becomes smoother, more reliable, and a lot more consistent.
For players 50+, this is huge. A calm, repeatable serve gives you a predictable start to every point—less drama, more control.
Rushing Mistake #5: Smashing “Meatballs” Into The Net
Let’s talk about those high, juicy volleys at the net—the ones just sitting there.
We call them meatballs.
You see it. You know you can end the rally. You get excited. You swing early, swing big, swing hard… and the ball dumps into the net.
That’s rushing.
All that excitement leads to:
- Movement that starts too early
- Too much motion in your swing
- A tense arm and tight grip contribute to more pickleball mistakes.
The ball never has a chance.
The fix: Smooth beats fast.
The next time you get a meatball:
- Keep your body calm.
- Shorten your swing—think “punch” not “home run.”
- Stay balanced and under control.
- Focus on clean contact instead of maximum power.
You don’t need to crush it. You just need to place it. Smooth, controlled volleys will win you far more points than rushed, overcooked ones.
Simple Ways To Practice Slowing Down
You don’t fix rushing just by “trying to relax.” You fix it with small, specific habits.
Here are a few to try this week.
1. Balance pause drill on returns
During warm-up, on every return of serve:
- Move to the ball
- Stop and count “one-Mississippi” after you set your feet, reducing pickleball mistakes.
- Then hit
Yes, even exaggerate it at first. You’re training your body to separate moving from hitting.
2. Dink and freeze drill
In dinking warm-ups, agree with your partner that after each dink:
- You both hold your finish for a second
- Then recover to ready position
It’ll feel silly. It also builds tremendous control and balance.
3. No-insta-serve rule
Give yourself this personal rule:
I will always bounce the ball at least twice before I serve.
That one tiny step forces a mini-routine and prevents insta serving from sneaking back in.
4. Between-point tension check
Between points, quickly scan: jaw, shoulders, grip.
If anything feels tight, loosen it on purpose. Drop the paddle out of your hitting hand for a breath if you need to.
Try just one of these for a week and notice how much calmer your game feels.
Bonus: Use The Two-Push Breathing Reset
Here’s a little mental and physical reset we teach inside our academy and Pickleball System. It’s called the two push breathing technique.
Use it after a long rally, after you’ve had to chase a ball, or anytime you feel your mind and body speeding up.
Here’s how to do it:
- Take one big breath in through your nose.
- Then exhale through your mouth in two strong pushes, trying to get all the air out of your lungs, and avoid more pickleball mistakes.
So it’s:
In through the nose… then “Hoo—Hoo.”
Do it twice.
Notice your shoulders dropping? Maybe a little tension leaving your neck? That’s your body shifting into a calmer state that’s much better for controlled, confident pickleball.
You’re going to breathe between points anyway—might as well make it useful.
Final Thoughts
Rushing shows up in lots of little ways—on your returns, dinks, serves, volleys, even in how you walk onto the court. But the pattern is always the same: fast mind, tense body, unpredictable shots.
Pick one rushing mistake that sounds most like you and focus on the simple fix this week. Stop and set your feet. Pose on your dinks. Add a serve routine. Use the two-push breath.
Give yourself permission to slow down just a bit so your game can actually speed up in the ways that matter—better control, better consistency, and a lot more confidence every time you play.
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CJ Johnson
Hey there — I’m a professional three-sport athlete and coach who has spent my entire adult life earning a living from playing and coaching sports. Since I started coaching more than three decades ago, one thing has remained the same: My commitment to see students not as they are but as what they can become and to move heaven and earth to help them realize their untapped potential. You should know that when it comes to helping pickleball players over 50 live their best lives on and off the courts, I'm an expert. Good pickleball is not just technique; it's the mind and body working holistically. That's why I'm also a personal trainer and weight management specialist. When I’m chillin', you'll find me watching Star Trek with my husband John and our two fur babies, Shirley and Ralph. (Yes, Happy Days)