In pickleball, you lose more points to mental mistakes than you do from a physical one. No matter what you level is, you can lose big time if you are not focused on the right things. I have put together the top mental mistakes that I have:
- Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster – If you miss a shot, you need to leave that shot in the past. It is really common to have that mistake turn into multiple ones. If you do not catch it quick, you may have just lost 4 or 5 points. You need to stop this from happening. Reset your mind, not just your feet.
- No Plan – Every shot that you make should have a purpose. Just hitting it and hoping that the other side makes a mistake is not a winning play. You may hit a shot like that from time to time since you may not have any other options. But do not make this your primary strategy. You should think about what will you opponent do in reaction to your shot.
- Hero Mode – You need to play within your ability and not try to make the killer shot every time. My favorite example of this is when you poach a shot at net but this poaching action takes you out of position. By doing so, you leave a whole section of the court open for your opponents to take advantage of if they are able to hit your shot. You need a balanced approach to your game so that you are ready for the next shot.
- Poor Shot Selection – We all love to hit the great shots that should hit the highlight reel at ESPN. One example is an upline bullet shot just inside the baseline or a cross-court dink on the run. These shots will be winners if you get them in. The odds however are low with these shots. You should play the more consistent shots that line you up for the next one. You do not need to hit winning shots each time. Play the odds!
If you focus on fixing the mental side of your game, the physical side will invariably fall into place. Make sure you are in the best position each time and you will see the benefits.