International newspaper advises on how to minimize psychological errors when playing pickleball

(Dan Tri) - In pickleball, mental errors are the biggest barrier preventing players from reaching their peak performance. Learning how to minimize these mental errors is the key to winning.

According to experts, there are many reasons that lead to “mental errors”. However, the most common is that the player does not set a specific goal for his shot.

Mental factors directly affect the outcome of a pickleball match (Photo: Quyet Thang).

“When you don’t have a clear target for your shot, that’s when you lose control of the ball’s trajectory. The shot becomes aimless, and failure often comes from not having a clear intention from the start,” said pickleball specialist The Kitchen (USA).

To completely eliminate the “mental error” caused by a lack of aim, pickleball experts advise players to apply the principle of “clear intention” to every shot. Before the racket touches the ball, a specific and detailed target must be clearly defined, instead of just aiming generally at “opponent’s side of the court” or “over the net”.

The second reason why players are prone to “mental errors” is related to choosing targets that are too risky on each shot. “If you try to aim the ball too close or hit the line at the opponent’s end, it will not be surprising if the ball goes out.

The mental mistake here is to choose a target with such a large margin of error that it does not allow for even small human errors,” asserts The Kitchen.

There are always certain mistakes in every shot, even for professional athletes (Photo: Getty).

In professional matches between top pickleball players, while we often see powerful and accurate shots, the destination of those shots is usually in the safe zone, near the mid-court area.

This strategy allows players to maximize their margin of error, avoiding risky self-inflicted errors. Because of the priority on safety and patience in finding the opponent’s opening, the shots tend to last longer, requiring the highest level of technique and stamina.

Experts advise that players should leave a little "safety buffer" around the chosen target, avoiding aiming too close to the line in a risky way. Because, no matter how good you are, there will always be an inevitable gap between where you aim and where the ball actually lands.

Maintaining a deliberate and safe hitting strategy is not just a tactic, but also a core element that helps players stay mentally strong and win every pickleball match.

Choosing a safe shot is the key to winning any pickleball game (Photo: Getty).

By knowing your shot target and creating enough margin of safety, players will minimize self-inflicted errors. This directly builds confidence, eliminates psychological pressure and allows you to maintain stability and patience to overcome all opponents.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/bao-quoc-te-tu-van-cach-giam-thieu-loi-tam-ly-khi-choi-pickleball-20251106101215932.htm