7 Ways To Stop Missing In Pickleball On Every Shot

Want to stop missing in pickleball? PPA pro Ashley Griffith breaks down simple adjustments for the drive, drop, dink, volley, serve, and return. Pick one and fix it in your next session.

You know the feeling. A ball you absolutely should have made sails long, dumps into the net, or pops up for an easy put away.

If you want to stop missing shots in pickleball, the answer is rarely a new paddle or more power.

It is almost always a small technique problem, and it is fixable in a single session.

Most misses come from doing too much, not too little. The pool of players fighting the same leak is enormous.

Per SFIA’s 2026 Pickleball Single Sport Report, 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, with core players jumping from 1.4 million to 7.5 million in five years.

These adjustments come from PPA pro and coach Ashley Griffith on YouTube, who walks through every shot from the drive to the return.

We break down her advice shot by shot so you can pick one and take it to the court.

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How Do You Make Your Drive More Consistent?

You make your drive more consistent by using your legs instead of your arm and wrist, and by hitting at about 70 percent pace with plenty of topspin.

Most drive errors come from overusing the arms. Your legs are your strongest muscles, so they should create the power.

Many players swing at 100 percent on every drive, and pickleball simply does not require that.

A 70 percent drive with good spin is far more effective than a hard, flat one, and it is the same logic behind the 70 percent rule for match-proof practice.

Here is how to build it:

1. Load and hit through. On the forehand, load onto your right leg and drive through the ball. On the backhand, load onto your left leg and do the same.
2. Take a touch of pace off. This one is mental, so give yourself permission to swing smoother.
3. Swing low to high. That path adds the topspin that pulls the ball down into the court.

If your drives keep landing long or getting punished, our guide on 5 tips for a harder pickleball drive that stays in pairs well with this approach.

Power only helps when the ball stays in the court.

Why Do Drops Keep Missing?

Drops miss because players overswing, overuse the wrist, and overcomplicate a shot that should be simple.

Ashley calls consistency on the drop the number one thing every player should focus on, at any level.

Her rule is less is more, and it is the single biggest lever if you want to stop missing shots in pickleball.

The foundation is getting behind the ball, using a pendulum load, and swinging high to low to high with a smooth push through.

The second piece is the apex, and this is where most players go wrong. Many players let the ball peak right over the net.

A true drop peaks before the net and then falls into the kitchen. Get that arc right and the shot becomes nearly impossible to miss.

If your third shot is the one that gives you trouble, read why you keep missing your third shot drop for more on the same problem.

You can also try the push drop for an even simpler motion.

What Is the Key to a Consistent Dink?

The key is a simple swing and a leading foot behind the ball on every shot.

Before you worry about topspin or slice, build a basic dink you can make 10 out of 10 times. Use a high pendulum load and a smooth swing, and do not overdo it.

Footwork is the second piece, and it is where most dinking errors start.

At the kitchen, you want to be low but up on the balls of your feet, shoulder width apart, and fully engaged.

Then get your leading foot behind the ball every time. If you are right handed, that means:

• Forehand dink: right foot behind the ball
• Backhand dink: left foot behind the ball

When your feet are set, your swing can stay simple.

That is how you stop missing shots in pickleball at the kitchen line, and it is why footwork matters as much as the swing itself.

Once the basic dink is solid, our breakdown of 7 principles to win dinks shows how to use it with purpose. If your forehand dink is the weak side, start there.

Kitchen line standouts like Tyra Black and Anna Leigh Waters are great examples of how calm and set the dink game can look.

If your dinks keep floating up, cornering the ball is usually the culprit.

How Do You Stop Missing Volleys?

You stop missing volleys with a short, compact swing and by swinging toward your target instead of chopping down.

The volley is a big shot in doubles, and it is also where players hand over free points. The fix starts with keeping everything in front of you.

If you are facing the net, the paddle should never travel behind your body.

The same goes on the backhand side, where you stay tight to the body and swing through.

Second, swing toward your target. If you want the ball to go down the line, your paddle path goes into the court toward that line and through the ball.

That does not mean swinging down and then up. Keep the motion short, compact, and pointed at where you want the ball to land.

For more on winning exchanges at the net, check out how to volley in pickleball and win every hands battle. You can also learn the block fixes that stop pop ups.

What Is the Safest Way to Serve in Doubles?

The safest serve in doubles prioritizes depth and topspin over hitting a target.

The serve is the one shot you fully control, which makes it the easiest place to stop missing shots in pickleball.

There are no other variables, and the official USA Pickleball rulebook gives you only one attempt, so treat it like a shot you should almost never miss.

In doubles, your goal is to make it harder for the other team to come in off the return. That means a deep, spinning serve, not a hard serve aimed at a line.

Here is how Ashley builds a reliable serve:

1. Aim for big targets. Give yourself 2 to 3 feet of margin.
2. Load up and use your legs. The serve works like a forehand, with a low to high swing.
3. Stay balanced and routine driven. Three bounces, focus, look at the target, load onto the right foot, toss, hit through.

Singles is different, since the serve becomes more aggressive there. In doubles, solid and deep wins.

If your serve lacks bite, why your pickleball serve has no weight goes deeper on depth and spin.

Just make sure your motion still clears the 7 new USAP rules for 2026.

How Do You Fix Missed Returns?

You fix missed returns by staying low through the shot and extending your contact point.

Returns are an easy fix that many players overlook, and they are where you stop missing shots in pickleball for free.

The usual problem is rushing, where you run through the ball or pop up as you hit.

Stay low and compact on both wings. Hit the ball first, and only then think about moving forward.

The second tip is extended contact.

Ashley tells students to pretend they are hitting four pickleballs, which means pushing through the shot instead of stopping at contact.

It sounds silly, but it keeps you low and through the ball. That matters most when opponents serve harder.

For a full breakdown, see fix these 3 return of serve mistakes fast.

The Common Thread: Why Simple Beats Complicated

Across every shot, the same idea shows up: simpler technique produces fewer unforced errors.

Legs instead of arms on the drive. A smooth swing on the drop, a basic dink before any spin, a compact volley, a balanced serve routine, and a low return.

Every fix that helps you stop missing shots in pickleball asks you to do less, and to do it the same way every time.

That connects to a broader point about performance.

When you stop overthinking, your swing gets smoother, which is the whole idea behind playing better pickleball by thinking less.

It also helps to prioritize steadiness over flash. Our piece on why not to try to hit a pickleball winner makes the case clearly.

Your Quick Reference Checklist

Use this list to pick one focus for your next session.

• Drive: load and hit through, about 70 percent pace, low to high
• Drop: simple swing, apex before the net
• Dink: leading foot behind the ball, smooth pendulum
• Volley: short and compact, swing toward the target
• Serve: depth and topspin, 2 to 3 feet of margin
• Return: stay low, extend contact, push through

Do not try to fix everything at once.

Pick one line, not all six, and you will stop missing shots in pickleball faster than any gear upgrade can manage.

If you want structured reps, try 5 pickleball practice drills for any skill level.

And if you want a full season plan, 4 pickleball tips that cut unforced errors fast pairs well with this simple 4 step system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I keep missing easy shots in pickleball?

Most easy misses come from overswinging, overusing the wrist, or poor footwork. Simplify your swing, get your feet set behind the ball, and swing smoother instead of harder.

How hard should I hit a pickleball drive?

Aim for about 70 percent power with good topspin. Pro coach Ashley Griffith says a spinning 70 percent drive is more effective than a hard, flat 100 percent drive.

Where should the ball peak on a pickleball drop shot?

The highest point of your drop should come before the net, not over it. That arc lets the ball fall softly into the kitchen and makes the shot much harder to miss.

Which foot should be behind the ball on a dink?

Your leading foot should be behind the ball on every dink. For a right handed player, that is the right foot on the forehand and the left foot on the backhand.

Should I aim for the lines on my pickleball serve?

In doubles, no. Aim for big targets with 2 to 3 feet of margin and prioritize depth and topspin, which makes it harder for opponents to attack off the return.