With pickleball growing in popularity at a staggering rate, there are a lot of self-proclaimed “experts” and coaches that could be sharing poor advice with their pupils.

In a recent YouTube clip, World No. 3 men's singles player Connor Garnett explored five common lies that your pickleball mentor probably taught you, and what to do instead. 

Lie #1: Always take the ball out of the air in the kitchen

“Look to take the ball out of the air, but when you can’t be aggressive, take that step back, let the ball bounce, and go through it off of the bounce. I don’t want to reach and pop it up. I’m reaching and I lose power, and now they’re going to have a high ball that they can hit at me,” said Garnett. “If I have to hit up, I probably should be taking it out of the air.”

Footwork is key here. 

“When you’re looking to take it out of the air, even if you misjudge it, if you have quick footwork and you’re on the balls of your feet, you’re able to step back and still be aggressive with that shot,” he added. 

Lie #2: Always shifting with your partner 

This lie primarily comes from doubles synchronicity in tennis.

But Garnett shared that “you shift with your partner when the ball is on the other side of the court, or if you’re agile enough to get back to cover your line.”

In short, it helps to stick to this specific formula.

“The correct time to move is not when the ball is on your side of the court, but when it’s on your opponent’s side of the court,” explained Garnett. 

Lie #3: Use legs and chest to drop ball over the net 

Coaches commonly tell players this to help lift them up to hit a drop.

Garnett, however, recommended to stay low and follow through like a putt in golf. 

“My upper body stays still. I’m letting the ball drop onto the paddle and my arm follows through, but my upper body is still,” he said. 

To help with keeping your upper body still, imagine you have a cup of water on your head. And if your movements are too jerky, the water will fall.

Lie #4: The twoey is all about your left arm

When discussing the intricacies of a two-handed backhand, Garnett is a perfect resource.

After all, it’s his signature shot.

“The left arm is important,” he clarified. “But what’s more important is the lower body and the kinetic chain. People use too much of their wrist or arm and they’re rushing it to get this shot. When I hit a twoey, my hips come out first and my arm moves right on contact. My arm isn’t really relevant until right on contact. Cut out extra motion in the backswing and let your trunk, legs, hips, and core bring the paddle out.”

Lie #5: Always do “X”

“X” can be anything, like “Always return line or speed up middle.”  

“There are no hard and fast rules in pickleball. There are guidelines and rules, but you have to know when to follow them and when to break them. Play to your strength,” advised Garnett. 

Want more pickleball tips? Follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for more pro advice.