If you want to win more games and actually see your DUPR move, getting better at pickleball isn’t always about hitting harder or playing flashier.

According to PPA Tour pro Ashley Griffith, it’s about fixing the small mistakes most players don’t even realize they’re making.

Here are four overlooked adjustments that can make an immediate impact on your game:

1. Know your “red flags”

Every player has them: the shots or situations that consistently cause trouble.

Maybe it’s a deep overhead. A short, awkward dink. A stretched backhand.

The problem? Most players recognize these weaknesses but still try to play them aggressively. That’s where unnecessary errors pile up.

Improvement doesn’t mean attacking every ball. Sometimes it means identifying your red flags and choosing the high-percentage, safer option instead.

Cutting just a few unforced errors per game can completely change your results.

2. Stop giving your opponent the same ball

Predictability is one of the biggest advantages you can hand your opponent.

Same dink. Same pace. Same location.

If you repeat the same shot enough times, your opponent will get comfortable, and once they’re comfortable, you’re in trouble.

You don’t need to hit winners to gain control of a rally. Simply changing height, speed, or placement forces your opponent to adjust. And the more they adjust, the more likely they are to give you a ball you can attack.

3. Learn how to recover after bad shots

Bad shots happen. Even at the pro level.

What separates strong players isn’t perfection, it’s what happens next.

Too many players hit a poor shot or a popup and freeze. Instead, you should immediately switch into defense mode.

Get low. Set your paddle. Expect a hard reply.

If you’re in transition and hit a bad ball, don’t keep charging forward blindly. Reset, defend, and work your way back into the point.

Pickleball isn’t about playing perfect rallies. It’s about surviving imperfect ones.

4. Be ready before your opponent hits

This one sounds simple, but it’s a game-changer.

A lot of players are still moving when their opponent makes contact. They’re drifting through the kitchen or rushing the transition zone, which leaves them late on the next shot.

The fix? Get balanced early.

Use a split step, or even a small hop, to set your base just before your opponent hits. From there, you can react in either direction.

Many players think they need faster hands. In reality, they just need to be ready sooner.

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You don’t need a complete overhaul to improve.

• - Identify your red flags and play them smarter
• - Keep your opponent uncomfortable
• - Recover quickly after mistakes
• - Get balanced before every shot

These are simple adjustments, but they lead to fewer errors, longer rallies, and more wins.

And yes, your DUPR will thank you.