One of the best things about the sport of pickleball is that there is a lot of ways to be successful on the pickleball court. There are a lot of different play styles, different techniques, different grips, etc. that all can be successful. Sometimes, the most unexpected of shots, or most unorthodox looking shots, can be successful and come back across the pickleball net. As a result, it is so important to always expect the pickleball to come back.
Never expect that you hit a winner. Expect the pickleball to come back. This means that you will (1) stay mentally engaged in the pickleball rally until the rally has a definitive end (for instance, lands out of bounds or has a double bounce); and (2) prepare your paddle after every shot (even when you think you hit a winner). Too often, we drop our defenses because we think the rally is over, when the pickleball dribbles back over to our side of the pickleball net or our opponents unexpectedly reach our great shots. Avoid this common mistake and always be ready for the pickleball to come back to your side of the net.
Bottom line: Always expect the pickleball to come back!
