Pickleball instruction: Prepare yourself to miss some shots, because it will happen
Last Edited
Sep 19 2025
Category
Instruction
So you're playing pickleball and you miss an easy shot. Maybe even your best shot -- forehand drive, dink, volley?
Naturally, you're disappointed. You shouldn't have missed that shot. The ball was just sitting there.
So what went wrong? The answer: nothing.
Well, nothing except the unrealistic expectations you created for yourself.
In this article, we'll explore how what you expect from yourself is often a fantasy and why it is leading you down Disappointment Drive.
How to avoid unnecessary disappointment in pickleball
The shot you missed was an “easy” one. I’ll give you that and we will start from that premise.
For the next 100 times you hit that same “easy” shot, how many times do you think you will miss the shot?
I mean -- as a human being who will, throughout the course of their normal day, make mistakes -- how many times will you miss the shot?
If you say zero, all is not lost but there is a lot of work to do. For you, start here: No player on the planet (not even your favorite pro player) makes 100% of their shots, even the “easy” ones.
If you say anything other than zero, then you acknowledge that you will miss shots, even the “easy” ones. Your path forward is easier because in the calm of wherever you are reading these words, your rational mind understands that to err is to be human.
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The key is to more properly set your expectations -- before you step out into the court. Once you start playing, things get going. Your mind gets busy. Your body is moving around.
For most of us, it’s too late to take a moment of reflection between games and adjust. The solution is to set the right framework before your first game of the day.
As you’re preparing at home -- or in the car on the way to the courts -- say this:
1. I get to play pickleball today. That is awesome.
2. I am probably going to miss some shots today while I play. Even some that might be “easy.”
3. Strike that. I know that I am going to miss some shots today. It is only natural.
4. When I miss a shot today, I will be prepared because I expect to miss at least that one shot.
The technique you are using is one we call 85-15. It means that you can roughly expect to hit 85 in and miss 15. So, when you miss a shot, it is just one of the 15 you anticipated missing (or whatever number you want to put here -- other than zero).
The 85-15 technique is a really powerful tool you can use to deal with missed shots during play. If you want to learn more about how to shift your mindset – and use techniques like the “Oops” Bucket that goes along with 85-15, to reduce frustration on the court -- click here for a free Prepare to Play Guide (it does require an email address so we can send it to you).
Whether you choose to use 85-15 or another technique as your tool, prepare yourself before stepping onto the court. Avoid the needless disappointment of missing a shot -- it’s expected.
Tony Roig is a nationally-recognized coach, Sr. Pro Player, developer of “Respect the X” on the In2Pickle YouTube channel, and the voice behind the Pickleball Therapy podcast. Visit BetterPickleball.com for information on coaching from Tony and the BP team through their Camps, Academy, and No. 1 online training program: The Pickleball System.
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