How to Stop Popping Up in Pickleball — 5 Real Causes (And Fixes)
You know the feeling. The ball comes to you, you go to reset it or dink it, and instead of landing softly in the kitchen, it floats up like a piñata. Your opponent's eyes light up. You already know what's coming.
Bam. Right at your feet. Point over.
Learning how to stop popping up in pickleball is one of the most important skills you can develop — because it's probably the most punishable mistake in recreational play, and it's also one of the most common. The frustrating part is that it often doesn't feel like you did anything wrong. The ball just... went up. Why?
Let's break it down.
Cause #1: Too Much Grip Pressure
This is the big one. When most players feel nervous, rushed, or under pressure, they tighten their grip — it's instinct. The problem is that a tight grip turns a soft touch shot into a push. Instead of absorbing the ball's energy, you're sending it back with force, and that force sends the ball up.
The fix: Consciously loosen your grip before you make contact. Think of a scale of 1–10, where 10 is white-knuckle tension. For dinks and resets, you want to be at a 3 or 4. Your hand should feel almost lazy on the handle. It'll feel wrong at first — like you're going to drop the paddle. You won't. And the ball will stop floating.
Worth noting: a worn-out, slippery grip makes this worse, because your brain compensates for the lack of traction by squeezing harder. A fresh grip with real texture lets you stay loose without feeling like the paddle's going to fly out of your hand.
Cause #2: Late Contact
If you're making contact with the ball after it passes your hip — or even worse, behind your body — you're fighting physics. At that point, your swing path is going upward naturally, and the ball goes with it.
The fix: Get to the ball early. This is a footwork problem as much as a technique problem. Move your feet first, then swing. Contact should happen out in front of your body, where you can guide the ball forward and downward. If you feel yourself reaching back or lunging sideways, that's the culprit.
Cause #3: The Wrist Flip
Wrist flips are sneaky. They happen fast, they feel natural, and they absolutely destroy soft shots. The wrist flip is that little extra snap at the end of your swing — the tennis player's habit, the instinct to "add something" to the ball. In pickleball, it just adds height.
The fix: Keep your wrist firm through contact. On dinks and resets, your wrist should be locked in a neutral position — not bent forward, not snapping. The swing should come from your shoulder and elbow, not from a wrist flick. Drill this consciously by slowing down your practice swings and watching your wrist for movement.
Cause #4: Open Paddle Face
If your paddle face is angled slightly upward at the moment of contact, the ball is going upward. Simple geometry. This often happens when players try to "scoop" the ball from a low position instead of staying low themselves.
The fix: Bend your knees and get low to the ball instead of bending your wrist to reach it. Keep the paddle face vertical or very slightly closed. If the ball is at your feet, your knees should be at the ball — not your wrist.
Cause #5: Reacting Instead of Anticipating
When you're constantly in reaction mode — feet planted, waiting to see where the ball goes — you're always a half-step late. That lateness forces rushed contact, which leads to all of the above.
The fix: Read your opponent. Watch where they're hitting from and start moving before the ball reaches your side of the net. Anticipation gives you time. Time gives you better contact. Better contact keeps the ball low.
Put It All Together
Here's a quick checklist to run through the next time you're drilling or playing:
- Grip pressure at a 3–4, not an 8
- Contact out in front of your body
- Wrist locked, not flipping
- Paddle face vertical or slightly closed
- Knees bent to get low, not wrist bent to scoop
- Feet moving before the ball arrives
Work on one at a time. Film yourself if you can — watching your own technique for 60 seconds is worth an hour of guessing. And the next time someone tries to stuff a ball at your feet, you'll be ready.
Start With What's in Your Hand
Before you can fix your grip pressure, you need a grip that lets you stay loose without slipping. If your overgrip is old, worn, or too slick, no amount of technique work will fix that instinct to squeeze. A fresh overgrip is a cheap, immediate upgrade that makes everything feel better.