Unforced error

[Becky]

Unforced error in Table Tennis. An error in which a player loses a point because of his own lack of judgement or skill, rather than through his opponents attacking.

[Monty]

1). In tennis, whenever a player misses an otherwise easy or effortless shot due to their own inattentiveness rather than the opposing [players] skill.

2.) In politics, a polite term for when someone ends up creating their own [scandal] through poor or [tactless] decision making.