TIPS from Pickleball Clinic, February 4, 2017
DINK
*Why use it? Neutralizes opponents hard game.
*Hit ball softly into No Volley Zone.
*Requires patience- usually hit a dink 4 or 5 times.
*Keep hands away from body.
*Tip of paddle points down on angle towards net.
*Bend at knees, not waist.
*Stay compressed entire time. Don’t stand in between.
*Swing from shoulder, not wrist.
*Cross court dinks are high % shot because they go over low point (middle) of net.
* http://www.pickleballchannel.com/PB411-Dinking-101
GROUND STROKES
FOREHAND
*Pivot on same foot as hand holding paddle.
*Make a full shoulder turn so left shoulder (for righties) is closest to net.
*Step in with front foot (left foot for righties) and shift weight onto that foot.
*Bring paddle back about half way.
*Watch ball into paddle. Hit ball when its waist high. Contact ball at sweet spot (center) of paddle.
*Follow through above shoulder.
*http://www.pickleballchannel.com/Slow-Mo-Forehand-Scott-Moore
BACKHAND
*Pivot on left foot (for righties) to get sideways before ball bounces. Right shoulder is closest to net (for righties).
*Step in with front foot (right foot for righties) and shift weight onto that foot.
*Bring paddle back behind body and hit ball when it’s about waist high.
*Follow through above shoulder and twist body back to face front.
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhJ4lyU68bY
THIRD SHOT DROP
*When to use? When both opponents are at net, serving team does third shot drop.
*PREPARATION-feet in split step
*PACE- soft
*PLACEMENT- Drop ball in No Volley Zone. Ball should be dropping as it comes over net.
*Paddle head is flat and points towards ground. Movement is almost like bowling.
*https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-adk-adk_sbnt&hsimp=yhs-adk_sbnt&hspart=adk&p=sarah+ansboury+3rd+shot+drop - id=1&vid=416d696881e0a56b02fb142fd1c0ad2c&action=view
BLOCK
When there’s time to step back
*When you see that your opponent is going to smash ball or hit hard, take a few steps back prior to contact.
*Be in “ready” position with paddle above wrist in a “v”.
*Keep hands in front of body.
*Soft hands, object is to deaden ball. Think about absorbing the power of the hit.
*Move paddle only about 1 inch in a downward motion.
* http://pickleballvideoshq.com/pickleball-blocking-poach/
* http://www.pickleballchannel.com/Quick-Tip-Drop-Volley-David-Redding
When there’s no time to step back
*Keep paddle flat and close to body. Hold wrist firm.
*Movement is like a high five. No backswing at all.
*Freeze on hit.
* Stand up to help deaden ball.
* Sometimes helps to move body out of way on hit
*Can put left hand behind paddle on backhand to help keep it flat.
*Track ball
* http://pickleballvideoshq.com/pickleballinstructions-com-move-block-freeze/
LOB
*Paddle face is slightly open.
*Paddle movement is low to high.
*Use your body (bend knees to get under ball) to send ball up behind opponents.
*http://pickleballvideoshq.com/pickleball-lobbing-technique-with-mark-renneson/
OVERHEAD SMASH
*Get set, balanced and underneath the ball.
*Turn sideways to net.
*Use non-paddle hand to track ball.
*Hit ball on its way down, but still above your head at height of your reach.
*Turn paddle hand down with wrist flick –pronate- as you contact ball to make ball go downward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s53f-iJXc-s
DINK
*Why use it? Neutralizes opponents hard game.
*Hit ball softly into No Volley Zone.
*Requires patience- usually hit a dink 4 or 5 times.
*Keep hands away from body.
*Tip of paddle points down on angle towards net.
*Bend at knees, not waist.
*Stay compressed entire time. Don’t stand in between.
*Swing from shoulder, not wrist.
*Cross court dinks are high % shot because they go over low point (middle) of net.
* http://www.pickleballchannel.com/PB411-Dinking-101
GROUND STROKES
FOREHAND
*Pivot on same foot as hand holding paddle.
*Make a full shoulder turn so left shoulder (for righties) is closest to net.
*Step in with front foot (left foot for righties) and shift weight onto that foot.
*Bring paddle back about half way.
*Watch ball into paddle. Hit ball when its waist high. Contact ball at sweet spot (center) of paddle.
*Follow through above shoulder.
*http://www.pickleballchannel.com/Slow-Mo-Forehand-Scott-Moore
BACKHAND
*Pivot on left foot (for righties) to get sideways before ball bounces. Right shoulder is closest to net (for righties).
*Step in with front foot (right foot for righties) and shift weight onto that foot.
*Bring paddle back behind body and hit ball when it’s about waist high.
*Follow through above shoulder and twist body back to face front.
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhJ4lyU68bY
THIRD SHOT DROP
*When to use? When both opponents are at net, serving team does third shot drop.
*PREPARATION-feet in split step
*PACE- soft
*PLACEMENT- Drop ball in No Volley Zone. Ball should be dropping as it comes over net.
*Paddle head is flat and points towards ground. Movement is almost like bowling.
*https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-adk-adk_sbnt&hsimp=yhs-adk_sbnt&hspart=adk&p=sarah+ansboury+3rd+shot+drop - id=1&vid=416d696881e0a56b02fb142fd1c0ad2c&action=view
BLOCK
When there’s time to step back
*When you see that your opponent is going to smash ball or hit hard, take a few steps back prior to contact.
*Be in “ready” position with paddle above wrist in a “v”.
*Keep hands in front of body.
*Soft hands, object is to deaden ball. Think about absorbing the power of the hit.
*Move paddle only about 1 inch in a downward motion.
* http://pickleballvideoshq.com/pickleball-blocking-poach/
* http://www.pickleballchannel.com/Quick-Tip-Drop-Volley-David-Redding
When there’s no time to step back
*Keep paddle flat and close to body. Hold wrist firm.
*Movement is like a high five. No backswing at all.
*Freeze on hit.
* Stand up to help deaden ball.
* Sometimes helps to move body out of way on hit
*Can put left hand behind paddle on backhand to help keep it flat.
*Track ball
* http://pickleballvideoshq.com/pickleballinstructions-com-move-block-freeze/
LOB
*Paddle face is slightly open.
*Paddle movement is low to high.
*Use your body (bend knees to get under ball) to send ball up behind opponents.
*http://pickleballvideoshq.com/pickleball-lobbing-technique-with-mark-renneson/
OVERHEAD SMASH
*Get set, balanced and underneath the ball.
*Turn sideways to net.
*Use non-paddle hand to track ball.
*Hit ball on its way down, but still above your head at height of your reach.
*Turn paddle hand down with wrist flick –pronate- as you contact ball to make ball go downward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s53f-iJXc-s