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Drops, Counters, Backhand Dinks!
Welcome to YOUR Pickleball Journey!
Keagan Forst-Jerden & Justin Ancona
November 11, 2024
PICKLEBALL JOURNEY TIPS!
3 Tips to Hit Consistent Drops!
Tip #1 - Clean Contact!
When you’re going for precise shots, (which is ideal 100% of the time), it’s important to make clean contact on the sweet spot just so we know, and are used to the pace and feel of the shots we do every game!
3 things for cleaner contact! - Movement, focus, and simplify the motion!
Tip #2 - Pace Control!
When it comes to drops, if we hit the edge guard, our drop may fall short or it may be a pop-up for our opponents! Most people don’t practice mis-hitting, so, to have consistent clean contact can go a long way! This comes down to controlling the pace with your sweet spot.
When you mishit a drive you may notice that the ball loses a lot of velocity, the same goes with drops!
Usually, there are 2 types of drops, a more passive drop, and a more aggressive drop. A passive drop is typically higher and softer, while an aggressive drop is lower and harder!
Tip #3 - Paddle Angle!
If your goal is to hit more consistently, don’t worry too much about the paddle angle just yet! Get the movement, focus, and simplifying the motions down first! You can change the paddle face later to get more advanced in spin and power!
Watch the rest of our tips and get visuals with a 1on1 teaching session for tips here!
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OTHER CREATORS TIPS!
How I Taught a 5.0 to Master Counters in Pickleball!
Tip #1 - Let it Go!
When your opponent speeds up from middle to the outer lines, you may want to let that go! A pickleball court is big, but not big enough for low-percentage shots like those!
Tip #2 - Positioning Your Arm at the Kitchen!
Keeping your paddle ready can be the make or break factor when it comes to beating your opponent’s!
Following the ball with your paddle forward, and slightly out in front of your chest will make you ready for not only speed ups, but drives, lobs, and volleying aggressive dinks at the net!
This video is packed with in depth tips on advanced level skills, feel free to study the rest of the video!
Watch the rest of Josh’s video here!
Subscribe to Josh J Pickleball!
OTHER CREATORS TIPS!
The 5 WORST Backhand Dink Mistakes in Pickleball!
Tip #1 - Cutting the Ball too Much or too Big of a Swing!
Huge swings and cuts to the ball will almost always guarantee a pop up! Not only because of the big swing, but because back spin naturally lofts the ball instead of making the ball dip down like topspin!
Instead, open up your paddle face, and swing in a straight line, this will get you slice, and keep control of the ball!
Tip #2 - Keeping Wrist Straight & Flicking!
A mass of players mess up backhand dinks because of wrist, and flicking mechanics. Rarely ever should you flick an intended dink! Having a loose wrist is a call for disaster when in terms of dinking.
Instead of keeping your shoulder firm, elbow firm, and wrist cocked, when you add a loose arm or wrist to the mix, you’re adding to many variables in an already complex game! Keep it simple, make it easier on yourself and make steady, firm swings for simpler more precise shots!
Tip #3 - Reaching for the Ball!
If you have your feet planted, knees straight, and you reach for the ball, you’re only going to strain yourself and get out of position! Use your body to get behind the ball, shuffle your feet to stay balanced, not only in your legs but your arm too!
Sure it may be more movement but being lazy means free points for your opponents!
Watch the rest of The Pickleball Clinic’s video here!
Subscribe to The Pickleball Clinics channel here!
PADDLES
WHAT’S NEW
Paddle Stats Spreadsheet - HERE for discounts, and stats!
A blue Kevlar, elongated 15mm durable paddle! Another versatile paddle from Proton with a good balance of control from being 15mm’s thick, and that nice pop from the Kevlar!
Our RPM test came out to - 2002
Our Power test came out to - 59.8
DISCOUNTS
WAYS TO SAVE
JustPaddles + Pickleball Journey Discount
Do you want a drilling partner who doesn’t talk smack? Here’s the SpinShot with $50 off!!!
Thanks for reading. Share with your pickle people and we can grow more for big giveaways, exclusive deals, and offers! See you next time!
- The Pickleball Journey Team