Dominate the court with a one-handed backhand drive. Unleash power and control on your backhand with these expert tips. Learn proper grip, footwork, swing mechanics, and a unique trick to maximize power and surprise your opponents on the court.
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3 Tips for a Powerful One-Handed Backhand Drive
Will East, a pro pickleball player and coach, shares his valuable insights to help players boost their one-handed backhand drive. His tips focus on making their game more robust and more strategic. His expert advice aims to make their game strong and strategically smart.
1. Pinch your shirt
on the side, you’ll be hitting the backhand.
The first tip is to pinch your shirt. This technique is similar to one used in golf and helps you keep your arm close to your body. Keeping your arm close to your body can generate more power when you hit the ball.
To perform this technique, fold your shirt under your arms as you swing. This will help to stabilize your upper body and prevent your arm from flailing around. When you hit the ball, release the shirt to allow for a full range of motion and explosively extend your arm. This will help you to transfer more power to the ball.
Here are some additional benefits of pinching your shirt:
- Improved accuracy: By keeping your arm close to your body, you will have more control over your swing and be able to hit the ball more accurately.
- Reduced risk of injury: Pinching your shirt can help prevent injuries to your shoulder and elbow by keeping your arm safe.
2. Hand to target
The second tip is to focus on directing your hand toward your target as you swing. This means you should keep your arm extended and drive your hand towards the spot on the court where you want the ball to land. This will help you to generate power and hit the ball with accuracy.
Here are some additional tips for an excellent hand-to-target form:
- Keep your elbow high: Your elbow should be bent at a 90-degree angle and pointing up towards the ceiling.
- Snap your wrist: As you contact the ball, snap your wrist forward to add power to your shot.
- Follow through: After hitting the ball, follow through with your swing and point your hand towards your target.
3. Weight transfer and the reverse L
effectively transferring your weight into the swing.
The third tip is about weight transfer and the reverse L. This technique helps you to generate power by transferring your weight from your back leg to your front leg as you swing.
Here’s how to perform the weight transfer and reverse L:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Extend one leg forward about a foot and bend your knees slightly, creating a reverse L shape with your body.
- As you swing, shift your weight from your back leg to your front leg. This will help you to coil your core and generate power.
Here are some additional benefits of using weight transfer and the reverse L:
- Improved balance: Transferring your weight will make you more balanced and stable as you hit the ball.
- Increased power: Transferring your weight will help you generate more power from your core and legs, resulting in a more challenging shot.
- Better control: By being balanced and stable, you will have more control over your swing and be able to hit the ball more accurately.
Conclusion
I hope these three tips help you hit a powerful one-handed backhand drive in pickleball. Mastering a powerful one-handed backhand drive requires dedication, practice, and attention to critical techniques. Players can develop a reliable and formidable weapon on the court by focusing on proper grip, footwork, rotation, and follow-through. Consistent practice and refinement of these skills will enhance the shot’s effectiveness and provide players with the confidence to execute it in high-pressure situations.