1. MASTERING PICKLEBALL BACKHAND: TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
The backhand stroke is a critical aspect of the pickleball game. It requires the player to reach across their body, hitting the ball in front of them. Whether you are playing at the non-volley zone, the transition zone or the baseline, you will receive backhands in all areas of the court. Hence, it's important to learn the fundamentals of the backhand stroke.
This demonstration is specifically designed to help players understand
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the basic mechanics involved in hitting a backhand stroke. It covers key areas such as grip, footwork, body positioning, transferring weight, paddle/arm positioning, and follow through. The focus of this tutorial is to help players develop the proper technique and rhythm (1,2,3-turn, step, hit) of the backhand stroke.
During this demonstration, coach Carrie starts with the basics such as holding the paddle with a soft grip, getting into the ready position, turning the feet and hips towards the ball, positioning the paddle arm across the opposing hit, bending the knees and stepping towards the ball while lifting with the quads and opening the hips. The ball is then contacted in front of the body with a low-to-high paddle motion and completed with a follow through in the direction of where the player wants to put the ball. Additionally, the opposing hand is used to counterbalance the paddle arm.
In the drill section, two players will work on their pickleball backhand strokes by walking through the process of hitting a backhand as described by coach Carrie. They will start on the same side of the net, repeating the process three times, then move to the non-volley zone (NVZ) where one player will toss the ball to the other player who turns, steps and hits the backhand. The coach will use the cadence of 1,2,3 to demonstrate the rhythm of the stroke. The players will practice hitting the backhand five times and then switch roles. The same drill will be repeated from the transition zone to the baseline.
In conclusion, players should practice hitting backhands in all zones of the court- the non-volley zone, the transition zone, and the baseline. With consistent practice, players will be able to improve their backhand stroke, making it a strength on the court. Remember, if your backhand stroke is weak, your opponents will target it. So, work on making your pickleball backhand stroke your strongest weapon.
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