Seven Key Ways to Keep the Ball Low in Pickleball

TLDRLearn seven techniques to keep the ball low in pickleball: 1) Avoid hitting low-to-high shots hard; 2) Target your opponent's feet; 3) Develop quick hands and feet; 4) Maintain paddle face angle and contact in front; 5) Be conscious of your grip pressure; 6) Don't flick your wrist or break your elbow; 7) Add topspin or underspin to your shots.

Key insights

🎾Hitting low-to-high shots hard produces high contact points for opponents and increases the chance of being attacked.

👟Targeting your opponent's feet forces them into a low contact point, making it harder for them to attack.

⏱️Developing quick hands and feet allows you to hit the ball at its highest point and control the contact with better angles.

🖐️Maintaining a stable paddle face angle and contacting the ball in front ensures better control and precision.

💪Being conscious of grip pressure and keeping it loose prevents rebounding shots and allows for softer and more controlled returns.

Q&A

Why is it important to keep the ball low in pickleball?

—Keeping the ball low makes it harder for opponents to attack and gives you better control over the point.

What is the role of topspin in keeping the ball low?

—Topspin causes the ball to curve downwards, allowing it to clear the net higher while still landing low on your opponent's side.

Why should I target my opponent's feet?

—Hitting shots towards your opponent's feet forces them into a low contact point, making it harder for them to attack and increasing your chances of winning the point.

How can I develop quick hands and feet in pickleball?

—Practice footwork drills and work on reacting quickly to the ball to improve your ability to hit it at its highest point.

What is the best grip pressure for keeping the ball low?

—A loose grip allows the paddle to absorb some of the ball's speed, resulting in softer and lower returns.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Introduction: Keeping the ball low in pickleball is important to prevent opponents from attacking and maintain control.

01:26Technique 1: Avoid hitting low-to-high shots hard, as they produce high contact points for opponents.

03:58Technique 2: Target your opponent's feet to force a low contact point and make it harder for them to attack.

06:35Technique 3: Develop quick hands and feet to hit the ball at its highest point and control the contact.

08:13Technique 4: Maintain a stable paddle face angle and contact the ball in front for better control.

09:58Technique 5: Be conscious of grip pressure and keep it loose to prevent rebounding shots and enable softer returns.

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