Jasper Picklers

Let's talk SPIN! The primary spins used in pickleball are topspin, underspin ( aka backspin or slice), and sidespin. With topspin, the ball rotates forward away from you on the swing, and is created from a low to high paddle swing path or low to high paddle wrist flick. Air builds up behind the ball and forces it to dip downward upon contact. This spin allows you to swing much faster and with more control, while still keeping the ball in the court. Conversely, with underspin, the ball rotates toward you and rises due to air building up under the ball. This spin is created from a high to low paddle swing or wrist flick. Sidespin is created when the ball is contacted on the left or right side (forehand or backhand) and causes the ball to curve left or right due to air building up on the left or right side of the ball. An inside out paddle swing path on the forehand or backhand imparts sidespin. Sidespin can also be combined with both topspin and underspin to create a combination effect of dipping and curving or rising and curving. Using spin should be carefully considered because it can actually give your opponent an advantage. For example, if you hit an underspin shot to your opponent, that opponent can almost double the amount of spin applied to the ball by hitting a topspin shot in return. This is the case since the ball is spinning in the same direction on both shots. Any spin shot is enhanced by the opponent imparting the opposite spin on the incoming ball and counteracted by imparting the same spin on the incoming ball. 2 opposing players imparting topspin counteract the spin of the other since the ball rotates in the opposite direction on each shot. Topspin is considered the safest spin to impart due to allowing the most control and margin for error, while sidespin is the riskiest spin due to the ball spinning away from the paddle swing path. Improve your game by adding SPIN!

The Volley - Start with a Continental grip (bounce a ball upward using the edge of the paddle to find this grip). Ready position - If you are standing at the kitchen line, your paddle should be about chest height and fairly close to the body, with the edge pointed at your opponent. The further you are away from the kitchen line, the lower the paddle should be because you should be expecting a lower ball. Higher balls will be going out. Think of your paddle as a net when volleying. The swing should be very short and really just a block. On slower balls the swing can be slightly longer, but the paddle should never go back beyond your peripheral vision. Always return to the ready position after a volley. This will ensure that the paddle travels an equal distance to all volleys. As an example, let's say you get a high forehand volley and a back-to-back low backhand volley. If you do not return to the ready position after the forehand volley, then your paddle travels twice as far (all the way from high forehand to the low backhand, and you rarely have this much time to make the shot. Recognition - If a ball is below the level of the net, recognize the difficulty of making the volley, and opt instead to back up a step, let the ball bounce and make that shot. Then step back up to the kitchen line. When all players are at the kitchen line you are only 14 feet apart, and improper recognition can cost you the point. Volley your way to success on the court!

Eastern Grip - This grip is commonly referred to as the 'Shake Hands' grip, because you can find it easily by just shaking hands with your paddle grip. This is somewhat misleading because there is both an Eastern Forehand and Eastern Backhand grip. For the forehand version, the 'V' in your hand will be located between the top right and far right bevel of the handle (for right-handers). For the backhand version, the 'V' in your hand will be located between the top left and far left bevels of the handle (again for right-handers). This grip gives you a slightly closed paddle face (80 degrees or so on the forehand and 100 degrees or so on the backhand), and requires a slight low to high swing path to lift the ball over the net. This grip also imparts topspin to the ball, allowing you to hit the ball harder with a dipping trajectory over the net. A level swing path with the Eastern grip (forehand or backhand) will hit the ball into the net. Many players use the forehand version as their only grip, but doing so has many disadvantages. Since the paddle face is slightly closed, just blocking the ball back will force your shot downward, often going into the net. When the Eastern Forehand grip is used for a backhand shot the paddle face is open, which tends to pop the ball up, giving your opponent easy opportunities to put the ball away or put you in a defensive position. When the Eastern Forehand grip is used on smashes and overheads, it does not allow for proper pronation or wrist snap, so those shots are less powerful as they are when using a Continental grip. The Eastern grips (forehand and backhand) should be primarily used for serves and drives, and occasionally a swinging volley. For the kitchen area the most versatile grip (forehand and backhand) is the Continental grip, and as you improve it becomes even more important. Grip and rip with the Eastern grips!

Continental Grip - You will hear me talk a lot about this grip. This is the greatest all-purpose grip in Pickleball (as well as tennis). You can use it as your only grip with minimal limitations. It is low maintenance in that your game will require a minimum amount of timing when hitting your shots. And timing is your enemy. The more timing involved in your game, the more practice it takes to keep that timing honed. To find the grip, hold the paddle loosely in your hand. Then try to bounce a ball upward using the edge of the paddle. That's it. The 'V' in your hand should be just over the top left bevel of the handle (for right-handers). This grip gives a vertical (90 degree) paddle face on contact. The only real limitation with this grip is hitting topspin shots. While you can hit topspin with this grip, it won't be a lot. The Continental grip also allows a full wrist snap and pronation when hitting overhead smashes, giving you more power and spin. Level up your game using the Continental grip!.

Below are some tips to help you along your Pickleball journey............
- Always expect the ball to come back. Be surprised when it does not.
- Learn and master the Continental grip. Your ability to improve will depend on it.
- Your paddle WILL wear out. Don't spend $250 on a paddle, but don't spend $25 either.