Want to up your pickleball game? Mastering wrist lag could be your secret weapon. It’s a fantastic technique for generating serious power and spin.
In this article, we’re going to break down exactly how to nail wrist lag and share some awesome tips and techniques to boost your spin shots.
Understanding Wrist Lag
Wrist lag is a technique used to maximize the power and spin of your shots. The concept revolves around the idea that your wrist should “lag” behind your arm during your swing, allowing it to snap through at the last moment.
This motion creates a whip-like effect that can significantly increase the speed and spin of the ball.
How to Execute Wrist Lag
- Draw a Letter C in Your Backswing: When you start your backswing, think about drawing a letter C. This will help you create the necessary curve and looseness in your wrist.
- Keep Your Wrist Loose: A tight wrist won’t generate much power or spin. Instead, focus on keeping your wrist loose and relaxed throughout the swing.
- Let Your Wrist Lag Behind Your Arm: As you swing forward, your wrist should trail behind your arm. Hold this position as long as possible before snapping your wrist through the shot.
To see wrist lag in action, check out pro player Nicholas Wade demonstrating this technique in the video below.
Additional Techniques for Generating Spin
In addition to wrist lag, there are several other techniques that can help you generate more spin on your shots.
Top Spin
Topspin is a type of spin where the ball rotates forward as it travels through the air. This rotation causes the ball to dip quickly, making it harder for your opponent to return. Here’s how to master topspin:
- Brush Upward on the Ball: When hitting a topspin shot, your paddle should brush upward against the back of the ball. This upward motion creates the forward rotation needed for topspin.
- Follow Through High: Ensure that your follow-through is high. This means your paddle should finish above your shoulder after the shot. A high follow-through helps maintain the upward brushing motion.
- Use Your Whole Body: Generating topspin isn’t just about the wrist. Use your legs, hips, and core to add power and spin to your shot. Start in a low position and push upwards through your legs as you hit the ball.
Player Tip: “Master top spin so the ball can be hit hard but tends to drop rather than float.”
Check out pickleball coach and pro player Will East demonstrate topspin dinks:
Backspin (Slice)
Backspin, or slice, is the opposite of topspin. Here, the ball rotates backward, causing it to float and bounce lower. This can be useful for drop shots and keeping the ball low. Here’s how to execute a slice shot:
- Brush Downward on the Ball: To create backspin, brush downward on the back of the ball with your paddle. This downward motion creates the backward rotation.
- Keep Your Paddle Face Open: An open paddle face helps generate more backspin. Angle your paddle so that it points slightly upward as you make contact with the ball.
- Follow Through Low: Your follow-through should be low and towards your target. This helps maintain the downward brushing motion.
Watch Will East demonstrate the technique for executing backhand slice shots:
Side Spin
Side spin can add a new dimension to your shots, making them curve left or right. This type of spin is less common but can be very effective in the right situations.
- Brush the Side of the Ball: To generate side spin, brush the side of the ball with your paddle. Depending on the direction you want the ball to curve, brush from left to right or right to left.
- Adjust Your Stance: Your stance will affect how easily you can generate side spin. Position yourself so that you can comfortably brush the side of the ball.
- Use Your Wrist: A flexible wrist is crucial for generating side spin. Practice snapping your wrist through the shot to create the desired spin.
Tips from Pickleball Veterans
☝️ Hit in Front
- “Ensure you’re hitting the ball in front of you. This enhances both power and control. Also, incorporating topspin is essential.”
- “Whenever possible, use a closed stance. It’s one of the most effective ways to generate power.”
☝️ Use Your Legs
- “Power begins with your legs. Position yourself early to hit the ball, stay athletic, and avoid being flat-footed. Engage your legs, hips, and core to generate power. This helps keep the ball low and in play, letting your paddle angle add spin.”
- “Many players lack good footwork. Using your legs to get low improves your ability to see the ball and control your shots.”
☝️ Relaxed Grip
- “A relaxed grip enhances both power and control. For ground strokes, it’s essential to use your legs and body. For putaways, a quick wrist snap is crucial.”
Spin Shots in Pickleball: Advanced Techniques
Once you have mastered the basic spin shots, you can start working on more advanced techniques to further enhance your game. These advanced techniques include the flick, the roll shot and the cut shot.
The flick is an advanced shot that uses a quick wrist snap to generate speed and spin, ideal for surprising opponents near the net. We recently published an article and video demonstration on how to execute the flick volley.
The roll shot combines topspin with a high arc, making the ball drop quickly and bounce high. The cut shot uses backspin to keep the ball low and is perfect for drop shots.
We will be featuring these techniques in future video demonstrations and articles, so stay tuned!
The featured image in this article is courtesy of the APP.
