The best way to hit a pickleball harder (without hurting accuracy) is to hit with your whole body, pick the right battle, and avoid exaggerating your backswing. You also need to know when to hit the ball hard and when to go for soft shots that throw your opponent off balance. Read on for more tips on how to hit a pickleball harder.
9 Tips To Hit The Ball Harder In Pickleball
Stay In The “Ready Position”
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, with your weight balanced evenly on both feet.
- Bend your knees slightly to give yourself a good base of support and to allow you to move quickly in any direction.
- Hold your paddle at waist level.
- Place your non-dominant hand at the bottom of the handle and your dominant hand near the top.
- Keep your eyes focused on the ball at all times, so you can anticipate its trajectory and react quickly.
- Make sure your body is facing the ball and in a good position to move to it.
You are now “ready” to make the slight adjustment necessary to prepare for a forehand or a backhand.
Think About The Next Shot
Remember to anticipate the next shot and vary your groundstrokes as much as possible, aiming for a combination of baseline and kitchen line play.
The kitchen line is also known as the “non-volley line.” It is 7 feet from the net and marks the end of the non-volley zone (between the net and the NVZ line). It is a fault if any part of the player’s body enters the NVZ while executing the volley.
The line is an important part of the pickleball court, as it helps define the limits of play and serves as a reference point for players to determine whether they are allowed to make volleys.
Players standing inside the kitchen line cannot volley, but players standing outside the kitchen line are permitted to volley as long as the ball has not yet crossed the non-volley line.
Use Your Body For Leverage
Pickleball is a game of footwork and body positioning. Make sure you are properly balanced and using your body to generate power.
Shift your weight to your back foot as you prepare to hit the ball, and then transfer your weight to your front foot as you make contact with the ball.
Pick The Right Pickleball Paddle
Pickleball paddles are made from various materials, including wood, composite, and graphite. Each material has certain characteristics that affect the feel and performance of the paddle.
Heavier paddles tend to hit the ball harder. The weight of the paddle can affect your power and control. Paddles that are too heavy may be difficult to control, while paddles that are too light may not provide enough power. Choose a paddle that feels comfortable and balanced for you.
When testing pickleball paddles, notice how the grip feels. A good grip will help you generate more power, and a fluid stroke will help you maintain control.
Make sure the grip size of the paddle is comfortable for you. A grip that is too small or too large can be difficult to hold onto and may affect your control.
Keep Your Shots Simple
Avoid overthinking when hitting pickleball shots. A common mistake is trying to hit complex shots, which can lead to errors. Instead, focus on hitting simple, consistent shots that you can execute consistently.
In pickleball, it is often more effective to keep your shots low rather than trying to hit them hard. Keeping the ball low makes it harder for your opponents to attack and more difficult to defend against.
Focusing on control and accuracy can increase your chances of success in pickleball and reduce the likelihood of making errors.
Use Topspin
Adding topspin to your shots allows you to hit the ball harder while keeping it low enough to keep it in play. Topspin involves hitting the ball with a downward motion, causing it to spin forward and bounce high off the court.
You must use a combination of wrist snap and body rotation to hit a topspin shot in pickleball. As you swing at the ball, snap your wrist forward before you reach the contact point with the ball, and rotate your body slightly to add power to the shot. This technique makes the ball spin forward and bounce high off the court.
Remember that topspin shots are generally more effective when the ball is hit with a lower trajectory, so it is important to avoid hitting it too high. When striking the ball, a flatter arc helps you create a bigger margin for error and makes it more difficult for your opponents to attack the ball.
Hit Bangers
A banger is a shot hit hard with a lot of spin, often to force an error from the opponent. Bangers are typically hit with a forehand stroke, using a strong wrist snap to generate extra power and spin.
They are often used to disrupt the opponent’s game and take control of the point. To hit a successful banger, players must have good hand-eye coordination, strong wrist and arm strength, and good footwork. Bangers can be challenging to execute, but they can be a valuable weapon in a player’s arsenal when used correctly.
Don’t Exaggerate Your Backswing
Hitting through the ball (rather than just making contact with it) ensures you transfer more of your body’s energy into the shot, increasing its power.
A short backswing allows for greater speed of the shot and more control.
Know When To Hit The Ball Hard (And When To Hit It Softly)
If you are in a defensive position, you may want to hit the ball softer to avoid giving your opponents an easy shot to attack. If you are in an offensive position, you may want to hit the ball harder to create a winner or put pressure on your opponents.
Different types of shots may require different levels of power. For example, a drop shot may require a softer touch, while a volley may require more force.
If the ball is coming at you quickly, you may need a hard shot to get it back over the net. If the ball is coming at you slowly, you may be able to hit it softer and still get it back over the net.
How Hard Should Your Pickleball Serve Be?
The power of your pickleball serve should depend on a few factors, including your skill level, the surface you are playing on, the type of service you are using, and your opponent’s return-of-serve capabilities.
Different serves require different levels of power. For example, a kick-serve needs more force to produce the necessary spin, while a slice-serve should be hit more gently to create a more angled shot.
In general, it is a good idea to start with a moderate power serve and gradually increase the power as you feel more comfortable. It is also important to focus on accuracy and control rather than just trying to hit the ball as hard as possible.
