It’s unbelievable how quick it can be to improve a players pickleball game. They aren’t stuck because they need to put in more hours on the court, or because they don’t use the right strategies. More often than not a few technique adjustments to the basic shots used every game are all it takes to take the next step. In pickleball groundstroke technique is one of these small adjustments on a shot used every game that will elevate your play.
Pickleball Groundstroke Technique – Simple Breakdown
Just so everybody is on the same page, a groundstroke is any shot in pickleball where the ball bounces on your side of the net before you make contact. When people talk about groundstrokes they usually are referring to shots in the backcourt. We call shots from bounces inside the kitchen dinks.
I like to break the groundstroke technique into 3 steps.
Groundstroke Footwork
This is the foundation for any shot but it’s especially important for groundstrokes. It’s very critical to get into proper position before the ball arrives. Failing to set your feet properly often forces you to reach for the ball, sacrificing accuracy and ball placement.
Your footwork for forehand and backhand should be pretty similar.
As the ball approaches shuffle and slide your feet smoothly so your body is turned sideways with shoulders making a line pointing at the net. You should have a fairly wide base with feet shoulder width apart.
Keep your weight on your toes and gravity centered. A common mistake on low bounces is to bend at the waist and reach for the ball. This will angle your paddle up and put too much air under the ball. It will also be a weak shot because you aren’t in a position of power. Bend with your knees instead and keep your torso upright.
This should all feel in rhythm and have proper timing, set your feet a second before the ball arrives before launching into the swing.
Groundstroke Swing
On both the forehand and backhand you don’t need a huge backswing. Do whatever is comfortable. Sometimes shorter is better. This isn’t tennis where we need to use a huge wind-up, be sure to stay under control.
As you swing shift your weight forward through the shot. Your weight should move from the back to the front and you’ll know you’re doing this properly if your back foot is coming off the ground when you swing.
Building off our foundation above, good footwork will help to create proper space so that you’re able to step through the ball and not swing awkwardly from being back on your heels.
When you fail to do this properly and your weight is towards the back back you’ll lift your shots up instead of driving them forward, giving your opponents easy putaways.
Forehand vs Backhand
There aren’t too many difference in technique when you hit the ball forehand vs backhand. Because some players use two hands for their backhand, this gives them added power and can become their go to side to hit groundstrokes from.
On the forehand because you have one arm free players will often extend their off hand to help with balance.
Unlike the forehand during the backhand the paddle arm extends across the body. This doesn’t change our swing technique necessarily just the position of our balancing arm if we use it from back to forward. You also may cross over your front leg if using one hand in the backhand.
Making Contact and Follow Through
The main keys to remember here are:
- Hit the ball in front of you. This is priority number one and is the best change to improve your shot. Unlike tennis where you hit the ball to at your side, making contact with the ball in front and a little to the side gets the best result in pickleball due to the added control it gives you.
- Lead with the wrist not the paddle. The wrist should drag the paddle through the stroke. Doing it the other way around loses power and makes shifting your weight less effective while sending the ball soaring up into the air.
- Open paddle face. These shots are hit from deeper and we don’t want to drive them down into the net. Opening your paddle face also allows you to drag the paddle over the top of the ball to created topspin, or come down on the ball for backspin in a third shot drop.
- Bring your paddle arm through the ball rotating your torso to face the direction you want the shot to go.
Groundstroke Use Cases and Variations
Third Shot Drop and Drive
You will hit these shots every game guaranteed. You need to make sure your technique is sound to take advantage of these routine tools in your pickleball toolbelt.
Details like shifting your weight and hitting the ball out in front of you will allow for an easy transition from the third shot into the kitchen, if you’re trying to get to the non volley line.
The direction of your swing and the movement of your paddle angle is the real differentiator between these two shots. While both begin with an open face, a drop will involve more of a downward chopping motion. A drive will need incorporate topspin so you’ll make the more typical swinging motion bringing the paddle low to high around over the top of the ball, adding spin and increasing depth.
Return of Serve
Obviously, like the third shot drive and drop, you’ll use this a lot.
Footwork is the thing to pay attention to here. Players will tend to drive the ball really deep on their serve and if you aren’t proactive about moving your feet you’ll be stuck on the baseline with the ball landing near your feet when you receive. This leaves you in a difficult position to generate forward momentum and swing through the ball.
Be proactive in backing up and getting into good position with your feet before the serve arrives. Sometimes moving back preemptively off the baseline ahead of time will give you the space you need to step into the swing and shift your weight.
Moving Forward
Ready to work on your groundstroke technique? We’ve already got you covered with a list of pickleball drills designed specifically to take your groundstrokes to the next level.