In order to become a master at pickleball, you must become extremely fast and have incredible reflexes. While it may seem like the only way to up the speed is to practice, practice, practice, there may be a few tips that can help you.
Think like a boxer and you may discover that your hands can move like never before.
In this article, we discuss how to get fast hands in pickleball. We have included some techniques and drills that will help you increase your hand speed in pickleball and never miss a play again.
Let’s dive in!
Common Pickleball Mistakes
Before we can get into the strategies that are going to give you fast hands when it comes to playing pickleball, it is important to understand what may be slowing you down.
Below are 3 common mistakes that beginners make when learning to play pickleball.
These are extremely common for players as some of them feel more natural in movement and some you may have picked up due to not knowing how to do a certain movement properly.
Making Kitchen Faults
Even though this one may seem clear, pickleball’s kitchen rule is particular to the game and less obvious than other rules, so kitchen mistakes are also very common.
The fundamental rule is that starting a volley while in the kitchen is forbidden and will result in a fault.
Make sure to understand the kitchen rule and how to use it to your advantage when playing. For example, being in the kitchen is the best way to perform a drop shot.
Standing In No Man’s Land
The only places you should ever be standing are at the sideline or the kitchen line. Always. You are in no man’s land if you are between the baseline and the cooking line.
Because it is simpler for your adversary to strike shots at your feet, which are challenging to return without popping them up, this is a disadvantage.
You become more open to cross-court dinks in No Man’s Land because they are out of reach. You can run up to play the cross-court dink if you are at the baseline or you can take it as a volley if you are at the kitchen line.
Hitting Low Probability Shots
The final error is using excessive finesse in your strikes. You should pay close attention to your skills as a beginner. Where you run into problems with flaws is when you start getting too fancy too quickly.
In pickleball, success is more dependent on steadiness, perseverance, and strategy than it is on flashy shots and spins.
If all you concentrate on is maintaining the ball in play, your opponent will almost certainly make a mistake sooner or later. In many games, particularly for casual players, the winner simply waits for the mistake to be made by the opposition.
Poor Serve Technique
If you have a poor serve technique then you are probably giving your opponent a point before the game has even started. Players that have difficulty serving often have the habit of flipping their hands over.
You’ll have more luck if you keep the paddle perpendicular to the ground.
Fast Hand Training Tips
Now that we have covered some of the most common mistakes made by beginners, you can identify where you may be going wrong and work on it.
Below are 3 tips for increasing your hand speed to help you become a top predator on the pickleball court:
In And Out Of The Kitchen
As mentioned above, one of the most common mistakes that is made is spending too much time in the kitchen. This technique is going to help you gain speed with your volleys and how to be more accurate with your shots.
Grab a partner and begin with both of you inside the kitchen. Your heels should be on the kitchen line and begin practicing your volleys as you gain confidence and speed to beat your record of shots without missing.
Then, retreat behind the cooking line and pick up your volley again. Although the balls are moving at the same pace, the longer distance will make it seem like you have more time.
Your hands will appear to move more quickly, and you’ll be able to choose your projectiles more carefully.
Work Out
This may seem irrelevant after all, pickleball is a form of exercise. However, building muscle in your arms, wrists, and shoulders will help you gain power and speed in your shots.
Train Alone
Nothing simplifies practice like a paddle, a ball, and a wall. One can be found at most playgrounds and tennis facilities, but your garage works just as well.
Pick a place on the wall 34 inches from the ground, which is the height at the center of the net, and measure off seven feet (the distance from the net to the kitchen line). and begin striking.
The important part of this training technique is to not let the ball touch the ground. While keeping the ball off the ground you also want to begin becoming more strategic with your aiming and power in your shots.
The more confident you become the harder you can hit and the faster you will react. Ensure to train both forehand and backhand. This will give you the ability and the confidence to be a powerhouse with both.
Bottom Line
Gaining fast hands in pickleball is completely down to you. Like any sport, in order to see progress, you have to put in the work. And that means training.
With common mistakes taking place on the court, you can identify where you are going wrong or lacking strength and begin working to become stronger.
We have 3 training techniques that are going to help increase your speed, accuracy, and power within the game of pickleball. From training with a partner to get a dazzling serve or working on your own to improve your reflexes and strategy.
You can become a shark on the court with just a little time and effort!
Pickleball has been played for decades, and it is a great way to let off some steam, engage in friendly competition, and improve your fitness levels.
Hi, my name is Joe Polls and my family and I are keen pickleball players. My parents actually met on a pickleball court, and the rest is history.
I have always loved pickleball, no matter how many times I hear that it’s not a real sport. It has helped me get through some challenging times in my life - whether that be a breakup, finals, or even bereavement. The reason I made my website is so that I can teach more people about the wonders of pickleball, and maybe even get them interested in playing.
Pickleball could always use more players, so what are you waiting for?
Please, enjoy my website and I hope it teaches you something of use. Who knows, maybe I’ll catch you out on the court one day!
