Hi James, 10/10 for all your videos and podcasts. Great advice, second to none! Thank you so much for not filling it with inane drivel like other ones. Succinct and always meaningful. Very grateful old timer in England.
Such a great video. I definitely appreciate the knee bend point you make. The knee bend is so imperative. At times I feel like I’m hinging at the back out of poor footwork, but once I bend my knees the shot and my back instantly is 20x improved. When you’re dinking cross court this would mean you would also cover the middle. Say you want a more aggressive backhand dink to apply pressure. Would it be wise to propel and push more off your right leg through the shot to help get a bit more pace and at the same time get to the middle faster? Not sure if that makes sense, or if I over complicated that…
Thanks for the comment! If I see that my dink will bounce with top spin, I am not in as much of a hurry to cover the middle since it is harder to speed up off of low top spin dinks than it is to speed up off of slice dinks, because of spin continuation. After I hit my dink I may take a step toward the middle, but I’ll only rush to cover middle if I see that I’ve popped it up.
Why is the cupping so important seems like it forces unneeded movement to get the ball cross court. Is it just to leave the option of a down the line speed up open, so basically not telegraphing a shot?
How much wrist should be involved in this. When Connor was cupping the ball, it seemed like he was also turning his wrist. Is that okay or should the arm & body movement do the work?
You definitely use your wrist to cup the ball! You just don’t move it around much while you’re contacting the ball. It’s more of a fixed wrist, but it is bent and thus “being used.”
Excellent information! The cupping strategy on backhand dinks is a terrific technique to learn. Next time, please leave out the music. Your viewers want to listen to you, not to your music choices.
You need stability from the opposite hand to cup the outside of the ball on forehand dinks consistently. I’d also say you won’t generate as much top spin this way. Also, cupping the side of the ball has its pros and cons. One con is that you will give up more ATPs because of the side spin. Backhand cupping is less dangerous because backhand ATPs are (usually) harder and more inconsistent than forehand ATPs. If you cup the outside of dink on forehand dinks, you’ll give up more forehand ATPs which are way more lethal.
Great question - there is no second hand on the paddle during a forehand to help with stability while we hit the forehand. This means, we’d need to use some wrist for a top spin forehand dink that we come around the outside of. Extra wrist during/after contact can cause inconsistency. So coming around the outside of the ball on a top spin forehand dink isn’t the best way imo. Better to get “behind” the ball and go low to high for top spin.
Is it really good teaching to assume your student is going to be shit and then to constantly be shocked that they are not shit? Maybe this is how you help a buddy and tease them, but not for a video.
Why is the cupping so important seems like it forces unneeded movement to get the ball cross court. Is it just to leave the option of a down the line speed up open, so basically not telegraphing a shot?
Explaining the "cupping of the ball" was super helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
this might be the best explained, most helpful pickleball coaching video I've seen.
I needed this shot. Went out and drilled it like you taught, today. Instant cure to the problems I was having. Thanks, dude!
Bro is roasting his trainer like he wont give him extra sets this week
He’s more like my son than my trainer
Love that idea!! Thanks! Wishing you lots of success!!
No music please
Hi James, 10/10 for all your videos and podcasts. Great advice, second to none! Thank you so much for not filling it with inane drivel like other ones. Succinct and always meaningful. Very grateful old timer in England.
Gary is the man
Good stuff. This will definitely be a part of my next drill session.
Glad to hear it!
Such a great video. I definitely appreciate the knee bend point you make. The knee bend is so imperative. At times I feel like I’m hinging at the back out of poor footwork, but once I bend my knees the shot and my back instantly is 20x improved.
When you’re dinking cross court this would mean you would also cover the middle. Say you want a more aggressive backhand dink to apply pressure. Would it be wise to propel and push more off your right leg through the shot to help get a bit more pace and at the same time get to the middle faster? Not sure if that makes sense, or if I over complicated that…
Thanks for the comment! If I see that my dink will bounce with top spin, I am not in as much of a hurry to cover the middle since it is harder to speed up off of low top spin dinks than it is to speed up off of slice dinks, because of spin continuation. After I hit my dink I may take a step toward the middle, but I’ll only rush to cover middle if I see that I’ve popped it up.
Good stuff here big papa, been wanting a tutorial on this specifically from you for a min
Music is too loud but good otherwise thanks!
Why is the cupping so important seems like it forces unneeded movement to get the ball cross court. Is it just to leave the option of a down the line speed up open, so basically not telegraphing a shot?
Great information on the video! Thanks James.
Glad it was helpful!
Can you do a vid on how to effectively crash / shake and bake
Great idea. Give me a month!
How much wrist should be involved in this. When Connor was cupping the ball, it seemed like he was also turning his wrist. Is that okay or should the arm & body movement do the work?
You definitely use your wrist to cup the ball! You just don’t move it around much while you’re contacting the ball. It’s more of a fixed wrist, but it is bent and thus “being used.”
Nice lesson!
Glad you liked it Mark!
Excellent information! The cupping strategy on backhand dinks is a terrific technique to learn. Next time, please leave out the music. Your viewers want to listen to you, not to your music choices.
Does the GOAT respond?!?
I respond but not sure if I’m the goat hahaha
Do you still cup a backhand dink if you go down the line?
Not as much! Then I’ll be coming from the back of the ball sort of just pushing it forward, not getting a ton of top spin
killer instruction !!! thanks so much ,looking forward to being a lab rat!!
Gio is always here with energy
Iggy doesn't miss
hahah LFG
Sorry about the camera Mac...
Good video get rid of the music next time.
Great video but I could do without that background music.
I actually didn’t edit the vid / include the background music. Blame that pickleball trainer aka Connor derrickson😂😂
I like the music
music is too loud
Why is it A bad idea if you also cup from the outside on fh dinks
You need stability from the opposite hand to cup the outside of the ball on forehand dinks consistently. I’d also say you won’t generate as much top spin this way. Also, cupping the side of the ball has its pros and cons. One con is that you will give up more ATPs because of the side spin. Backhand cupping is less dangerous because backhand ATPs are (usually) harder and more inconsistent than forehand ATPs. If you cup the outside of dink on forehand dinks, you’ll give up more forehand ATPs which are way more lethal.
Info?
Working on them to get it in the description. Thanks
why don't we hit the side of the ball on a forehand dink?
Great question - there is no second hand on the paddle during a forehand to help with stability while we hit the forehand. This means, we’d need to use some wrist for a top spin forehand dink that we come around the outside of. Extra wrist during/after contact can cause inconsistency. So coming around the outside of the ball on a top spin forehand dink isn’t the best way imo. Better to get “behind” the ball and go low to high for top spin.
Let me know your app tech stack. I can help you build it depending!
NO MUSIC. Who making this would think this is helpful ?
Is it really good teaching to assume your student is going to be shit and then to constantly be shocked that they are not shit? Maybe this is how you help a buddy and tease them, but not for a video.
Thanks for the feedback! Check my other videos out where it’s just me teaching, with no students!
Why is the cupping so important seems like it forces unneeded movement to get the ball cross court. Is it just to leave the option of a down the line speed up open, so basically not telegraphing a shot?