Thanks for this video to help eliminate pop-ups. I really appreciate that you included practice sessions to help solve the problem. I find all your videos valuable especially those that breakdown shots and provide solutions.
Many of us put our index finger on the paddle, which means we have to grip with our other three fingers and thumb. I wish this was addressed in your grip pressure tip.
Hello 👋🏻 Pickleball Kitchen Man. I’m a past avid Tennis 🎾player and used topspin a lot, so naturally I now use it in Pickleball, great tip about you being able to see the holes in the ball , that the ball won’t be spinning or in the topspin mode. Usually I can also read the opponents paddle if they are putting top spin or slice on the ball. Question, I’ve just started watching pro pickle ball matches, when the announcer says they rolled the return, does that mean a topspin roll?
We all do things differently. I play aggressively and offensively. I don't soften my shots. It's up to the player if wanna stay soft playing this game.
Barrett, thank you! Your warm, generous spirit comes through so clearly. Your descriptions cannot be beat! I also appreciate your add-on comments at the bottom of the video.
random question not related to this but I'm just curious: let's say my team mate smashes a ball and wins the point but I see he's just about to fall in the kitchen. Am I allowed to grab him to prevent him from faulting?
As a tennis player I finds that most PB only players have have no control over their strokes. It’s a fun game, but the limitations on the serve will keep it from reaching the popularity of tennis, spectator wise.
I’m having problems returning on some slsams that there is not enough momentum to cross the net. How do you figure out when you need to add more. pace to the return?
The video had 3 subjects, but the subject line promised tips. As far as I can tell, the 3 tips would be these: 1. Use "soft hands" (light grip) 2. Respect the ball's "pace" (speed) 3. Be aware of your opponent's topspin.
Thank you, great tips! This just answered a question I had today after playing. My return shots appears to be long and harder than I wanted when my fingers are aching. I think this is related to the fact that my pointer finger is arthritic and I am using my other fingers with too tight of a grip. Any advice on better hand positioning for loose hands, in consideration of this one finger with an increasing problem?
Yes I think I could do that. Is this mainly at the net? One thing that's common with issues like this is that people don't volley balls out in front of them. Try to catch the balls out in front of you first before they bounce. Let me know if that helps.
For shots that get back on you that you can't pick out of the air, to develop the one-foot step back shot. Step back with one foot keeping the other foot planted and turning sideways to hit the ball. For example, a right-handed player hitting a forehand keeps the left foot planted and steps back with the right foot, turning completely sideways (closed-stance). This can you about another foot past the NVZ/kitchen line to play the ball. By keeping the foot planted, you can very quickly return to the NVZ/kitchen line and reset for the next shot without risk of stepping on the line. It takes some practice but can be very effective when learned. It works best when the ball is coming more straight on. If it's a very sharp angled cross court dink shot (usually folks will target your backhand like this), it's best to try to quickly shift yourself to the left..
Pickleball would be much more fun and would speed the game up if a point was rewarded to the team that won the point whether the team was serving or not. You could expand the scoring to 21 (or some other number) instead of 11. In a similar manner, this was done in volleyball where the rule was changed that a point was awarded to the team that won the point regardless of whether the team was serving or not. This rule change made the game much more fun to play volleyball because the game went faster. The same could be said for pickleball if the rule change went into effect. I did this while playing with my son and now we always play this way when we play together. Someone ought to request or propose this rule change.
Not your best video and here's why. When demonstrating "death grip" you're taking the ball out of the air EVERY shot which explains why it's popping up. Yet when you demonstrate "soft hands grip" you hit EVERY shot (except one) only after ball bounces (half volley) and that's the primary reason for not popping the ball up!!! IMHO (in my humble opinion for text illiterates lol) you should have done four demonstrations. Death grip volleys followed by soft hands volleys then death grip half volleys followed by soft hands half volleys. P.S. These comments are meant as constructive criticism only!! I watch and have learned from all your instructional videos, keep up the good work, Regards, Joe
Those are all fair points, thanks Joe! Perhaps I should revisit this topic, add in your thoughts, and then add a bit more meat to it! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comments.
I appreciate your passion and content but I believe you are way off... You should grip your paddle with your pinky and ring finger, using your middle and index fingers to guide. That is how you get "soft hands". It allows the paddle to absorb the momentum.
The three fingers off the grip is exactly how I explain the question of how firmly should they hold the paddle? There is no way you can squeeze it tight when you abduct those three fingers away, lol! Good info! Spin explained the same way. Listen closely and try this stuff. 🤔👌
you probably dont care but does any of you know a tool to log back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the account password. I would love any help you can give me.
Any tips for "ping-pong" style grip for pop ups?? Also , off topic. Do you use/have a paddle cover that fits your Prince paddle? If so where do I find one?
I don't use a cover at all. I do put some electrical tape around the edge, and I keep it in my bag when I'm not using it. I can't speak to the ping pong style grip unfortunately.
I notice you grip the paddle right at the butt end. Do you have the butt of the paddle in your palm or is it out in your fingers more? Looks like the palm?
TY Barrett Your videos are very educational and they do not last forever like some other videos. Precise and right to the point.
Thanks for this video to help eliminate pop-ups. I really appreciate that you included practice sessions to help solve the problem. I find all your videos valuable especially those that breakdown shots and provide solutions.
Thanks, it's my pleasure!
Many of us put our index finger on the paddle, which means we have to grip with our other three fingers and thumb. I wish this was addressed in your grip pressure tip.
Thanks! I'll give that a try in the morning.
Oranges, lemons, eh? Good tip.
Thanks for the tutorial.
great video thanks
Awesome tips. Thank you!
My pleasure, thanks for watching.
Great videos for foundational elements you don’t necessarily think of.
You're amazing!
Thank you!
Hello 👋🏻 Pickleball Kitchen Man. I’m a past avid Tennis 🎾player and used topspin a lot, so naturally I now use it in Pickleball, great tip about you being able to see the holes in the ball , that the ball won’t be spinning or in the topspin mode. Usually I can also read the opponents paddle if they are putting top spin or slice on the ball. Question, I’ve just started watching pro pickle ball matches, when the announcer says they rolled the return, does that mean a topspin roll?
Good video. This definitely improved my game with practice
Awesome! I’m really glad to hear that
Thanks! Excellent tips!
Always good information. See you on the court.
Thanks!
I hear about practice a lot, but where do you go that you can find a free court to do that? Everywhere I find that has courts, people are playing
We all do things differently. I play aggressively and offensively. I don't soften my shots. It's up to the player if wanna stay soft playing this game.
Barrett, thank you! Your warm, generous spirit comes through so clearly. Your descriptions cannot be beat! I also appreciate your add-on comments at the bottom of the video.
Thanks, Cecilia!
Any recommendations for paddles if I’m just starting pickle ball?
random question not related to this but I'm just curious: let's say my team mate smashes a ball and wins the point but I see he's just about to fall in the kitchen. Am I allowed to grab him to prevent him from faulting?
My pop ups occur when I’m moving from baseline to NVZ. I don’t have the time to limit the power/speed of my return. How can i fix this
As a tennis player I finds that most PB only players have have no control over their strokes. It’s a fun game, but the limitations on the serve will keep it from reaching the popularity of tennis, spectator wise.
4.5 Tennis here. They need a few changes..slower ball, two serves, strings
Healthier to have sports where more people participate than watch.
I’m having problems returning on some slsams that there is not enough momentum to cross the net. How do you figure out when you need to add more. pace to the return?
I pop them up on purpose and it’s awesome. I get them one or two times out of 10 which I don’t mind at all
The video had 3 subjects, but the subject line promised tips. As far as I can tell, the 3 tips would be these:
1. Use "soft hands" (light grip)
2. Respect the ball's "pace" (speed)
3. Be aware of your opponent's topspin.
Betttttt
Thank you, great tips! This just answered a question I had today after playing. My return shots appears to be long and harder than I wanted when my fingers are aching. I think this is related to the fact that my pointer finger is arthritic and I am using my other fingers with too tight of a grip. Any advice on better hand positioning for loose hands, in consideration of this one finger with an increasing problem?
I'm a pretender clown. Transitioning from ping pong I'd of thought that blocking an aggressive top spin just off the bounce would have been in order.
I have a hard time getting shots by my feet, (not sure if it’s depth perception or what) could you do a video about digging for low shots?
Yes I think I could do that. Is this mainly at the net? One thing that's common with issues like this is that people don't volley balls out in front of them. Try to catch the balls out in front of you first before they bounce. Let me know if that helps.
If you can't take it on the volley, take a step back like you see on this video.
For shots that get back on you that you can't pick out of the air, to develop the one-foot step back shot. Step back with one foot keeping the other foot planted and turning sideways to hit the ball. For example, a right-handed player hitting a forehand keeps the left foot planted and steps back with the right foot, turning completely sideways (closed-stance). This can you about another foot past the NVZ/kitchen line to play the ball. By keeping the foot planted, you can very quickly return to the NVZ/kitchen line and reset for the next shot without risk of stepping on the line. It takes some practice but can be very effective when learned. It works best when the ball is coming more straight on. If it's a very sharp angled cross court dink shot (usually folks will target your backhand like this), it's best to try to quickly shift yourself to the left..
So with such a light grip, how do you keep The paddle from twirling around and your shot going in the wrong direction?
If the paddle is doing that then you’re miss hitting the ball. It’s all about accuracy on that case.
But tennis
Pickleball would be much more fun and would speed the game up if a point was rewarded to the team that won the point whether the team was serving or not. You could expand the scoring to 21 (or some other number) instead of 11. In a similar manner, this was done in volleyball where the rule was changed that a point was awarded to the team that won the point regardless of whether the team was serving or not. This rule change made the game much more fun to play volleyball because the game went faster. The same could be said for pickleball if the rule change went into effect. I did this while playing with my son and now we always play this way when we play together. Someone ought to request or propose this rule change.
That blue tape on the spectrum is sexy. Best paddle there is
Not your best video and here's why. When demonstrating "death grip" you're taking the ball out of the air EVERY shot which explains why it's popping up. Yet when you demonstrate "soft hands grip" you hit EVERY shot (except one) only after ball bounces (half volley) and that's the primary reason for not popping the ball up!!! IMHO (in my humble opinion for text illiterates lol) you should have done four demonstrations. Death grip volleys followed by soft hands volleys then death grip half volleys followed by soft hands half volleys.
P.S. These comments are meant as constructive criticism only!! I watch and have learned from all your instructional videos, keep up the good work,
Regards, Joe
Those are all fair points, thanks Joe! Perhaps I should revisit this topic, add in your thoughts, and then add a bit more meat to it! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comments.
I appreciate your passion and content but I believe you are way off... You should grip your paddle with your pinky and ring finger, using your middle and index fingers to guide. That is how you get "soft hands". It allows the paddle to absorb the momentum.
The three fingers off the grip is exactly how I explain the question of how firmly should they hold the paddle? There is no way you can squeeze it tight when you abduct those three fingers away, lol!
Good info! Spin explained the same way. Listen closely and try this stuff. 🤔👌
you probably dont care but does any of you know a tool to log back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly forgot the account password. I would love any help you can give me.
@Gunner Jaxen instablaster ;)
Thank you so much! I’m terrible and am trying hard to improve. Great, helpful tips!
This helps a lot. I am a beginner in pickleball and I am looking for tips to improve my skills in a right way. Thank you sir.
My pleasure, welcome to pickleball!
How to defend people hit the ball down the line in pickleball?
True fact: Vermont is the only state to have outlawed shooting pickleball players with paint ball pellets.
That's...interesting.
Excellent tips. Thank you!
Any tips for "ping-pong" style grip for pop ups?? Also , off topic. Do you use/have a paddle cover that fits your Prince paddle? If so where do I find one?
I don't use a cover at all. I do put some electrical tape around the edge, and I keep it in my bag when I'm not using it. I can't speak to the ping pong style grip unfortunately.
Really good tips... for beginners like me
What kind of net were you using for this video?
Easy to assemble, & stable during windy days?
THANK YOU!!!
Those are the swift nets, and no they are not great for windy days.
Great video, thanks
Great !
I notice you grip the paddle right at the butt end. Do you have the butt of the paddle in your palm or is it out in your fingers more? Looks like the palm?
The butt cap is in my palm. Hit me up on Facebook and I'll send you a picture.
Thanks for so many good tips.
My pleasure.