Strengthen Your Pickle

Stop slicing a slice. ❌🎾

If you serve and your opponent slices the return, your first instinct might be to slice it right back.

The problem?

That incoming backspin makes the ball want to stay low. If you add even more slice, you’re usually just driving the ball straight into the ground or the net.

Instead, fight backspin with topspin.

Rip up the back of the ball and aim about a foot higher than you normally would. The topspin helps counteract their backspin, giving you better net clearance while still bringing the ball back down into the court.

The next time you see a sliced return:
✅ Don’t slice it back.
✅ Brush up with topspin.
✅ Aim a little higher than normal.

Understanding how spin affects spin is one of the fastest ways to level up your game.

Save this for your next match and send it to someone who keeps dumping sliced returns into the net. 🎾

One of the biggest reasons you’re losing d**k rallies has nothing to do with your d**ks… it’s what you do after you hit them. 👀

Watch the first few clips.

Notice how after the d**k is hit, the player stays planted in the same corner they hit from.

The problem? That leaves the middle wide open and gives your opponents an easy target.

Instead, hit your d**k and follow your shot.

If you d**k cross-court, your next priority is to recover toward the middle. As the angles change, your positioning should change too.

The best players aren’t just hitting great d**ks—they’re constantly moving to take away the highest-percentage reply.

Your feet should keep working even after the ball leaves your paddle.

Hit. Recover. Protect the middle. Repeat.

Save this for your next doubles session and send it to your partner—good positioning wins just as many points as good shots. 🎾

If your one-handed backhand counters feel inconsistent, it’s probably not your hands… it’s your swing. 👇

The first few clips show a mistake I see all the time: a big backswing and a long follow-through.

The problem? Those extra movements make your timing harder, create unnecessary power, and leave you less prepared for the next ball.

Instead:
✅ Eliminate the backswing.
✅ Meet the ball out in front.
✅ Freeze your paddle at contact.

Why freeze? It helps reinforce that you’re making contact in front of your body instead of letting the ball get too deep. It also keeps you in a ready position in case the ball comes right back at you.

On counters, less is more.

A compact swing gives you better timing, more control, and lets your opponent’s pace do the work.

Save this for your next drilling session and send it to someone who’s taking a full swing on every counter. 🎾

You probably hate unstacking… because you’re probably doing it wrong. 👀

One of the biggest mistakes I see is players running at an angle toward their side of the court after the return.

The problem? You end up getting stuck in the transition zone while you’re still moving, which makes it almost impossible to stop your feet and hit a quality fourth shot.

Instead, run directly to your spot on your half of the court.

Don’t worry about leaving open space—your partner is moving too and helping cover the court. That’s exactly how stacking is designed to work.

Getting to your position sooner gives you time to:
✅ Set your feet
✅ Stay balanced
✅ Hit a stronger, more consistent fourth shot

Good unstacking isn’t about moving faster—it’s about moving more efficiently.

Save this for your next doubles session and send it to your partner if unstacking has always felt awkward. 🎾

If your one-handed slice d**k keeps finding the net, this is probably why. 👇

The first few shots show a really common mistake: chopping the paddle from high to low because you’re trying to “slice” the ball.

The problem? That motion adds unnecessary wrist, makes your contact inconsistent, and drives the ball downward instead of giving it a chance to clear the net.

Instead:
✅ Get your paddle directly behind the ball at the same height as contact.
✅ Keep your wrist quiet and your swing more linear.
✅ Sweep through the ball toward your target, almost like you’re brushing along the top of the net strap.

Here’s the key:
The slice doesn’t come from chopping the ball. It comes from the angle of your paddle at contact.

A cleaner path = better control, more consistency, and a slice d**k that’s much harder to attack.

Save this for your next practice session and send it to someone who’s still chopping their slice. 🎾

Most players think their mistakes come from their paddle.

More often than not… it’s actually their footwork. 🎾

If you’re missing drives, popping up drops, or struggling with d**ks, ask yourself this:

Were you balanced before you hit the ball?

When your feet are out of position, you’re forced to reach, lean, or hit while off balance—and that’s when consistency disappears.

Instead:
✅ Move your feet first.
✅ Get your body behind the ball.
✅ Find your balance.
✅ Then let your swing do the work.

Great shots don’t start with great hands—they start with great footwork.

Stop reaching for the ball. Start moving to it, and you’ll be amazed how much cleaner your drives, drops, and d**ks become. 👊🎾

Want to improve your transition game? Try this simple drill. 🎾

Set up 3 cones throughout the transition zone.

Your goal is simple:
➡️ Move from cone to cone.
➡️ Perform a balanced split step at each one.
➡️ Focus on stopping your feet before moving again.

Once that feels comfortable, level it up.

Have a partner feed you a ball at each cone as you work your way to the kitchen. Your job is to split step, get balanced, hit the ball, and then continue moving forward.

The biggest takeaway? Don’t hit while you’re still running. Learn to stop your feet, get balanced, and then make contact.

Mastering this rhythm will help you feel more controlled, more consistent, and much more confident in the transition zone.

Save this drill for your next practice session! 👊

Your return of serve deserves way more attention than most players give it. 🎾

Two mistakes I see all the time:

❌ Standing right on the baseline. This gives you less time to react to the serve and increases your chances of getting jammed.

✅ Start a few feet behind the baseline. It’s almost always easier to move forward into the ball than to get caught moving backward at the last second.

The second mistake:

❌ Treating the return like a casual shot.

✅ Commit to it. Use good footwork and swing with purpose so you can drive a deep, quality return that gives you time to get to the kitchen and puts your opponents on defense.

A better return isn’t about swinging harder—it’s about giving yourself more time, moving through the ball, and hitting with intention.

Your return sets up the entire point. Start treating it like it matters.

One of the biggest mistakes players make in the transition zone is trying to hit hard back at a hard ball. 🎾

When your opponents speed the ball up, your first instinct shouldn’t be to swing harder—it should be to absorb the pace.

By softening your hands and taking pace off the ball, you’ll:

✅ Keep more balls in play.
✅ Reduce pop-ups.
✅ Stay in control while working your way to the kitchen.

The key is to read the ball you’re receiving. Not every shot deserves the same response.

Hard ball? Absorb it.
Attackable ball? Then be aggressive.

The best transition players don’t force speed—they make the right decision based on what the ball gives them.

Your paddle position should change based on where you are on the court. 🎾

📍 At the baseline: Keep your paddle lower. If you’re standing deep and your paddle is already up by your chest, there’s a good chance those chest-high balls are actually sailing long. A lower ready position helps you recognize and let those balls go.

📍 As you move through the transition zone: Your paddle should gradually come up.

📍 Once you’re past the halfway point to the kitchen: Raise your paddle into a more aggressive ready position. The closer you get to the net, the more likely those chest-high balls are landing in—and the more prepared you’ll be to block, volley, or attack them.

The best players don’t keep the same paddle position everywhere on the court—they adjust it based on where they are.

Save this for your next session and let me know if you’ve been keeping your paddle too high at the baseline. 👇