Travis Rettenmaier

Stop Settling for the Backhand

Can you hit an inside-out forehand on that return?

Most players automatically take the backhand when the ball comes at their body.

But 99% of us have a stronger forehand.

So why not use it?

If that return is coming at your belly button, don’t freeze.
Move around it.

Right foot shifts.
Plant the left.
Load.
Transfer your weight.

Now you’re not just starting the point.
You’re dictating it.

An inside-out forehand turns a neutral ball into an offensive one.

Footwork creates the forehand.
The forehand creates the pressure.

Next time that body ball comes, don’t block it. Step around and crack it.

pickleballcoach

Stop Being Passive at the Kitchen Line

Most rec players get to the kitchen… and start surviving.

D**k. D**k. D**k. Just trying to make balls.

That’s not what this line is for.

The biggest mistake?
Taking every d**k right off the bounce.

If you hit it early and low, you give yourself zero chance to attack.

Let the ball rise.

When you allow the d**k to reach its apex, now you have options.
Now you can speed it up.
Now you can roll it.
Now you can apply pressure.

The kitchen line is not neutral territory.
It’s offensive territory.

You’re not up there to rally.
You’re up there to create opportunities and finish points.

Next time you step to the line, stop thinking survival.
Start thinking attack.

pickleballoffense kitchenline

Why Pros Go Slow in Warmups

Have you ever noticed how tennis and pickleball players go slow during warmups?

There’s a reason.

When you slow the ball down, you can dial in perfect footwork.
You can feel your paddle.
You can focus on clean technique.

Loose grip.
Soft hands.
Controlled movement.

When you train slow, you train correctly.

Then when the pace picks up, your mechanics are already locked in.

Slow builds smooth.
Smooth builds fast.

Next time you warm up, don’t rush it. Own the fundamentals first.

Honored to throw out the first pitch at the Rays vs Yankees game last night. First time ever doing it and definitely a moment I’ll never forget. Grateful to be there with Orland Health

Fix Your D**k Rhythm with a Beanbag

Most players know they should not use their wrist on drops and d**ks.

And most players still snap at the ball.

So how do you fix it?

Use a beanbag.

When you loft a beanbag over the net, you cannot flick it. You have to feel the motion. Smooth. Controlled. Rhythmic.

That is the same tempo your drops and d**ks need.

On the backhand side, start with proper structure.

Wrist set.
Tip above the hand.
Paddle out in front.

Now hold the beanbag in that position and gently toss it over.

You are training feel, not force.

If you can repeat the same rhythm with a beanbag, you can repeat it with a paddle.

Slow hands create soft hands.

Try this next time you practice.

The 2 Best Drills to Improve Your Counter Fast

If your counter feels slow or weak, it is probably too big.

We do not want backswing and forward swing.

Everything on a counter is forward.

⭐ Drill 1: The Straight Arm Backhand Counter

Take your non-dominant arm and straighten it. Place your hand behind the paddle.

When the ball is fed, punch straight through.

No loop.
No load.
No extra motion.

You are training a direct, linear strike with pop.

⭐ Drill 2: The Tube Drill

Grab a broom, PVC pipe, or long object.

Keep your elbows out in front and move everything forward together.

If your elbows collapse or drift back, the object will expose it immediately.

Counters are won with tight space and forward energy.

Small.
Compact.
Explosive.

Shrink your motion and you will win more hands battles.

Save this and drill it next session.

The 3 Biggest Mistakes on Your Counter

If you keep losing hands battles, it is not your reaction speed.

It is your mechanics.

⭐ Mistake 1: Backing Up
The second you cower or drift backward, you lose power. Even if you guess right, the ball has nothing on it. Hold your ground. Trust your hands. When you connect moving forward, you win the exchange.

⭐ Mistake 2: Not Leaning In
Power is not from your arm. It is from your body weight. Even a small shift forward creates pop. Stay balanced and lean through contact.

⭐ Mistake 3: Taking Huge Swings
Big swings are panic swings. Counters should be tight and compact. Six to twelve inches of movement is enough. Short. Direct. Linear.

Hands battles are won with position, weight transfer, and compact mechanics.

Hold your ground.
Lean in.
Stay tight.

Which mistake are you making?

The Nasty Nelson with

If you are going to go for it, do not baby it.

The Nasty Nelson only works when it is fast, direct, and disguised.

The key is linear speed.

That is why I love using the True Spin trainer. It forces you to drive the ball on a straight path instead of floating it.

It must look identical to your normal serve.

Same setup.
Same toss.
Same tempo.

Then at the last second, you flatten it and slap it.

Aim for the belly button or slightly outside the hip.

Most players instinctively turn away when they see it coming. If you aim center mass, you often miss. Aim hip and let them rotate into it.

This is not about being reckless. It is about precision and timing.

Disguise plus speed equals chaos.

Have you ever successfully hit a Nasty Nelson in a match?

Save this and try it in your next rec game.

Who actually has the best view to call a ball in or out?

Pickleball might be the hardest sport to judge line calls correctly.

And most players think the person behind the baseline has the best view.

They do not.

From behind the court, depth perception is distorted. You cannot clearly see the gap between the ball and the line.

From the sideline, you get a better angle. You can sometimes see space.

But the clearest vantage point is often from the kitchen line looking back at the baseline. That angle shows overlap with the line far more clearly.

Perspective matters.

Cameras can lie.
Distance can lie.
Even confidence can lie.

Just because someone is standing behind the ball does not mean they are certain.

Next time there is a tight baseline call, think about positioning before arguing the result.

Better angle. Better call.

Save this for your next close match.
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Is this highlight shot legal or not?

There is no doubt it looks unconventional.

But legality is not about how flashy a shot looks.

It is about contact.

Here is why I believe this shot is legal.

• The ball is contacted cleanly
• There is no double hit
• There is no carry
• There is no bounce on the paddle
• The swing is one continuous motion

The rule is simple.

If the ball is struck in a single, smooth motion and does not linger on the paddle face, it is legal.

Unusual does not mean illegal.

Many creative shots look suspicious in slow motion, but the key question is whether there was a continuous strike.

If there is no hitch, no re-acceleration, and no second touch, it counts.

What do you think?

Legal or illegal?

Save this and comment your ruling.
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Stop lobbing it back. Hit the over-the-shoulder slap shot instead.

When you get lobbed and feel compromised, most players panic and send up a soft lob.

That keeps you on defense.

Instead, if the ball sits high enough, turn your grip to continental and go over the shoulder.

Quick. Compact. Aggressive.

The keys:

• Get turned early
• Track the ball over your shoulder
• Switch to a continental style grip
• Keep the motion short
• Slap through the ball, not up

This is not a big swing.

It is a fast, controlled strike.

When executed correctly, you flip the pressure instantly.

Instead of retreating and resetting, you turn a defensive lob into an attacking reply.

It is fun.
It is unexpected.
And it keeps opponents honest when they try to test you with lobs.

Save this and try it next time someone lobs you deep.
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