Great video, it’s always helpful to see the mechanics of the shot broken down from step to step. My backhand slice has been a weapon of mine since I started playing since I have a lot of table tennis experience that transfers over really well, specifically for applying backspin and slicing.
I have a tear in my rotator cuff and have been to P.T. (no surgery)..... I've been playing through it and was wondering if a slice backhand return of serve would be easier on the shoulder? It appears to be the case from what I've seen.
If you’re miss hitting I’d practice with a slower incoming shot and start with working on watching into contact. Spacing could be an issue but probably secondary. Hard to say for sure without seeing it.
Im 64 yrs old. I play tennis and pickelball. Sometimes I get almost as much work out during pickelball as I do in tennis. Pickelball can be very competive and fast pace. I keep meeting more young players too.
@glenross3093 I play both tennis and Pickelball as well. I find I move consistently during Pickelball, many times in tennis doubles, especially when my partner is serving, I am mostly watching the point. Even if I time my poach my opponents are usually good at keeping it away from me so I don't bother. In PB, you and your partner are working to net on every point , regardless of who served. So court is smaller but different rules results in extra movement in PB you don't normally see in tennis. Not to mention the quick action you see at the net in PB on every point. So Nicole is taking her good footwork, transfer step, excellent mechanics and perfect spacing to show a not so athletic looking person can glide to the net after returning serve and be balanced at net waiting for her opponents to try and attack or hit an approach. My opinion, if you are older player and want to make game easier, start working on footwork, spacing and good mechanics. Cudos to Nicole for great instructional video, most have to pay 100 bucks for a lesson like this.
Just excellent training. Spacing is so under taught and under analyzed. Spacing requires hitting a lot of balls, working on your movement, and “seeing” the ball come off the other players paddle for improved anticipation and getting into a position to hit most of your balls from your strike zone. The rest is technique and conditioning. Excellent!!!!
Hi Nicole, I noticed your contact point seemed to be even or maybe even slightly behind right knee. If you were hitting topspin, I would expect you would be contacting in front of the right knee (closer to the net). If I am trying to correct my spacing and contact point (copy your good looking shot), do I want to make contact even with right knee, further away from net or closer to the net? Also seemed you are loading left leg, striking ball BEFORE right foot is touching down .... I am guessing that is part of transfer step as its clear from side angle camera your weight has shifted towards net as you are hitting. I loved this video, I use slice forehand more than slice backhand to return the serve slow, low, deep . This gets me (65 year old) all the way to NVZ before my opponents can hit at me. If I hit hard topspin or flat, my opponents ball is back at me before I am at NVZ so I end up trying to hit half volley from "no mans land". So I want to develop this good slice backhand return, just need a ball machine 😊. Thanks for posting.
Hi Jim! You are correct… a flat or topspin drive would be contacted more out in front (towards net) and the slice contact point is even with knee or even slightly behind knee. You will want to do the same. The slice contact is generally struck later then topspin for everyone. You are also correct in that I don’t get my right leg down until after contact. This will be true most of the time when I’m seeking to hit a slower and loftier slice. If I were hitting an aggressive slice then I may get my right foot down earlier but it’s rare that you’d want to hit an aggressive slice in doubles pickleball. I love that you get great benefit from a slice return and it helps you get to that net. Great stuff! I hope I answered your question.
Thank you! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for since I somehow ended up sending a ton of backhand returns either straight into the air or smack dab into the middle of the net. Perfect breakdown. Now I just need to implement it so I can stop embarrassing my son when we play doubles…
I slice a vertical line with the paddle completely flat, lots of spin but I definitely need to slow it down. Opposite most of the time leave the ball on the net. I mix it with a couple of top spin and is deadly but really, once I started to slow my pace a little the spin got crazier. All about timing. Great Video 🎉🎉🎉❤😊
Your video improved my game tremendously. It gives me the time needed to get the kitchen line. My dinking game is going well and my opponents don’t dink it back to me. They feel I’m a wall on my side of the court. Thank you again for this video.
