What I Learned Hitting 15,000 Backhands 

Let me know if you want to see the full lesson with Aanik!

Your analysis is soooo great including letting us in on your lesson--- the video footage is telling. His WHOLE body is turned more prior to the shot as well as being a lot lower as you said. It looks like there is definitely an art to getting into exactly the proper position. I had no idea how technical this shot was. sheesh

Nice work! I really appreciate your descriptions of how, and WHY you made certain changes. So many of the pro players are phenomenal at what they do, but they are just not good teachers. They’ll say things like “bend your knees“ but never really make it clear why you need to bend your knees. As an engineer, it’s much easier for me to internalize something when I understand why I need to do something, rather than just attempting to do something I was told to do without understanding. Thanks!

Awesome! More than a backhand, this really showed me that if you can commit to any skill for 14 days with diligence and study you'll definitely improve. Great stuff man!

Yes! Please post the lesson! Super helpful!

Excellent- so well done and very helpful! I’d really appreciate seeing your entire lesson with Annik. He’s also an excellent teacher and pretty funny too! Thanks!

This video is soooo well done!! Thank you! One of the most informative videos on a single skill that I’ve ever seen. Thank you!!

You inspired me to do something like that with ball machine! It’ll probably take me more than 14 days but I’m curious- and hopeful - to see the results! You’re such the scientist, Chris, so methodic and accurate Loved the video

Love this video and would love to see the whole lesson with Aanik! Thanks for sharing!

This was a great video. Obviously very well produced but the information and the way you presented it really clicked with me. Having already watched 100's of hours of youtube lessons this was the first that actually benefited me. Also highlights how valuable getting couching can be.

Thank you so much for this encouraging video! My drop shots / reset shots are horrible. I've only practiced a few hundred balls and was getting discouraged, wondering if drilling really helps. Now I feel there maybe be hope with only 14,600 balls to go! Seriously, this video was a huge boost for me. Great job!!

Great video, I really enjoyed this different type of content. As with every video: you bring a high level of production and your unique flair to it. Please post the full lesson with Aanik!

My favorite video youve done ever. So good

This is a good one Chris. Very inspirational. Congratulations, your backhand looks really good.

Like many have commented, would love to see the full training vid!! Really good stuff!❤

hopefully on day 30 it will be good enough for us to win a tournament 😏

This video is by far my most favorite one. Just started learning the twoey, the timing couldn’t be any better. I really like your video breakdowns of your body mechanics and your progress. Please post full lesson with Aanik, and do more of this type of content. I apologize for commenting about you being “3.5 at best” in your last tournament video 😅 With the wicked backhand you have in your arsenal now, you look like a real 4.0, but with your nice new pair of viper pro shoes on day 14, it can be bumped up to a 4.3 😊

This is a great instructional video! I like that you show the evolution of your backhand. I also appreciate you showing the hard work and the struggle. Kudos

One of if not the best vids you've done imo. Love this!

For anyone who hasn't watched their own footage back: Whatever you THINK you look like playing pickleball...you look nothing like that. It is humbling but so so instructive.

This was a brilliant idea for content. Please post the coaching vid too! Great work

One of the best videos I’ve seen to learn from. The break down, slow motion shots help so much.

Awesome stuff! Would love to see the full video this was very helpful👏

Totally solid Chris! Something that helped me develop more topspin and it's something I learned at Vic Braden... somehow raise the net 6 inches or a foot and still keep the same pace ... I can't do this now, but doing your lunges is the right step, almost drag your knees on each stroke, generating the power from the base up .... looking at Anicks stroke, see how much force he's generating from his back leg .... anyway, good luck, I need to incorporate this in my PB game myself, instead of resorting to my table tennis one handed slices ... watching your summary, I was kinda spot on ... hahaha .... good call on the finger adjustment, golfers do the same thing on some strokes, finding it hindered some motion

Fantastic job, your back hand looks great now. Excellent tips.

Thanks! A very helpful video. I love that you speak clearly and are easy to understand. I use a one handed backhand but I would think the same tips would apply. Interesting I never think about using power with my Backhand but had a powerful backhand in tennis. I just sold my dbd. Great paddle but a little too much pop. I'm shuffling between the Neonic Flow, Vatic Prism and am going to try the SLK Omega. I had a Luxx but didn't love it. I guess if I had to pick one paddle it woukd be the Vatic. Pretty close to the dbd without the popiness. Yes, would love to see the full lesson.

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing this. Video analysis is so powerful!

Very informative and way to break down he technique in slow motion. It would be excellent to see the full lesson you had with Aanik.

Wonderful. Thank you. This tells me how to organize my practice sessions. Perhaps just 150 balls using the machine on just one stroke. And video taping the practice and watching it again.

That was a great video. I'm not a Twoey, but have wanted to learn how to do it. I think you saved me a lot of trial and error.

This type of video was awesome. For some reason, the way the info was delivered, made it easy to digest. Found it very entertaining while being informative. More please. Other instructional videos are very boring and long winded, k.i.s.s. Your humility and humor is refreshing, keep up the good work.

First of all Great work! I don't know many people who are willing to hit 15000 backhands. And you definitely have improved. Everything you said is spot on. However you are missing something extremely fundamental to creating a topspin backhand. Before the paddle head goes forward, the tip of the paddle must tilt towards the ground. This creates the whipping motion and also allows you to hit in a straight line upwards instead of a curved line in the shape of a smiley face. If you look back and compare your shot to Aaniks. or even your shot from day 1 to day 14, you unconsciously made this change. Think of if this way, if you were to put a small light on the tip of your paddle it would trace out the shape of an upside down triangle, or Nike swoosh symbol. A good way of practicing this is to think about the swing in 3 steps. 1. paddle back just like you were doing. 2. paddle head tilted down 3. swing paddle in a straight line from the perspective of the tip of the paddle. Its a long winded comment but very essential to create topspin. Hope that helps.

You’re my new hero. Thank you for sharing your journey!

Been avoiding my backhand for too long. I need to put the reps in. Great video!

This was wonderful! Hard work with great coaching had you improve impressively. Who knew🙂. Glad you reminded everyone there's no shortcuts.

Please post the full lesson with Aanik. Fantastic session. Informative and insightful. Thank you.

This is the content I’m here for!👏🏾👏🏾

That was awsome Chris. I recently transitioned to a two handed backhand from a one handed and your video showed me what to look for in my form. Yes show your lesson from Aanik.

You put the hard work in and were rewarded. That's it right there. Good job.

This is an incredible video. Thanks Chris!

Great analysis and production - entertaining and informative. Very well done. And I'm going to start bending my knees more on backhands. 👍

Amazing video. I am a single backhand but struggle with getting low bending and now after watching video I have to get even much lower. The tip on footwork--a couple of extra small steps to be more exactly positioned for contact is another great tip. Yes, yes, yes please post whole backhand video lesson w Aanik (I like his coaching style).

@pickleballstudio I did this a few weeks ago, not for the 14 days, it was 5. One thing I noticed was how sore my lats were on my left side! So sore! Great video!

liked your video, liked your thinking at 71, I hit 50 balls for each shot, but I like your breakdown on the one shot. People should be able to pick out a few things they can add to their game. I only have a one hand back hand. We swing on the same plane, and your pro swings much more parallel with the ground.

Would love to see more videos like this!

Love ii. Especially slow motion we can learn how to move and swing. Thx bro

Please post that full lesson! He has great advice that I'll even take on the court!

Great content. Thanks for posting!! I learned a lot

Great video!!!!! Super helpful, now I am going to practice mine with all advices in this video 🙌

Awesome video! Aanik's backhand in slowmo is a work of art

Full lesson plz! Good stuff

Please post that lesson!! This video was fire!! 🔥🔥

This was so helpful to watch! Thank you Chris!!

Now i have a new goal to improve my backhand with my ball machine. ! So glad i got that ball machine, as I am sure no one wants to do 10,000 backhands with me. :)

great vid thanks and yes i want to see the full lesson with Aanik! he has some awesome tips !!!

Just a great video and terrific advice. I am transitioning to a two hander myself so the timing is perfect. You never cease to amaze with the quality and entertainment factor of your content!!

Chris-this really is a great video. As a tennis player for nearly 30 years and now as a pickleball player, I could very get a two handed backhand going. I'm pretty muscular and it felt awkward. I've wanted to get it as part of my arsenal. I'll give this a try (definitely not for 14 days, twice per day.

Started working on my flexibility and I noticed more improvement to my game than any paddle or drill. Great video as always Chris

AMAZING video dude!!! Loved it

Great video! And I too do not like my finger on the paddle. I will use my ball machine, the same one you use, to practice as you did. Thank you.

What a great video! Thanks.

Great video. I enjoyed the lesson,and techniques to get better!!

Fantastic video. Inspirational and so helpful.

This was great! Would love to see that whole lesson!

Great video, Chris! Also loved the Aanik appearance.

Your are fun to watch. TY

great vid. looks like you were at the Bloomington North facility in MN...

Yup post the bh tutorial 🤞🏽🙌🏽

I'm thinking that Gold medal match lit a fire for you. Good for you man!

Very good content! Gives me motivation to drill mere and improve 🙌 Please do more of these ...hopefully you take less time and balls 😅

Now do forhand drive :) awesome video best ive seen on the backhand and ive been looking, thanks for sharing

Awesome video! Hope you make more training videos like this for other shots

Love this guy!

Thanks

Great idea and podcast. Definitely do the other shots. I've told people for years it takes 100,000 shots over time to groove a stroke. I'm sharing this video with some of them. Great way to diversify your channel too!

Yes please post the whole lesson!

Yes would like to see the full lesson , thanks

Aanik with the pro footwork tips!!! Post it!

I got so much value from watching this video 🔥

My wife who doesn’t have a racquet sports background has taken lessons for backhand from a local college tennis coach who plays PPA events. I thought he would reach her a 2 hand backhand but he told her to do a one hand. When I played tennis in HS and college I always thought the one hand backhand was more versatile especially for a slice. I rarely hit a topspin backhand since on returns a slice backhand gives me more time to get to the line.

Love the tips. Thank you

This is great. My favorite video you have did.

I really like this series, if you want to call it that.

Your best video yet.

Gimme that full lesson!! Though I need to work on my one-hander more, I'd like to develop a twoey just in the event i need it (even if just returns or backhand drive volleys)

I just noticed that your voice sounds a lot like NileRed

One unsolicited advice I think you need in addition to getting lower is you need to step more into your shots. Look up milo cornejo hitting some with Briones and you’ll see how exaggerated his movement is. Stepping into your shots or at least telling yourself that, will make it more actionable to get lower and lunge-ier (if that’s a word). Rotation is a different but subsequent step though.

Love the whip on your new backhand. It looks sick! And way to execute it against me in one of the points at the end you showed 😂

Great video in slow motion!

A very revealing and helpful video. Makes me realize that watching all the other instructional videos out there are only truly helpful if develop good basic strokes like the backhand. Now if I only had a ball machine or a training partner willing to hit me 500 balls a day. 🤣🤣

Hi Chris, I was wondering if you had heard anything about the status of core crushing on the Pickleball Apes Pro-Line Energy, and the Ronbus Nova. I assume nothing about the Nova, but I am curious about the Pro-Line Energy. I had been using a DBD and the core has crushed after about 2 weeks. I crush a lot of cores and am looking for a paddle under 200 dollars that is sustainable over time. I haven't tried GBX but I am afraid of spending so much to crush the paddle, although GBX has a different model for their paddles. Just looking for some advice! Thank you for your time, I love your videos and podcasts and can't wait for more

Full lesson? Heck yeah!

Just a content thought....A full video of Aanik breaking down video of good and bad footwork during play and showing us a more in depth explanation of what and how we should be working our footwork for maximum effectiveness.

Great stuff Chris

Is that your home court Chris? Great technique tutoring.

I love pb studio and video was informational but I wake up at 5am everyday and work out then go to work and then play pb afterwards with no problem. He’s a young guy in his prime.

Bro post the lesson. Our backhands need it.

The Vatic Prism you're using in this vid, is that the 14mm or 16mm. How do they differ?

I'd love for you to post the full backhand lesson with A.❤

yes please upload the lesson!