Excellent advice to return faster, flatter returns with heavy underspin/slice (and glad you made distinction between a high shot with underspin). I also emphasize to players to get really low and and stay down through the shot with firm wrist (no flip). And I try to hit the ball a little earlier than typical --- almost like a half volley --- to minimize potential kick or skids that are often hard to predict. And if I can (all things being equal) to hit it to the opponent moving forward. And don't rush in behind it --- like you said --- set up for an easier 3rd, 5th shot, etc. Good stuff.
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Thanks so, so much Tony for answering my question. I was trying to spin almost every shot, even if they had spin, not realizing why I couldn't control so many of my shots.
@Randall Kadish It's futile. I have TONS of backspin on my backhand, opponents spend half the game trying to figure out why everything is going into the net.. It's really fun to watch.. Tony gave us the best example of how it is best handled..
When returning low backspin shots, I like to make sure I hit them with a lifting underhand shot. This gives me more leeway to hit the sweet spot on my paddle which is larger vertically than it is from side to side.
Great explanation Tony. Since I am a beginner I try not to get too caught up in spins since not making unforced errors is what most people need to work on. My drop serve is simple but deep. A slight breeze can really mess you up also. Lol
Tony, Another good one. LOVE "fighting fire with Water". May i suggest using the White Board behind you as an aid?? No sense in using it for Groceries list ONLY! ;)
Yesterday I played against someone that had an excellent serve that bounces very low off the floor and spins to outside of the court. I missed some returns completely as the low bounce caught me off guard. When I did contact the ball I often hit into the net or popped it too high if I tried lifting the return. Any suggestions how to handle a return of this kind of serve?
Hello Ricoman. The best thing to do is to hang back from the serve almost, like a short stop and then you can follow it left or right. Is it a chainsaw or finger spin serve?
@@BestPickleballCoach Thanks. She doesn’t seem to spin the ball toss before hitting it but must come across the ball sideways to get the spin. One of the other people in the group said she was a very good tennis player when she was younger. This group is mostly 60+ folks although there are a few ‘youngsters’ that play with us. Should I stand further back to allow for the low skid bounce? With regard to the side spin, should I try to return the ball flat (hopefully not popping it too high) or as I am relatively deep in the court, should I try returning with a top spin? Thanks for your help.
@@ricoman7981 if the ball always spins the same way, then you can anticipate the way it will go. Generally the best solution for a spin shot is just to power through it - in other words not try to counter the spin too much. Just send it back - it will carry the spin with it. Hope this helps.
Good stuff..thanks.. So u should move to ur left and have your logo directly over your right shoulder...Also, ur nice mic is not working..sounds like the sound is coming off your camera mic. Love to see u demo your advice too.
But a heavy slice after it hits the ground will have almost no slice left. A topspin shot after it hits will continue that spin. If it's a high slow slice you can definitely slice it back
There are different ways to approach it but in my experience a sliced ball comes off the ground with slice still on it. I have actually flipped that spin into topspin on my shot.
I found that a ball hit to me with a lot of spin on it and I hit it back the returning team hits it with still some of that spin on it and it will go into the net. So it back fires sometimes.
Hi Ingrid - good question. I am going to put together a video on this for you (and others :). Look for it in the next couple of weeks. It will explain the two techniques.
there are 2 ways to decode spin. The first is to watch what shot is hit, whether the ball is struck underneath, which imparts backspin, or whether it is struck over the top of the ball, which imparts top spin. The angle of the bat is also important to note. If this all hasn't been noted, you must watch the ball coming towards you. This gives a second opportunity to read the spin. The same observations also apply to side spin. There should usually be two ways to read spin. and if you use both of them, at least you have preparation time.
My friend has that Morgan evans spin down pat. Played last night and 3 of his served I didn’t even touch the ball. It was like the ball stopped and then took a crazy kick which was different each time. I’ve got to figure a way to handle that serve. Any ideas?
Hi Mike. I think you are referring to topspin. If I am correct, then the answer is yes. Here is a video that covers it. th-cam.com/video/jsoGCcoDzMk/w-d-xo.html Tony
Excellent advice to return faster, flatter returns with heavy underspin/slice (and glad you made distinction between a high shot with underspin). I also emphasize to players to get really low and and stay down through the shot with firm wrist (no flip). And I try to hit the ball a little earlier than typical --- almost like a half volley --- to minimize potential kick or skids that are often hard to predict. And if I can (all things being equal) to hit it to the opponent moving forward. And don't rush in behind it --- like you said --- set up for an easier 3rd, 5th shot, etc. Good stuff.
I appreciate your videos because they are practical and clear. Plus, I love that you get right to the point and respect the viewer's time. Thank you!
If this video was useful to you and you want to learn more, subscribe to our channel.
To Subscribe please visit: th-cam.com/channels/EIvvPc-JwETHVK33boyGFA.html
We are always adding and updating our content to help you become the best pickleball player you can be.
Thanks so, so much Tony for answering my question. I was trying to spin almost every shot, even if they had spin, not realizing why I couldn't control so many of my shots.
@Randall Kadish
It's futile. I have TONS of backspin on my backhand, opponents spend half the game trying to figure out why everything is going into the net..
It's really fun to watch..
Tony gave us the best example of how it is best handled..
When returning low backspin shots, I like to make sure I hit them with a lifting underhand shot. This gives me more leeway to hit the sweet spot on my paddle which is larger vertically than it is from side to side.
Great explanation Tony. Since I am a beginner I try not to get too caught up in spins since not making unforced errors is what most people need to work on. My drop serve is simple but deep. A slight breeze can really mess you up also. Lol
:)
Super helpful! Thank you!
Glad it helped.
Will you do a video demo on returning a serve that skids?
In2Pickle That was quick! Thanks, Tony!
😃
Thank you for confirming what I suspected because I kept trying to drop/spin the return shot hit with a lot of underspin and hitting the net!!
Glad it helped.
Tony,
Another good one. LOVE "fighting fire with Water".
May i suggest using the White Board behind you as an aid?? No sense in using it for Groceries list ONLY!
;)
Side spin?? Balls land and take a left or right turn are tough to hit right.
Stay behind the ball as much as possible
Yesterday I played against someone that had an excellent serve that bounces very low off the floor and spins to outside of the court. I missed some returns completely as the low bounce caught me off guard. When I did contact the ball I often hit into the net or popped it too high if I tried lifting the return. Any suggestions how to handle a return of this kind of serve?
Hello Ricoman. The best thing to do is to hang back from the serve almost, like a short stop and then you can follow it left or right. Is it a chainsaw or finger spin serve?
@@BestPickleballCoach Thanks. She doesn’t seem to spin the ball toss before hitting it but must come across the ball sideways to get the spin. One of the other people in the group said she was a very good tennis player when she was younger. This group is mostly 60+ folks although there are a few ‘youngsters’ that play with us. Should I stand further back to allow for the low skid bounce? With regard to the side spin, should I try to return the ball flat (hopefully not popping it too high) or as I am relatively deep in the court, should I try returning with a top spin? Thanks for your help.
@@ricoman7981 if the ball always spins the same way, then you can anticipate the way it will go. Generally the best solution for a spin shot is just to power through it - in other words not try to counter the spin too much. Just send it back - it will carry the spin with it. Hope this helps.
Good stuff..thanks.. So u should move to ur left and have your logo directly over your right shoulder...Also, ur nice mic is not working..sounds like the sound is coming off your camera mic. Love to see u demo your advice too.
Thanks. Can't spin so good to hear a neutral return is valid
Spins are overrated most of the time. Have fun out there
But a heavy slice after it hits the ground will have almost no slice left. A topspin shot after it hits will continue that spin. If it's a high slow slice you can definitely slice it back
There are different ways to approach it but in my experience a sliced ball comes off the ground with slice still on it. I have actually flipped that spin into topspin on my shot.
I found that a ball hit to me with a lot of spin on it and I hit it back the returning team hits it with still some of that spin on it and it will go into the net. So it back fires sometimes.
In2Pickle this person serves it with a spin we get it back over and it still has a bit of a spin going and they hit it into the net. 3rd shot...
?
How do I know if the ball is coming at me as top or back spin?
Hi Ingrid - good question. I am going to put together a video on this for you (and others :). Look for it in the next couple of weeks. It will explain the two techniques.
there are 2 ways to decode spin. The first is to watch what shot is hit, whether the ball is struck underneath, which imparts backspin, or whether it is struck over the top of the ball, which imparts top spin. The angle of the bat is also important to note. If this all hasn't been noted, you must watch the ball coming towards you. This gives a second opportunity to read the spin. The same observations also apply to side spin. There should usually be two ways to read spin. and if you use both of them, at least you have preparation time.
My friend has that Morgan evans spin down pat. Played last night and 3 of his served I didn’t even touch the ball. It was like the ball stopped and then took a crazy kick which was different each time. I’ve got to figure a way to handle that serve. Any ideas?
This serve is posing some problems for sure. You may have to stand at the baseline and take it on the hop before it can spin away.
I believe this is called the Magnus Effect.
I believe you are correct. Appreciate the feedback
Is it possible to serve with down spin.
Hi Mike. I think you are referring to topspin. If I am correct, then the answer is yes. Here is a video that covers it.
th-cam.com/video/jsoGCcoDzMk/w-d-xo.html
Tony
would you need to adjust your paddle angle so the ball doesn't return to low? or vice versa if receiving top spin angle paddle down some?
Paddle angle is always on the mind. Adjust it - up or down - to accomplish your intended shot trajectory. Hope this helps.