As they play, every pickleball player tends to develop a signature shot, and that, in the long run, becomes their identity. For professionals competing at the highest level, these shots make the difference and often determine their fate in matches and tournaments.
From precise backhand rolls to powerful overheads, some of the sport’s top stars have opened up about the shots they trust most and offered practical advice to recreational players on how to hone their skills and master those shots.
Ben Johns: The Backhand Roll
For Ben Johns, one of pickleball’s biggest stars, backhand roll is his forte. He says mastering the backhand roll starts with eliminating a common mistake.
“A lot of players use too much wrist when they try and roll. Instead, you want to use more shoulder, rather than your wrist,” said Johns was quoted as saying by Pickleball.com. “If you want to work on it, have someone stand cross-court with you and dink back and forth. Anything you think you can roll, try it, and you’ll start to get a feel for it.”
Rachel Rohrabacher: Forehand and Backhand Dink Roll
For Rachel Rohrabacher, topspin is her go-to shot when she finds herself in a challenging situation. She says to play a perfect topspin one has to ensure his/her body positioning is immaculate and technique is correct.
“You have to use your legs to get under the ball because if you want to use topspin, you have to make sure you get under the ball. If you don’t, it’ll be a recipe for disaster,” noted Rohrabacher. “There’s actually a lot of tennis tools you could use for learning how to hit topspin that can be super helpful when you’re learning how to get a feel for it. I would suggest that you make sure you lead with the top edge of your paddle, not the bottom edge.”
Kiora Kunimoto: The Dipper
Few shots are as effective at forcing awkward volleys as the dipper, and Kiora Kunimoto says it is one of her favourites.
“I love to hit dippers and work the angles, but it’s a shot you really have to train,” insisted Kunimoto. “I recommend going to one side of the court, then having somebody else hit in the cross-court and dipping it down so you can get used to the motion, get under the ball, and use topspin.”
Callie Smith: The Forehand
For Callie Smith, the favourite shot is a powerful forehand, but it is not easy to master the shot. Smith says success from this shot comes after several sessions of simulation practice and physical preparation.
“You have to practice a lot, so go hit lots of forehands. But I also recommend doing a little weightlifting in the gym to get yourself stronger,” said Smith. “If you want to drill it, stand up at the kitchen line and have someone feed you just slightly elevated balls that are level with the net. Then practice getting right on top of it and pushing through as fast as you can. Get good acceleration, swing through it, and see how fast you can hit it without hitting it out, which is hard.”
Mary Brascia: The Passing Roll
Mary Brascia enjoys the challenge and creativity that comes with hitting passing rolls.
“My favorite shot is a passing roll. They’re really fun to hit,” said Brascia. “To get good at them, you have to practice and drill them a lot. Work on keeping your paddle low and brushing up from low to high from the baseline.”
Yates Johnson: The Overhead
Yates Johnson considers forehand drive his strongest shot, but he says it is the overhead that he enjoys the most.
“I think the forehand drive is my best shot, but I just love hitting overheads,” confirmed Johnson. “If you want to hit a good overhead, you really just have to hit it as hard as you possibly can. Turn sideways, trust it, and just rip it.”