5 Wall Drills For Perfect Pickleball Backhands BY YOURSELF

[@lauriechaseunscripted]

Nicole, thanks for this video. I love the details on the grip and the drills that show you don't need a partner to improve. Your last two videos are so helpful. Please post more of this type. Great job!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Laurel!

[@richardherrington6060]

I am echoing others, but want to express appreciation for your analytical skill and ability to break stroke mechanics into bite size pieces. The videos are extremely helpful and well edited. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your kind words as this is exactly what I am striving to achieve. Comments like these are validating. :)

[@anitawelles7889]

Your explanations and demonstrations are so excellent! Thanks, Nicole for being so thorough in the backhand instructions.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Anita! Glad it helped.

[@PNWTheresa]

Great demonstration, can’t wait to work on at wallboard and put into action.

[@markgreenquist2477]

This is great. I hope you do more of these technique videos in the future.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Mark!

[@plumbedout7282]

Nicole, you're the best. Great info on strokes, drills, paddle angles and drills. Definitely will need to watch several times. Thanks

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked the video. Yes, lots to unpack in this one.

[@stevebrewer3324]

Nicole...This is an excellent video. Thanks for sharing. The orange visual will be particularly good for beginners.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Steve! That orange analogy does seem to make sense to people which is good.

[@StrongMindandBody]

Recently rewatched this video--and now it is even better--thanks so much for great quality coaching!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Great to hear!

[@toms9864]

Excellent descriptions and pointers. Thank you

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Tom! Happy to help.

[@alangoudie2299]

Thank you for a very clear helpful video.

[@primetimepickleball]

You're welcome!

[@DadOf5Kids]

Nicole, you’re an excellent teacher and communicator.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks so much! I work hard to be clear, I'm glad it comes through.

[@bryandbaker]

Nice work. Good production value (a TON of work). Thanks. 😎

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Bryan! It sure is...worth it if it's helpful, which it seems to be ;). I appreciate that you realize that. You must have been or are involved with film work.

[@terraXR]

Really liked the emphasis on footwork. When I was a junior my tennis coach encouraged the big shoulder turn by having me imagine the the butt cap was the front end of a flashlight. He'd always say "point the flashlight at the ball".

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks! footwork is often overlooked but is SO important.

[@madmax6654]

@@primetimepickleball quick question what kind of paddle are you using ? Ty

[@chrisgunn9674]

That was fantastic..thank you so much! My wife and I are both inspired now to get to work and hopefully develop some skills!

[@primetimepickleball]

Awesome!!

[@vitoberlingeri1879]

Nicely done Nicole, I need to work on my BH to be like yours!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you!

[@guittadabe5214]

I love this vide and I will be going later today for my first such practice. I'm a bit concerned as I don't have an idea at what point in the point I should change my grip, and how I should make that change (from Continental to Eastern and back...). Could you help with this please? Thanks so much!

[@primetimepickleball]

Great question. At the net, you’ll hold a continental grip in your ready position, typically. Should you see a shot you want to use an Eastern BH grip on you will change the grip immediately upon recognition, so before your turn or right during the very start of your turn. At the baseline, most hold in an Eastern FH or continental grip and again, if you are going to hit a driving BH then change to you Eastern BH grip immediately upon initiation of the turn. Hope that helps!

[@darlenevendegna2001]

backhand slice hit it like your stripping the peel....that is an AWESOME way to describe it. Thanks a million!

[@primetimepickleball]

😎 Glad you like it!

[@terricharlton1814]

Thanks Nicole. Good video. I had a very good backhand in tennis and as a result I always played on the backhand side of the court . Having the skills of tennis have really helped me in pickleball.

[@primetimepickleball]

Yes, tennis skills sure come in handy. :)

[@debraschwartz9048]

These drills are so helpful. I can’t wait to try these tomorrow!!!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you like them! Have fun!

[@someshsaxena8325]

Good video of the technique. Can you please create one for Forehand and lobs. I did notice that there was no reference to the kitchen in your video.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@rlprmp2001]

Great video and excellent explanation. Thank you for sharing.

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@arlettebyrne2314]

Your videos are the best for me! Thank you.

[@primetimepickleball]

Happy to hear that!

[@shawnstringham8094]

These are excellent tips. Explained so well. Great job! And Thank You😁

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Shawn! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@CaribSea]

Thanks for the instruction. What distance from the wall are you with each stroke?

[@primetimepickleball]

i'm about 15 to 20 feet back or so

[@B4inSF]

LOVE THAT HITTING WALL! Come on Goldman Tennis Center..in SF...MAKE ONE OF THESE!

[@primetimepickleball]

That would be cool!

[@t26403]

Thanks so much for the extremely helpful video. Your highlights of the details of a backhand in motion are fantastic. I am curious, at what height do you place your practice line knowing that the net differs from pole to center? Also, you mentioned top spin via a backhand? It would be great if you could produce slow-mo video of that. :)

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Eric! That line was already on the wall and I believe it was tennis height. If I were drawing it, I'd probably place it 34 or 35 inches since most of your shots are crossing at that height other than a pure down the line shot. Thanks for the feedback on the topspin slo mo.

[@davidflynt2305]

Thanks Nicole! I’ve been using a continental grip on my backhand drive, with issues. I will work on changing my grip to the eastern and give it a go, Thankyou, first time I’ve heard about two different backhand grips, depending on the shot used. Loving all your videos 👍

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you! Yes, changing grips can really help. Happy to help.

[@jimw6991]

​@@primetimepickleball Hi Nicole, it really looks like you are using a continental grip. I hit a eastern on my one handed topspin backhand for tennis, no issues. Same swing, same contact point in Pickelball and I am driving into the center of the net. At advice of local tennis pro who I play Pickelball with I switched to Continental grip and I am hitting over the net. For me I rarely get a high enough bounce like in tennis to take advantage of, if I have any hope of clearing net continental grip is a must for me. Skidders my opponents hit deep at me I find I have to hit a slice because I cannot get under the ball to hit topspin. Thoughts?

[@mikeswierbut9546]

Outstanding lesson.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Mike!

[@MitchMeyersonMusic]

Great video. Very helpful.

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad to hear it!

[@arieschick1]

Thank you. Backhand is my fave stroke

[@primetimepickleball]

Awesome!

[@kgabest]

Great video, learn a lot

[@primetimepickleball]

So happy to hear that. Thanks for the comment!

[@JJDunn-d9g]

Any chance you could do a video on the two handed backhand? Just got a new pebble from Crush that has a longer handle that was designed for the two handed shot

[@primetimepickleball]

I'll see what I can do.

[@jsrss]

Well done, thank you. I’m a tennis player and I see from your video that there are a lot of similarities. I think I will be able to pick up the basics of this sport quickly.

[@primetimepickleball]

Awesome! Yes, there's a lot of carry over for sure. You just have to adapt things. Tennis players usually have an advantage coming in to pickleball.

[@rupalpatel9301]

Very helpful, thanks

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@samanthakutcher4343]

Excellent tips ty

[@primetimepickleball]

You are so welcome!

[@billwolf6400]

Great Video. I have a question, about the grips. When I first came into Pickleball after playing tennis, I used the Eastern grip as you demonstrated on my backhand and a semi-western on my forehand. However I was told by many, including a current top 20 pro that I took lessons from that I should use the continental grip on all shots. Is changing grips something that is now being recommended? Thank You!

[@primetimepickleball]

From the baseline you can use different grips since you have much more time. When you’re closing in on the NVZ line then sticking at continental or close to continental on all shots is a good idea.

[@KennethMahar]

This will help me a bunch, because I avoid my back hand whenever possible. Now I will put this to good use.

[@primetimepickleball]

Awesome! glad to hear it.

[@kathymedlar]

Great instruction. In tennis I had time to change my grip...how does one change their grip in the fast paced game of pickleball???

[@primetimepickleball]

When you're at the baseline you should have enough time to do any grip changing you want most of the time. That's also true for slow shots in most areas of the court including dinking at the net. It's when you're in a fast paced battle at or near the net that you have to pick one and mostly stick with it for the duration of the time you're receiving past paced balls. Usually continental is the "go to" grip in that situation.

[@YT-User1013]

Yes, this is what I need to do but my neighbor took offense when I was using his garage door =:-) ... great exercises, thank you!

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you like them. Keep it up (on a different wall). lol!

[@joej9640]

Great video! Thank you so much.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Joe! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@gmont66g]

Wow! Absolutely fantastic video, 👏

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@inadaze2]

Dear Nicole, Can you make a corresponding video for wall drills for a forehand? I haven't got a tennis background and I have a shoulder that objects to hitting the ball to my side rather than in front of my hip . (thanks for pointing out that common error) but I need drills to make it come naturally. THANK YOU!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks for the feedback. There's a good chance a video like that will come out at some point. While it's in the works, you can do these same drills on the forehand side.

[@osint6372]

Nice video.....I need to find a wall to practice backhand in general....

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks! Wall work will go a long way. :)

[@osint6372]

@@primetimepickleball I am trying to find a way to hit more consistent voleys using backhand both down the line and cross court. I am a little inconsistent maybe because of my grip. Not sure how easy it would be to go from continental forehand to eastern backhand. My slice is fairly ok.

[@mikephillyfan]

Nicole, in the heat of the game, how do you find time to switch from the Eastern to the Continental grip when you want to go from a backhand drive to a backhand slice? Things happen so quickly with a fire-fight that I can’t even think about my grip. Thanks for all your help!

[@primetimepickleball]

You don't have time for grip much switching in firefights so find one that works for you there. Continental or edging towards eastern is good. The grip switching discussed here is on shots from the back court.

[@mrsdoubtfireism]

😊

[@mrsdoubtfireism]

😅

[@mrsdoubtfireism]

@@primetimepickleball o

[@sherrybopp3641]

Would like to know where we can purchase or how to make a wallboard like is in the video?

[@primetimepickleball]

Honestly, I'm not sure. This is a wall at a park. I've only ever used existing walls.

[@TheImano]

Perfect explanation.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Wong!

[@michael62renish]

Awesome video

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you!

[@gnarfish5555]

Love this!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Awesome! 😎

[@shargogo8876]

great video

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you!

[@paulmcdevitt2038]

I guess the big question is whether we should be changing grip throughout a game, during a point? I tend to use a slice return on my backhand, as it is an easier shot to play - especially if using a continental grip. But is there enough time to see the serve (or any shot for that matter) is coming to my backhand to change grip and deliver a top-spin shot?

[@primetimepickleball]

Often there is enough time and sometimes there's not. Pros are constantly making grip adjustments. Use a grip shift to your advantage when there's time.

[@charliebradford2629]

Great video. Produce more on full techniques.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@bobbithompson7569]

My goal! Thank you

[@primetimepickleball]

Great Bobbi! It's good to have goals...keep chipping away.

[@Pinetree282]

There is a wall where I sometimes play. But the ball seems to lose a lot of pace when it hits the wall (ie barely comes back). Maybe I’m just a weakling. Lol. I’ll try again while using your tips on how to get more power from proper body techniques. As a senior player, doing anything that ends up hurting my arm/shoulder/wrist isn’t worth it. Thanks!

[@primetimepickleball]

Hit it higher off the wall if you find it's not getting back to you. If you use your body/core more your shots it will take pressure of your arm/should/wrist.

[@joycestevens376]

Are you hitting the pickleball really hard during this practice? Thanks.

[@primetimepickleball]

It's coming off my paddle with a decent about of speed but it doesn't feel like I'm "hitting hard" because I'm using the big muscles in my body to hit the ball. It feels pretty relaxed. It is a drive so yes, I want some speed on it.

[@DGDancemonkey]

Thanks !

[@primetimepickleball]

Welcome!

[@zsisters194]

Where is that your hitting the ball? Those are 1 wall handball courts. My wife and I transitioned from 1 wall handball to pickleball and people are amazed by our hand eye coordination. Handball is an awesome sport!

[@primetimepickleball]

This wall is in Piedmont, CA

[@zsisters194]

Looks like an amazing place! Enjoy

[@postaudio]

Wow. Ty.

[@primetimepickleball]

😊

[@miatafunrun3078]

I use the basketball court walls at 24 hr fitness. They are concrete. If you want more bounce use the Onix indoor orange balls.

[@primetimepickleball]

Nice! way to get on the wall.

[@a.joseph4233]

Can't find a wallboard in my neighborhood...darn it...the health club i belong to has a soft wall surrounding the pickleball courts.

[@primetimepickleball]

Check schools

[@a.joseph4233]

@@primetimepickleball Okay.. thanks for helping.

[@karenbarker9158]

Love her.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thx!

[@redequal7457]

I love your videos, but this one has a big error in it. The grip for your drives is not and Eastern grip as you state. In this video you state that the index-finger knuckle is on 12 side for the Eastern grip. As you know, although, the Eastern grip is at the 3-o'clock edge.

[@primetimepickleball]

An eastern forehand grip is not the same as an eastern backhand grip. Here we describe an eastern backhand grip. I see how this could be a point of confusion but it is correct.

[@sLasHeRxXx07]

I thought backhands are done with continental grips

[@primetimepickleball]

You can do it out of continental but you can get more behind it by using the grip I show and get more out of the shot.

[@randyzeitman1354]

You like analytics so let me offer this ... the earlier you hit it, like at your belly button, the more topspin.

[@primetimepickleball]

Yes, if you get it at a higher point you can get under it more.

[@AnnMitt]

🥹 thank you for this video

[@primetimepickleball]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.