Mind Boggling Pickleball Concept: REVEALED

PPR CERTIFIED Coach, Joey Gmuer, lays out an innovative pickleball concept that JW Johnson may employ. Please leave comments...
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This channel is dedicated to all the gold seeking Pickleballers out there who dink responsibly and stay out of the kitchen. We have all levels come through the channel, but we concentrate on the 4.0, 4.5 and up to 5.5 with the pros.
I started this channel quite by accident, I was recording my games to do film study and get better. I did not have time or money for lessons from pro pickleball coach, so I started watching all my screwups. People that I was playing with started to ask if they could watch too and I said sure. That helped all of us a lot to improve our game, strategy, mental toughness, and techniques. Now we have new pickleball videos published several times a week. We occasionally have pro pickleball players on the channel. Mostly its non pro pickleball players on their quest to 5.0 pickleball. We have all levels come through the channel, but we concentrate on the 4.0 pickleball, 4.5 pickleball and up to 5.5 pickleball with the pros.
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[@markmalthaner3761]

When I started playing, I was constantly told that the ready position is paddle in front of you chest perpendicular to your body. But I learned over 20 years of baseball that it is a lot easier to come up on a ball than go down. My guess is that he is in a position that is natural for him and not over-coached.

[@lilirobin7136]

I love watching JW play. He does keep his paddle low and I think he does it so his opponents don't see his paddle. He has fast reaction.

[@Riker-ER]

He makes it look sooooo easy👍Good info 👏

[@nadzoll]

Yes! He is the only player with this technique, and I've great to see someone analyze him finally. I'll have to watch Jorja closely to see how similar she is.

[@Vanessa-pe2xs]

Joey, I as so distracted by the fact that you had the gall to stand on a tennis court with NO pickleball lines, I could hardly focus on what you were saying in the video. Haha

[@scottprintz6600]

He looks so relaxed and the fact he isn’t in a constant 1/2 squat position would be easier on the knees.

[@romanhernz3839]

I believe what you are saying makes sense next time I'm the courts will try it. Also your arm gets less tired and the moves from low to high are faster. Thanks for the video

[@joncare8083]

Joey, I'm 71 right-handed with a bad left hip. I lose some mobility moving to my left. I'm probably a good 3.5. I can't play tourneys to know for sure because of heart meds. LOL...what am I doing playing pickleball? Well, like all of us, I love it. I play the low-hand position when my opponent is fielding a dink that is cross-court. As my mobility is limited, having the paddle in a low-hand position helps me get in a paddle-ready position quicker and smoother than starting from a paddle-up position. I agree with your assessment of hitting topspin from the position. I have a good topspin backhand---as long as I'm not aggressive from the lowball striking position. Otherwise, my hands are not quick enough to defend a frontal attack with a paddle low or to cover the middle gap on a cross-court drive unless my partner has an exceptional backhand block (or is left-handed).

[@eduardosantini5733]

Not sure if I agree as well. Unless you’re a super quick player people will naturally be targeting your backhand. Only setting yourself up to be slower to the ball

[@carlhillier2301]

I agree that JW has a different style and is very gifted. Players that can play outside the normal technical guidelines of stroke production are few and far between. That's partly what makes them special and unique. Monica Seles was a former world number 1 and could hit the ball 100 mph and put it on a dime. She was unique because she used 2 hands on both wings. Like JW she had a different way of hitting the ball and they are both great players in their respective sport. But that works for them, it doesn't necessarily mean you throw conformity out the window to chase the latest fad or flavor of the month. I think JW is a special player but his style may not be for the rest of us. Have a great 🙂

[@MamaKnowsBest2023]

This is a great video, thank you for caring about other pickleball players. I will be sure to text you in the morning.

[@1Parchman]

"Ape arm hang" ready position better for me because: 1. Easier to control kitchen dinks because you dont have to lower the arms( just mirror the ball). 2.ape hang allows a more upright stance which helps you de-weight your feet for movements like a stepback 3.ape hang position may actually allow a quicker volley attack on a popup by using a roll up volley than a punch volley from the traditional ready position

[@flpickleballpractice]

He’s so fast he looks slow. He’s seeing the ball so quickly. He is a good example of a guy playing loose, calm, out of his mind, all self one.

[@crownator]

Yes, "The Inner Game of Pickleball"! 😅

[@ikeyslice]

I tried using his grip and position. Position works fine, but the grip (cupping style) is tough. I kept popping the ball up. Feels natural on the forehand side, on the backhand side I’m having trouble adjusting. Thanks for the vid.

[@orlandos145]

He is always ready to drop that ball in the right spot.

[@1Parchman]

I use the ape hang ready position at the kitchen, but not on drives or resets.

[@sheber123]

Racquet down is probably a good ready position because for the dinks he's right there, and counter attacks typically require a rolling down to up to down motion to generate power.

[@dominionn09]

It looks like he kind of cups his wrist rotates it forward instead of backward. It look like you were sort of making your wrist go backward

[@joeygmuer369]

I actually completely agree with you - Joey

[@dominionn09]

@@joeygmuer369 🤣

[@brianporter2806]

Very intriguing concept. I think this would only work if you have a really developed sense for the court and what dinks are attackable and what once aren't. If you see and know they don't have an attackable ball, then it does give you an advantage. I think you'd also need a lot of trust in your partner not to pop that ball too high, especially coming cross court. That's when you might get body bagged pretty quickly. I remember a previous video where the pro was suggesting staying more in the backhand ready position to be ready for the speed up. Maybe some combination of the two.

[@doc-bj4bj]

Joey, I appreciate that you are trying to show new and innovative strategies. There are too many videos already for the commons techniques. JW dinking strategy is so different. I think he is on to something. Most dinks are to the feet so getting the paddle there from the start for speed and make sure you hit below the ball. It also keeps the arm and wrist loose. Hanging arm keeps elbow from bending and creating another variable for errors.

[@kenlocke9806]

Joey, when I looked closely at how Johnson holds his paddle, I noticed that he holds it at the very end of the handle. The butt of the handle is almost in his palm, and he does not extend his forefinger up the handle like you do. This affords him a great deal of flexibility with his wrist and gives him the snap in his shots. Most beginners would not be able to control the paddle holding it like Johnson does. So if you have the skill, you can creat the great shots.

[@TheGrandMarketLine]

It’s also worth noting that he is a left sided player. I feel on the right side your paddle has to be up to slide and protect yourself with the back hand. I will try this on the left side. Definitely is interesting. Thanks for the content.

[@ThePickleballPirates]

Good point!

[@iagreewithyou112]

He does the same on the right side too though

[@godgunsandgoldens]

J.W. Johnson is not a good example of proper form or position. The best in the game break a lot of rules because they are gifted. I think you should always expect a speed up at the NVZ so keeping paddle at higher position makes most sense for most players.

[@claycc79]

Most people will get body bagged on speed ups, with their hands as low as JW. He is really really quick...bad idea to do this technique for most people. No one and I mean no other pro has their hands down at the net.

[@ThePickleballPirates]

Look at Matt Wright, Dekel Bar, Ben Johns (sometimes), there are others too.

[@lizlemon9632]

Agree

[@braddaddis371]

None of them have their hand as low and straight down as J.W.

[@braddaddis371]

And, I guarantee that none of the above mentioned would teach someone to keep their hand down.

[@jonathannyquist582]

What grip is J W using?

[@brianbanks3044]

pickleball teachers and coaches all over the world are cringing as JW holds the paddle low and not in front of his chest....it's probably one of those techniques that only a few can get away with doing but it will be interesting to see if it multiplies in the pickleball approach at the net

[@pjpj2639]

Your on the right track….his paddle height is common….what I hear is being relaxed with paddle in that position you can protect with backhand AND forehand ….more importantly if it is much higher than where his paddle is it’s going out….more concerned with things by your feet. Dinking yes wrist…..Dillon has a great cross court forehand dink ( no paddle movement , freezes opponent,) holding paddle on the ball in general freezes your opponent. My humble opinion

[@johnmclou]

Commenting because concept😂

[@braddaddis371]

I think it works for JW and it may work for others at his level (although he is the only one doing it to that extreme). But, for 95% of the viewers here, I think you’re asking to get bagged. Also, this is all good if you’re assuming people aren’t popping up any of their dinks or allowing their own dinks to land in the yellow zone where people can attack them. As a side note, JW does have more missed dinks than guys like Ben, Collin and quite a few others. I mean Dylan doesn’t do it and you’d think that If it were that effective and universal for all, then of all people Dylan would be on board. So, it’s tough not to be skeptical. I’ve seen Travis R do some dinks and drops like this, but certainly not everytime. I think it’s a style that can work for some, but not for most. Everyone develops their own sort of style, even if JW’s is more extreme. But, I could be wrong as well. Time will tell.

[@braddaddis371]

Side note: he doesn’t Bend his legs much and keeps his posture up ready for firefights. This will not work for most. I’d say 5.0’s and up can experiment and would still likely go back to what they are currently doing. Imo

[@shelkatz]

Are you wearing an ankle bracelet?

[@ThePickleballPirates]

Yes... 2 more months house arrest 😂😂 😂 just joking... Partially torn meniscus... Device helps not swell - Joey

[@gg80108]

Your partner has to be able to keep the ball down.