Pickleball Skills! Do You Have This Shot In Your Bag Of Tricks? Learn By Watching Others!

[@CWK090]

Rory, Good video. At about 2:00 remaining, you say the guy with white shorts return of serve is too shallow allowing his opponent to hit it hard at him which caused him to hit it into the net. IMO, his first mistake was focusing on running to the kitchen line and not (when he sees his opponent is about to hit the ball) stopping short, split step and in balance ready for whatever shot comes at him. His second mistake was swinging at a ball hit hard at him from a very short distance. With limited time to react it is easier to consistently control the angle of the paddle face and the direction of travel of the ball with a block or a punch. When his opponent swings that hard, he will be off balance and not ready when the ball comes right back at him, preferably at his non-dominant side.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Those are all excellent points. Thanks so much for taking the time to explain. You did a better job than I did. I appreciate you watching.

[@nchambers007]

Variations of this inverted forehand are frequently used by Shellton Jean Baptiste who was a Top 50 Pro about 2 years ago. It's called The Unicorn. It comes from his former volleyball days ... he turns the "dig" position into an offensive shot. The paddle goes to the backhand side but the face is inverted to open it into a forehand. The way this particular player does it on the video here, he sets up all his footwork and body position to show a pass down the line, then tucks his elbow way into his body at the last split second to change the angle to go middle.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That's a really good description. Thanks. I'm not sure it's worth learning. I probably would hardly ever use it. Can you hit it?

[@AnnMitt]

Appreciate your analysis so very much! Thank you!!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@lr2696]

Definitely the Kyle Yates shot on display. I do a similar shot but instead of min-drive up the middle, I’ll do a reverse dunk to the left. Shea Underwood has a KZbin tutorial on it.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I've had that shot hit against me. I think the ball is going one way and it goes the other. Thanks for watching.

[@picklerun361]

Excellent match! Just love those shots that leave people thinking WTH????

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes. It had me scratching my head. Thanks for watching.

[@brianlane9534]

The double Lindy

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes. Thanks for watching.

[@daveharter6469]

great shot. I've never seen it live. there is a guy named Tanner Teacher on KZbin who teaches this shot.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I think it's a cool shot. I think it's difficult to pull off. I think I'd be wasting my timr trying to master it. And then, I'd end up hardly ever hitting it. Thanks for watching.

[@chenzocosimo3250]

Would that shot border on being considered a “carry” and thus now illegal?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

A carry is if it rode up the paddle. I don't think it does. Thanks for watching.

[@kolbybixler7574]

Hello, Rory, We played at a park in Mobile, If you record nearby, I would love to be a player in one of your analyses because of my unique play. Thanks! -Kolby.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I'd like to see it! I don't record the matches. Players post them on KZbin and I just take them off of KZbin. So, if you have a KZbin channel, I'll be happy to evaluate one of your games. I'll try to make it to Mobile one day. Where do you play?

[@jaimetarne9436]

Off topic, but I really dont get the paddle tap after every single shot, win or lose the point. It just seems senseless to me and doesnt really signify anything. Of course just my opinion and i will most likely get roasted for it.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I don't think you'll get roasted for it. I don't get it either when players tap their paddles after making a very poor shot. Thanks for watching.

[@tanthony3895]

Rory that is literally a gimmick shot. There really is nothing special about that other than him contorting his hand for no good reason other than showboating. I find it actually quite lame.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I get it. I doubt if he uses it very often. I just thought it was kind of cool. Thanks for watching.

[@DaddyDinksAllDay]

Is this a rec game? That makes a huge difference on performance.