Let's Go For A Spin

Spins and/or slices can be valuable offensive weapons in your pickleball toolbox. If you can impart significant movement on a ball, it will move through the air less predictably and when it bounces the spinning and the floor material will encourage further weird behavior. It will truly live out its destiny as a whiffle ball.

All the movement in these shots can throw off the timing for the receiver, and the result is that when the paddle contacts the ball, it will often be somewhere outside the sweet spot, typically resulting in a collision with the net.

If you are on the receiving end of these shots, you can learn to adjust your positioning and timing a bit, giving you a better chance at successfully returning the ball. I find that hitting it a little harder and a little higher works effectively in overcoming the spin.

Since it is fairly easy to learn to handle an incoming spin or slice, I don't recommend that you constantly use these shots. One in five to ten shots would probably be enough to be a surprise. As always, a well placed low, hard shot is likely to be the best option.

Also, if you haven't reached the 3.5-4.0 level yet, I would suggest that your time would be much better spent on improving your patience and control. Once you are consistent and confident with your drives, then adding spin and/or slice is a fairly easy adjustment. Build the foundation first - spins and slices are optional addons at best.

In all my years of playing pickleball, I don't remember ever being intimidated by spins or slices. You may win the occasional rally on a spin of some sort, but it is not going to bump you up a level overnight. It is more like another tool in the box that may or may not be worth the effort. Your call.

See you on the courts!

Michael Gauthier
Rally Academy
Pickleball Strokes