A New Twist on Your Game

Spin is the rotation you put on a ball with the paddle during a shot. It changes how the ball behaves in the air and on the bounce. In shots with spin, the ball curves, dips, or bounces in ways that make it very unpredictable, hence its tactical value.

There are three main types of spin in pickleball:

• Topspin: The ball rotates forward, dips fast, and bounces higher.
• Backspin or Slice: The ball rotates backward, floats longer, stays lower, and is more dangerous than it looks.
• Sidespin: The ball rotates to the side. With the right angle and amount of spin, the ball can curve a lot or a little and is usually impossible to anticipate.

Topspin aids in keeping fast shots in play and forces opponents into awkward returns.

Steps:

• Use a low-to-high swing path with your paddle face slightly closed.
• Brush up on the back of the ball instead of hitting through it flat.
• Generate spins from your shoulder and wrist, not just your arm.
• Follow through high and forward, ending above your shoulder, which is ideally where your contact point is.

Backspin is useful for dinks, drops, and defensive resets.

Steps:

• Use a high-to-low swing path with an open paddle face.
• Cut under the ball gently, brushing it with a slicing motion.
• Keep a loose grip and let the paddle do the work.
• Follow through low, keeping the shot soft and controlled.

Sidespin adds deception to serves, drops, and dinks.

Steps:

• Angle your paddle slightly to the side (left or right).
• Swing across the ball like you’re carving it.
• For a right-handed player:
  • Brush left to right for right-curving spin
  • Brush right to left for left-curving spin
• Use more sidespin near the kitchen for subtle effects, and on serves for maximum curve.

• Topspin: This is appropriate for groundstrokes that are for rallying situations, passing shots, and cross-court dinks. Mix in topspin and flat hits to keep the opponent guessing.
• Backspin: This is appropriate for drop shots, low defensive returns that stay close to the ground, and dinks that force your opponent to hit upward.
• Sidespin: Use this for your serves, for roll volleys that makes your opponent to hit an upward shot, and for angled dinks that bounces towards the outside of the court.

Mixing spin with depth, pace, and angles makes you unpredictable and hard to play against.

• Spin Wall Drill: Practice different spins against a wall, observing bounce and angle.
• Topspin Rally: Rally with a partner using only topspin drives.
• Backspin Dinks: Focus on soft, slicing dinks at the net.
• Serve Spin Challenge: Try serving with topspin, slice, and sidespin. See how each affects bounce.