KEVIN J. FACEBOOK BLOG DISCUSSION: FOREHAND STROKE ARCHIVED

KEVIN J:  FACEBOOK PICKLEBALL BLOG CROUP ARCHIVED DISCUSSION TOPIC #2, STROKE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTS LEARNING THE LOGICAL SEQUENCE OF OCCURRENCE “CONTINUED”.


"Kevin J. requested a  In depth discussion of mechanics of forehand and backhand groundstroke, and common issues in how to teach them. I suspect that there are others like me who learned by simply walking out on the court and hitting some balls without clear knowledge of what the groundstrokes should be. As in backswing direction, swing direction, paddle relation to hand, foot placement. I'd be very happy to see that laid out in one place.Things I see online tend to be a collection of tips with no common underlying and unifying structure. And then, how do you take a person to learn the forehand groundstroke."

 Before we begin to discuss stroke development we need to define some frequently used and often misconstrued terminology: 
  • Strokes” are movements a player performs to hit a pickle ball.
  • A “shot” is what happens as a result of a stroke.
  • A “swing” is one of the movements of a stroke.

The Stroke Development Mechanics of the Forehand Stroke. 

PART # 1: THE GRIP 
  • -The fundamental mechanics of a stroke are the movements that a player performs to hit a pickle ball.
  • -Mastering and applying  these mechanics will take you to the 5.0 level.
  • Many players who stall or plateau at lower remain there because of of poor stroke mechanics. 
  • -These components occur and are taught in a logical sequence in the stroke.
  • - The first component is a proper grip.
  • ~An incorrect grip can hinder stroke improvement when practicing stroke correction,
  • ~Avoid a vice grip use a relaxed yet firm grip will help you “feel the ball on the paddle.”
  • -Many unforced errors occur from tight death grips that lock the paddle face in a tilted position.
  • -Whatever way the face is tilted, so goes the ball.
  • -A common question is, "\why does my serve go left or right instead of straight.
  • -Answer, gripping your paddle too tight, Locking in an angle on the face, and ball will travel in direction of tilt.
  • -I tell my coaching clients to hold the paddle handle with the same relaxed light grip that you would use to hold an uncooked egg in a shell.
  • -Your pickleball paddle handle can affect your grip if you choose the wrong circumference size.
  • -The Pickleball Paddle Grip is one of two of the most important considerations when selecting the right paddle.
  • -Paddle weight is the second.
  • -Paddle grip circumference varies with make and model.
  • - Most grips are 4 1/4 to 5" circumference.
  • -This includes the rubber like material that is wrapped around the handle.
  • -Tip and Trick.
  • -Paddle Makers make large grips for large hands and small grips for small hands.
  • -Many reliable sources tell you that the smaller the grip circumference the better the touch and feel of the paddle on the ball.
  • -This is key to good ball control and ball placement.
  • -Smaller grip circumference allows for a looser relaxed grip.
  • -Paddle makers advertise their paddle grip circumference.
  • -If you find that a 4" grip circumference is better suited to you than a 4.5+ grip, you do not have to buy another paddle.
  • -Just ask the salesperson for pickleball paddle replacement wrap that reduces you girp circumference by one size.
  • -Follow the easy directions on the package and install the new wrap. If you have problems feel free to contact me.
  • -I plan on doing a Discussion Topic or Grip Replacement Wrapping and Paddle balancing.
Back to the "Grip"

The “continental grip is preferred pickle ball grip. It came from Tennis, aka the hammer grip.
-To properly apply the Continental grip, pick up your paddle by the handle in the same way you’d pick up a hammer to install a nail (using the edge of the paddle as the hammerhead).
-To check your grip, look to see if a “V” shape is made with your thumb and pointer finger.
-This “V” should be in the middle of the top edge of the paddle.
-If you have problems visualizing the "grip" go to youtube and watch one of the pickleball how to grip the paddle videos using the Continental Grip.
-The next discussion on stroke development components will address the "ready position" and an explanation of a commonly used pickleball teaching term called, "muscle memory."


PART 2: THE READY POSITION AND FOREHAND STROKE DEVELOPMENT
  • Use READY POSITION as recovery position after every shot to quickly react  to opponents next shot.
  • READY POSITION ~ hold paddle chest high and way out in front of you. Feet are shoulder width apart with your weight on the balls of your feet.
  • Moving from baseline toward NVZ keep paddle should be up Ready Position.
  • When opponent initiates contact with ball, SPLIT STEP your feet, shifting weight to balls of feet in a balanced stable position ready to return ball.
    Last time, we identified and explained the the first component of the forehand stroke is the proper Grip. The continental grip is the preferred grip as it eliminates switching between forehand and backhand grips. The Continental Grip is like gripping a hammer to drive a nail. There should be a “v” formed between the thumb and first finger atop the handle.
     Avoid a vice grip on the paddle, having a relaxed yet firm grip will help you “feel the ball on the paddle.”
PART #3: PENDULUM SWING OF THE FOREHAND STROKE

The next component of the forehand stroke is a smooth and fluid “pendulum swing” initiated from the shoulder, which is  consistently used for all strokes.
  • The forehand stroke requires a shorter backswing than tennis and a good follow through, swing from low to high.
  • Minimize back swing, maximize follow-thru.
  • Footwork movement should be side to side shuffle step to move to ball. 
  • A cross step is used only when a ball is out of reach.
  • Proper body position for forehand stroke is to make contact with the ball out in front of you, and accelerate through contact.
  • During the forehand stroke your body should turn so your front shoulder is aimed at your target
  • The angle of the paddle face will determine the direction and height the ball will travel.
  • The forehand stroke is the preferred stroke for the return of serve because it produces fewer errors and usually is your strongest shot.
This concludes the Facebook blog group discussion of the forehand stroke.  Feel free to leave your comments, tips, suggestions, pro or con. 

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