How to Improve Backhand Shots in Pickleball

Mastering Your Backhand: Actionable Ways to Improve Backhand Pickleball Tips

Oh, the backhand! For many pickleball players, myself included, it can feel like a riddle wrapped in an enigma, hit with a paddle. We’ve all been there: a ball comes to our non-dominant side, and suddenly our confidence wavers. We might offer up a weak dink, a sky-high pop-up, or just plain miss it. But I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way! Over my years playing pickleball, I’ve seen my backhand go from a liability to a reliable weapon, and I’m excited to share all the ways you can improve backhand pickleball tips I’ve picked up along the way.

I remember when I first started playing, my backhand was purely for survival. I would twist my body into all sorts of awkward positions just to hit a forehand, often resulting in slow returns or even missed shots. It felt like a weakness opponents loved to target. But through consistent practice and a bit of study, I started to understand the mechanics and strategy behind a good backhand. These improvements didn’t happen overnight, but each small step built towards a much stronger overall game. My hope is that by sharing my journey and the things that truly helped me, you’ll feel empowered to strengthen your own backhand returns. Let’s make that backhand something you’re proud of!

Grip It Right: Finding Your Backhand Hold

The first step to a consistent backhand, and a key piece of advice among improve backhand pickleball tips, starts with your grip. Many players, myself included when I began, use a grip that feels natural for a forehand and just try to make it work for a backhand. This often leads to wrist instability and a lack of power. There are a couple of common grips that players use, and I’ve tried both.

• The Continental Grip: This is often called the “handshake” grip. Imagine shaking hands with your paddle. For a right-handed player, your index finger knuckle and the heel of your hand should be on the top bevel of the paddle handle. I found this grip excellent for volleys, dinks, and slices, as it allows for easy paddle face manipulation without changing your grip. It helps maintain a firm wrist and gives a solid feel for touch shots. While it feels a bit odd for power shots at first, with practice, it provides great control.
• The Eastern Backhand Grip: For me, this grip felt more natural for powerful backhands, similar to how tennis players hit their backhands. To find it, start with a continental grip and rotate your hand slightly counter-clockwise (for a righty) so your index finger knuckle moves more towards the top-left bevel of the handle. This allows for more topspin and drive potential. I often switch between a Continental for quick net exchanges and an Eastern for groundstrokes when I have a bit more time. It’s a subtle adjustment, but it makes a big difference in what kind of shot I can hit.

My recommendation? Experiment! I spent time hitting balls with both grips to see what felt most comfortable and effective for different shots. Consistency in your grip is vital for consistent shots, so once you find what works, stick with it and build that muscle memory. It’s one of the most fundamental improve backhand pickleball tips you’ll receive.

Footwork and Stance: Getting to the Ball

A great backhand isn’t just about what you do with your arm; it’s heavily dependent on how you position your body. Good footwork is paramount. I can’t stress this enough: getting to the ball in the right position sets up everything else. Far too often, I see players (and used to be one of them!) reaching for backhands, which leads to weak, uncontrolled shots.

When I see a backhand coming, my first thought is to move my feet. I use small, quick shuffle steps to get behind the ball, creating space. Here are my favorite tips for footwork and stance:

• Open Stance vs. Closed Stance: For backhand groundstrokes, I find a semi-open or closed stance works best. A closed stance means your non-dominant shoulder (left shoulder for a right-hander) is pointing towards the net, and your feet are perpendicular to the net. This allows for a great coil and uncoil, generating power. An open stance means your chest is facing the net, which I find useful for quick volleys at the net or when I’m stretched wide. For most groundstrokes, I aim for a closed or semi-closed stance to put my body into the shot.
• Get Low: This is a constant reminder for myself. Many pickleball balls are hit low, so bending your knees and getting down to the ball’s level is crucial. It helps you get under the ball for lifts or maintain a flat trajectory for drives. I literally tell myself, “knees bent!” before every rally.
• Early Preparation: As soon as I recognize the ball is coming to my backhand, I start moving my feet and taking my paddle back. This early preparation gives me time to adjust my position, load my body, and choose the correct shot. Hesitation kills backhands.

Developing quick, precise footwork takes practice, but it’s an investment that pays off across your entire game, not just your backhand. It truly belongs at the top of any list of improve backhand pickleball tips.

Paddle Preparation and Contact Point: The Moment of Truth

Once you’re in position, the next critical phase is your paddle preparation and, most crucially, where you make contact with the ball. These steps determine the quality and direction of your shot.

• Paddle Back Early: I always try to take my paddle back early and keep it simple. For backhand groundstrokes, I usually pull my paddle back to about my non-dominant hip or even further back, creating a nice, long swing path. For volleys, the backswing is much shorter, more of a compact block. The key is to avoid a big, looping backswing that makes timing difficult. My mantra is “short backswing, long follow-through.”
• Contact Point Out Front: This is one of the most game-changing improve backhand pickleball tips I ever learned. You want to hit the ball out in front of your body, not beside it or behind it. Hitting out front allows you to generate power, control the direction, and keep your arm extended through the shot. If I hit the ball too close to my body, I feel cramped and lose power. If I hit it too late, my shot usually goes wide or into the net. I visualize hitting the ball about a foot or so in front of my lead foot.
• Watch the Ball: This sounds obvious, but in the heat of a rally, it’s easy to lift your head or focus on where you want the ball to go before you’ve even hit it. I try to keep my eyes glued to the ball until it’s well off my paddle face. This focus helps with precise contact.

Getting these elements right – early paddle back and consistent contact out front – will dramatically improve the power and accuracy of your backhand shots.

The Follow-Through: Finishing Strong

Many players forget the importance of the follow-through, but I consider it a vital component for control and power. It’s the natural extension of your swing and prevents “chicken-winging” the ball.

For a backhand drive, I like to follow through across my body, almost as if I’m pointing my paddle where I want the ball to go. My paddle often ends up near my opposite shoulder. This long, smooth follow-through helps keep the ball on a consistent trajectory and adds power. For backhand dinks or slices, the follow-through is much shorter and more controlled, usually just extending towards the net target, perhaps even with a slight upward brush for a dink or downward for a slice.

I found that focusing on a complete follow-through made my backhand much more consistent and prevented those frustrating shanks. It ties everything together, from your grip and footwork to your contact, making it a critical aspect of any plan to improve backhand pickleball tips.

Drills to Sharpen Your Backhand

Knowledge without practice is just potential. To truly implement these improve backhand pickleball tips, you need to drill. Here are some drills that have worked wonders for me:

1. Wall Drills: This is my go-to solo practice. I stand about 7-10 feet from a wall and just hit backhands. I focus on consistent contact, keeping the ball in play, and practicing different types of backhands – drives, dinks, slices. It builds muscle memory without needing a partner. I particularly like to practice continuous backhand dinks against the wall, aiming for a consistent height and depth.
2. Partner Backhand Dinking: With a partner at the non-volley zone line, only hit backhand dinks. Focus on consistency, keeping the ball low over the net, and landing it softly in the kitchen. I try to hit cross-court backhand dinks to make it more challenging and replicate game situations.
3. Backhand Groundstroke Rally: Stand at the baseline with a partner and hit backhand groundstrokes back and forth. Focus on depth, power, and keeping the ball in play. Vary the pace and try to hit to different parts of the court. My partner and I sometimes make a game out of it, trying to keep the ball within the singles lines.
4. Coach-Fed Backhands (or ball machine): If you have access to a coach or a ball machine, this is excellent. Have them feed balls specifically to your backhand side, varying depth and pace. This allows you to focus purely on your technique without worrying about where the ball is coming from next.
5. Cross-Court Backhand Drives: One of my favorite strategic shots is a cross-court backhand drive. Practice hitting these with a partner, aiming for the opponent’s backhand corner. This works on power, accuracy, and strategic placement.

I try to dedicate at least 15-20 minutes of each practice session solely to backhand drills. The repetition really pays off.

Mental Game and Strategy: Using Your Backhand Wisely

It’s not just about hitting the ball well; it’s about thinking smart. As my backhand improved, so did my confidence to use it strategically. This mental aspect is a valuable addition to your arsenal of improve backhand pickleball tips.

• Don’t Fear It: The biggest hurdle for me was psychological. I used to dread backhand shots. Now, I see them as an opportunity. A positive mindset makes a huge difference. I tell myself, “I’ve practiced this, I can hit this.”
• Target Weaknesses: Once my backhand became reliable, I started using it to target opponents who had weaker backhands than mine. A well-placed backhand drive to their backhand can force an error or a weak return that I can then attack.
• Mix It Up: Don’t just hit the same backhand shot every time. I vary between drives, dinks, and slices. A sudden backhand dink after a few strong backhand drives can really throw off an opponent’s rhythm.
• Consistency Over Power: Especially at first, prioritize getting the ball in play over trying to hit a winner. A consistent backhand that keeps the rally going is far more valuable than a powerful one that goes out. The power will come with good technique.

A strong backhand gives you options, and options give you control over the rally. It’s truly empowering when you feel you can handle any ball that comes your way.

Gear Up: Equipment Considerations for Your Backhand

While gear won’t magically give you a perfect backhand, the right equipment can certainly make a difference and support your efforts to improve backhand pickleball tips. Here’s what I consider:

• Paddle Weight: A lighter paddle (7.0-7.7 oz) might allow for quicker paddle speed and wrist action, which can be helpful for backhand dinks and volleys. A heavier paddle (7.8 oz+) can provide more power and stability for groundstrokes, but might feel slower at the net. I generally prefer a mid-weight paddle, around 7.8-8.0 oz, which offers a good balance for both power and touch.
• Grip Size: This is very important. A grip that’s too small might cause you to grip too tightly, leading to arm fatigue and less control. One that’s too large can hinder wrist snap and paddle manipulation. I found that a grip that allows my index finger to just barely touch my palm when wrapped around the handle feels just right. You can always add an overgrip to increase the size slightly.
• Paddle Face Material: A rougher, textured paddle face can help impart spin (topspin or slice) on your backhand, giving you more control over ball trajectory. I’ve experimented with different carbon fiber and composite surfaces and found that a bit of texture definitely helps me get more bite on the ball, particularly for backhand slices.

Don’t be afraid to try out different paddles if you get the chance. What feels right for one player might not for another. Your paddle is an extension of your arm, so finding one that complements your style can be a real asset.

Continuous Growth: Never Stop Learning

Improving your backhand is a journey, not a destination. Even after years of playing, I still find myself tweaking my technique and learning new ways to approach backhand shots. These improve backhand pickleball tips are just the beginning!

Keep playing, keep practicing your drills, and don’t be afraid to watch professional pickleball players to see how they handle their backhands. Consider taking a lesson from a certified pickleball instructor; an outside perspective can often spot flaws you might miss. Most importantly, remember to have fun. Pickleball is a game we love, and the process of getting better should be enjoyable. Keep that enthusiasm high, and your backhand – and your entire game – will undoubtedly grow stronger.