If your backhand is weaker than your forehand, you’re not alone; this is the case for most pickleball players that results common backhand mistakes.
Let’s check out those mistakes and what you can do about them;
Mistake 1: Running Around the Backhand
A common scenario I see is players running around their backhands, choosing to hit with their forehand instead. While great footwork might allow some players to get away with this, most players are better off hitting the ball with their backhand.
Yes, it might end up in the net initially, but developing confidence in your backhand comes from practice. Stop avoiding it and start hitting it.
Mistake 2: Incorrect Paddle Path
The most common technical mistake is the path of the paddle during a backhand swing. Many players hinge their wrists, making the paddle parallel to the court.
As they swing forward from the elbow, the paddle face closes, preventing the ball from getting over the net. Instead, allow the tip of the paddle to drop and move it from low to high.
This trajectory helps the ball clear the net and avoid some of the common backhand mistakes.
Mistake 3: Not Watching the Ball
Right-handed players tend to be right-eye dominant, and left-handed players tend to be left-eye dominant.
This makes it easier to track the ball on the forehand side. Often, players look forward instead of following the ball into the paddle on their backhand.
If you find yourself clipping the ball around the edge of the paddle, you likely aren’t watching it closely enough.
You won’t actually see the ball hit the paddle because it moves too fast, but you should keep your head in a position as if you could. Watch the ball all the way into the paddle to avoid making backhand errors.
Improve Your Backhand
If you’re struggling with your backhand, put yourself on video and check if you’re making any of these backhand mistakes in pickleball.
Find more backhand tips here to improve your game.
For more detailed strategies and training, consider joining resources like the Better Pickleball Academy to refine your skills with expert guidance.
CJ Johnson
Hey there — I’m a professional three-sport athlete and coach who has spent my entire adult life earning a living from playing and coaching sports. Since I started coaching more than three decades ago, one thing has remained the same: My commitment to see students not as they are but as what they can become and to move heaven and earth to help them realize their untapped potential. You should know that when it comes to helping pickleball players over 50 live their best lives on and off the courts, I'm an expert. Good pickleball is not just technique; it's the mind and body working holistically. That's why I'm also a personal trainer and weight management specialist. When I’m chillin', you'll find me watching Star Trek with my husband John and our two fur babies, Shirley and Ralph. (Yes, Happy Days)