Hey guys! I heard it’s backhand flick week for the newsletter and James thought it would be fun to get my perspective on it.
It’s one of the tougher shots in pickleball - especially coming from a tennis background where you don’t use your wrist quite the same. I’ll boil down my advice into three key points:
Tip #1 - Knee Bend / Lean
It’s super important to get low on the backhand flick for two main reasons. First, you’ll be able to better gauge the height of the ball the closer your eyes are to the net. This will help with shot selection. Secondly, bending and leaning in will allow you to get the ball as close to the peak as possible, and the higher you make contact the harder you can hit it.
Tip #2 - Spots to Attack
I’m sure some of you are familiar with the three common spots to hit your speed ups: middle, dominant shoulder, and chest. When choosing a spot you need to factor in where the ball is coming from, and how high the ball is. When an attackable ball comes from in front me, I usually prefer to hit it right at them or try to chicken wing them, because I don’t have to change the direction of the ball and can generate maximum power.
When the ball is coming from cross court, a lot of times I’ll take that flick towards the middle, because I only have to change the angle of the ball slightly compared to if I was to go in front of me. But don’t go middle when the ball is too low - that’s a recipe for disaster!
"But don't go middle when the ball is too low - that's a recipe for disaster!" – Hurricane Tyra Black
Tip #3 - Anticipation
Something often overlooked is being ready for the next shot after your speed up. As a rule of thumb I usually assume my opponent will be “late” on their counter, because if you hit the right spot on the right ball, you should be at an advantage.
For example, I’m I’m flicking the ball up through the middle from the left side, I’ll start to lean towards my forehand because the chances they will be early enough to get the ball back towards my backhand are low. Obviously this is super circumstantial and you have to be confident in your speed up to start thinking this way.
A High Level Paddle for A High Level Pro
In order for Tyra to play at the highest level she needs top of the line equipment. Her paddle, the HURRICANEPRO, allows her to consistently make tough shots including the backhand flicks. If you’re looking for a new paddle and want to play like Tyra, make sure to check it out!
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