3 Tips for Hitting the Pickleball Harder without Sacrificing Control

First thing’s first, master your dinks, third shots, and other control-based shots. Then, move onto adding power.

The thing about hitting the ball hard in pickleball is that it’s not always the right play. In fact, it usually isn’t. It’s why pickleball is such a leveling sport for all ages, genders, skill levels, etc. Essentially, it’s why we all love the game!

But there does come a time for a powerful pickleball shot. So here are three tips for developing a harder pickleball hit.

Tip #1: How to Find the Right Pickleball Paddle for Hitting the Ball Harder

Your paddle can make a difference here. Generally speaking, the heavier the paddle, the more power you’ll be able to hit the ball with. The lighter the paddle, the more control you’ll have. The most common paddles weigh around 7.5-8.5 oz. So if you’re not getting the power you want off your paddle, check the weight. And maybe consider a slightly heavier paddle closer to 9 oz. You don’t won’t to go overly heavy, though! Just an ounce difference can make a big impact when you’re playing multiple games. And heavy paddles can fatigue your arm.

The other thing you want to consider is to make sure your paddle is made of fiberglass or carbon fiber. These allow you to keep the weight of your paddle down while still offering a “pop” off the paddle. A honeycomb core is also a great thing to look into for your next paddle. Again, this innovative design helps generate maximum “pop” without the added weight.

Finally, you want to make sure your paddle has some grit on its surface. Run your hand along the face of your paddle. Smooth as butter? That’s not going to allow you to put spin on the ball very well. Which is vital to hitting the pickleball harder. You want that surface to feel like it’s slightly rough. Not like sand paper. Just enough grit to grip the ball slightly.

Speaking of spin…

Tip #2: Learn How to Put Top-spin on Your Pickleball Shots

Top-spin is when the ball rotates over itself. Creating top-spin is achieved by snapping your wrist up as you make contact with the pickleball. This helps drive the ball down with spin. That way, you can hit the ball harder, and the spin will force it down on the opponent’s side, so the ball doesn’t go too deep and out of bounds.

Start by doing this drill. Simply grab a few pickleballs and stand in the transition zone of the pickleball court. Bound a ball on your forehand side, slightly ahead of you. Sweep your paddle toward the ball as if you were hitting a normal forehand. But right as you make contact with the ball, quickly snap your wrist up. See how it feels. See where it lands. And then adjust. Rinse. Repeat.

You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll be able to get a feel for it. Soon, you’ll know how much power and how much spin to put on the ball for killer hits.

Tip #3: Know When to Hit the Pickleball Harder and When to Not

Final tip for you power-seekers today! Know when to use. You know the old saying. Say it with us. With great power, comes great responsibility. Same applies in pickleball. When you know when to use a little extra oomf, you’ll start putting away points in no time.

Here’s a good rule of thumb. If you’re at the kitchen line and your opponent plays a ball that pops up above the net (i.e., not bouncing down by your feet), that’s a great time to drive a powerful shot back. Another scenario is when you’re deep on your side of the court. Opponents might assume, since you’re back further, that your return may land closer to the net. So at the right moment, you can surprise them with a driving top-spin-heavy shot down the line.