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- Fix Your Timing | Handle Fast Shots | Hit Harder | Winter Indoor Clinics Now Open!
Fix Your Timing | Handle Fast Shots | Hit Harder | Winter Indoor Clinics Now Open!
Universal Rackets Weekly Pickleball Update: Coaching - News - Tips
Universal Rackets Weekly Update!
Let’s Talk About Your Pickleball Game…
🔑Takeaways
🕐 Fix Your Timing: Turn early, move your feet, and make contact out in front for cleaner, more accurate shots.
🧠 Handle Fast Shots: Let the ball meet your paddle, keep your elbow away, and shorten your swing as pace increases.
🎾 Drill of the Week: Master touch and timing with the Bounce & Catch, Air Toss, and Move Through Contact drills.
📈 Get DUPR Rated: Track your progress, find better matchups, and elevate your game with Coach David’s DUPR Clinics.
🥇 Win More Points: Focus on consistency before power — make your opponents beat you, don’t beat yourself.
🌙 Indoor Winter Programs Are Here: 15+ indoor clinic locations
💪 Lesson of the Week: Learn how to hit harder on every shot
I Feel Like My Timing Is Off… How Can I Fix?
The easiest way to develop proper timing in pickleball comes down to understanding when you make contact with the ball.
If you’ve followed our coaching for a while, you’ve heard us say it a million times: “Contact needs to be out if front.”
It’s simple to say, but tricky to apply. The real question is — how do you actually make that happen during your game?
Let’s break it down step-by-step 👇
#1 Identify and Turn Early
Before the ball even crosses the net, recognize whether you’ll hit a forehand or backhand.
From your ready position (which you should always be in when the ball isn’t on your paddle), turn your body and paddle early using two hands.
This ensures your paddle stays away from your body.
A common mistake is bringing the paddle too close — once that happens, you’ll never contact the ball at the right time.
➡️ Tip: Turn with both hands on the paddle to stay connected and prevent collapsing your swing.
#2 Coordinate Your Footwork
After turning, your paddle will already be in position — now move to the ball.
Load your weight to one side.
Step through and transfer your weight as the ball bounces.
Use your top hand to guide the paddle through contact out in front of your body.
This is where clean timing happens — smooth, balanced, and controlled.
🧠 Remember:
If your timing is off, your contact point will be too close to your body, and you’ll lose accuracy and control.
Stay relaxed, see the ball early, and focus on contact out in front — that’s where great timing begins.
🎯 How To Handle Fast Shots At Net
One simple fix + a strategy shift = confident blocking and clean defense.
A lot of players struggle with fast-paced shots at the net — and it usually comes down to this:
They’re trying to reach for the ball too late, causing them to get jammed, hit off-balance, or miss entirely.
Let’s break it down:
❌ What Most Players Do (and Why It Doesn’t Work):
The ball comes in hot, and they react by trying to chase it with their paddle.
By the time their paddle gets there, it’s too late. They’re jammed. They pop it up or miss it completely.
✅ The Fix: Let the Ball Meet the Paddle
Here’s the mindset shift:
Instead of your paddle meeting the ball, let the ball meet your paddle.
That means getting your paddle out in front early — even before the ball crosses the net.
This one move gives you:
✔️ More control
✔️ More time
✔️ Way fewer pop-ups
🏓 ONE SIMPLE TIP: KEEP YOUR ELBOW AWAY
Want to master this? Stick your paddle out and keep your elbow away from your body— that’s the sweet spot.
🧠 BONUS: The Rule of 10
When a ball is coming fast, don’t swing — just block.
Here’s how to gauge it:
• If the ball is a 9 (super fast), your swing should be a 1 (super short).
• If the ball is a 3 (slower than average), your swing can be a 7 (bigger).
The faster the ball, the smaller your swing.
Keep it compact, controlled, and calm — and you’ll start winning those fast-paced exchanges with ease.
Indoor November & December Winter Programs Are Here!
Universal Rackets is kicking off another exciting indoor season — now offering indoor programs at 15+ locations across PA and IL!
Whether you’re looking for:
✅ Adult or Youth Clinics
✅ Rating Clinics
✅ Ready Set Rackets (Toddler Pickleball & Tennis Programs)
✅ Round Robins
✅ Picklepaloozas
✅ …or just a great way to play —
We’ve got something for every pickleballer at every age and skill level.
Don’t wait — spots fill fast every winter!
Grab your paddle, invite your friends, and join us on court this season.
Drills of the Week: “Timing & Touch Series”
These three mini-drills will help you develop feel, control, and perfect timing for your 3rd shot drops and drives.
🎯 Drill #1 – Bounce & Catch
Drop the ball, let it bounce once, and catch it softly on your paddle face — try to keep it from bouncing again.
👉 Focus on touch and feel — this teaches the soft hands needed for a great 3rd shot drop.
💪 Drill #2 – Air Toss Control
Now toss the ball up in the air and catch it again softly on your paddle without letting it bounce.
👉 Relax your grip pressure to absorb the ball’s energy and improve control.
🏃♂️ Drill #3 – Bounce & Catch Movement
Now do the exact same motion as #1 however now you are going to move forward after each catch
👉 This adds timing and rhythm to your shot
Do each drill for 2–3 minutes
Stay smooth, stay relaxed, and you’ll feel instant improvement in your touch and timing! 🎾🔥
🗣️ Coach David Says: “It’s Time for YOU to Get a DUPR Rating!” Join A DUPR Rating Clinic With Coach David!
Whether you’re a weekend warrior, tournament junkie, or just someone who loves a good game of pickleball, Coach David has one message for you: it’s time to get DUPR rated. So… what’s the big deal with DUPR? The Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) is quickly becoming the gold standard for tracking your skill level. It’s trusted by pros, clubs, and leagues across the country—and now it’s your turn to jump in.
Coach David breaks it down:
• “DUPR helps you track progress.” Every match you play counts toward your rating. Win or lose, you’re building your profile.
• “No more guesswork.” Tired of wondering if you’re a 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0? DUPR does the math and gives you an accurate, updated skill rating.
• “Better matchups = better games.” With a DUPR rating, you’re more likely to play against others at your level—leading to more fun, more competition, and more improvement.
How to Get Rated:
We’re hosting DUPR Rating Clinics at select Universal Rackets locations. These events include: Live match play, Coaching and feedback from Universal Rackets pros, A verified DUPR rating within 24–48 hours, Tons of fun and community energy. So if you’ve been asking yourself, “What level am I really?”—Coach Dave has your answer: Get on the court. Get rated. Let’s play.
🎯 Instantly Win 2X More Points by Hitting Your Shots In
Here’s a simple truth that every pickleball player — at every level — needs to hear:
You will instantly win more points if you simply make more balls in the court.
If you hit the ball into the net or long, that’s 100% your opponent’s point.
But if you keep it in — even if it’s a high, attackable ball — your opponent still has to hit another shot. And guess what? They’ll often miss it.
Think about how many “easy” shots your opponents have missed when all you did was stay consistent.
The moral of the story:
✅ Make your opponents beat you — don’t beat yourself.
✅ Make them earn every point.
✅ Focus on consistency before power.
Next time you play, give yourself a challenge:
🎾 Hit five balls in before going for a winner.
🎾 Make five solid returns before trying to end the point.
If you can do this, you’ll instantly win twice as many points — no new paddle, no fancy spin serve, just smarter pickleball.
Program Spotlight: Lower Merion Evening Clinics
Looking to play after work? We’ve got you covered!
Universal Rackets is running multiple evening pickleball clinics across the Main Line — with start times as late as 7:45 PM.
👉 View upcoming sessions: www.MainLinePickleballClinics.com
Lesson of the Week: How To Hit Harder On EVERY SHOT
Thank you for reading and we can’t wait to see you on court!
-Universal Rackets