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1 Easy Fix To Block Back Fast Shots

Most players struggle with hard, fast shots for one reason. They are trying to get their paddle to the ball instead of letting the ball come to their paddle. That one difference is everything.

Here is what the mistake looks like. You are up at the kitchen, a hard shot is coming, and while the ball is traveling you are reaching, scrambling, getting your paddle out late. By the time it arrives you are jammed, out of position, and just trying to survive the point.

Here is what the fix looks like. As soon as you recognize a hard shot coming, stick your paddle out in front before the ball even crosses the net. Now the ball meets the paddle. You are early, out in front, and in complete control. You can block it back cleanly instead of reacting in panic.

The other piece of this is simple: when the ball comes fast, you block. You do not swing.

Think of it as the Rule of 10. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 is the slowest ball and 10 is the fastest. 1 is the shortest swing and 10 is the longest. The rule is that the two numbers always add up to 10. If the ball is coming at a 9 (blistering pace), your swing should be a 1 (short and compact). If the ball is coming at a 3 (slower than average), your swing should be a 7 (full and controlled).

Fast ball, short swing. Slow ball, long swing. Get your paddle out early and let the ball do the work.

➡️ Click here to watch the full online lesson

We Built You a Map of Every Pickleball Court in Florida (It’s Free)

Ever driven 20 minutes to a court, paddle in hand, only to find out it's residents only? Or shown up to "8 courts" that turned out to be 2 faded tennis courts with tape lines?

That's why we built FloridaPickleball.com.

It's a free statewide guide to where to play pickleball in Florida. No ads, no signup, no locked content. Just courts, clubs, and the honest details you actually need before you drive over.

Here's what's inside:

✅ 60+ public courts across Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa Bay, Palm Beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, and The Villages area, with court counts verified against official city and county parks pages

✅ 55+ clubs and indoor facilities, from the USOP National Pickleball Center to your neighborhood rec center

✅ City guides that tell you the truth, like our Villages page that explains exactly who can and can't play there, and where to go instead

✅ A beginner's guide that gets you rally-ready in one afternoon

✅ Free video lessons from our coaching team

And here's the part we're proudest of. The guide is built by players like you. Spot a court we missed? There's a Suggest a Court button on the site. We verify every suggestion against official sources before it goes live, so the guide stays accurate instead of turning into a rumor mill.

👉 Go find your next court: www.floridapickleball.com

One more thing. If you live in a 55+ community or HOA with courts and no programming, the site has a page for that too. We bring professional clinics and events to communities across Florida, and residents pay to play, so it usually costs your community nothing. Point your lifestyle director to floridapickleball.com/community and we'll take it from there.

Quick Tip Of The Week: Pickleball Serve Power Hack

4th Annual Stone Harbor Classic Sponsored By CRBN Is August 1st

One of the biggest pickleball events of the summer at the Jersey Shore is returning — and you do not want to miss it.

📍 Stone Harbor, NJ 📅 August 1st

Divisions

✅ Mixed Doubles ✅ Men's Doubles ✅ Women's Doubles

Levels

🥒 Pickle Peeps — 1.0 to 3.0 🏅 Pickle Pros — 3.0 to 4.5

Whether you are just getting into competitive play or you are ready to test your game against the best at the Shore — there is a division for you.

🎁 Sponsored by CRBN

All first place teams in the Pickle Pros divisions will take home brand new CRBN paddles.

Come compete, connect, and be part of one of the most exciting pickleball events of the summer.

Register here at: www.7milepickleball.com

Stop Getting Chicken Winged at the Kitchen!

If your opponents keep targeting your dominant side and you keep getting chicken winged, your paddle position is probably to blame. Not your reaction time.

Here's what's happening. When players feel like they're getting picked on, they instinctively lean toward their backhand. It feels safer. It feels like getting ahead of the ball. And honestly, it works until your opponent figures it out. Once they know you're cheating backhand every single time, you've handed them a free answer. They aim at your forehand, and you're stuck in the worst possible position: crossed up, cramped, and on defense before the ball even reaches you.

The fix is simpler than you think. Cheat your paddle to the forehand side instead.

When you're at the kitchen and you feel pressure coming to your dominant side, position your paddle toward your forehand before the ball arrives. Not after. Before. This keeps you in a neutral or even offensive position on balls that would otherwise jam you into a chicken wing. Instead of defending, you're driving. Instead of cramping, you're swinging through.

Try it the next time you're on the practice court. Get to the kitchen, have someone feed balls at your dominant shoulder repeatedly, and work on keeping that paddle in a forehand-ready position. You'll feel the difference immediately.

The goal isn't to abandon your backhand. It's to stop being predictable. When you can play either side comfortably from a neutral paddle position, your opponents lose their easiest target.

The Benefits of Slice and Topspin

A pitcher has their fastball, curveball and changeup as a pickleballer has their flat, topspin and slice. Variety in pickleball can take your game to the next level.

Have you ever played someone much better than you in pickleball and feel as if “you played the best pickleball in your life” but you lost 0-11, 0-11 and you played another player way less skilled than you and feel as if “you played the worst pickleball in your life” but you won 11-0, 11-0”? Why is this? Because when you were in a rhythm against the better player, when you play people substantially less skilled you will not be able to get into a rhythm.

OR why do you “play so well” only in drilling and not in match play? Because you are in a rhythm when you drill. By incorporating different spins into your pickleball game you will be able to keep opponent guessing, out of a rhythm and win more points.

There are two main spins that you as a pickleballer should know: 1. slice 2. topspin

For Topspin, the ball is spinning downwards, when it hits the ground it will kick up towards your opponent. Topspin allows you to be more aggressive, push your opponents back and also have more margin for error on your shots. A ball that has topspin will dive into a court while a flat ball will go long.

If you ever want to “keep your drives in” when you are inside the court you will have to hit topspin. Essentially if you are hitting a ball that is around hip height with power from at or inside the baseline the only way you can do this is with topspin. If you do not hit topspin, you will have to slow your shot down and allow gravity to keep the ball in.

For Slice, the ball is spinning backwards, when it hits the ground it will die down and stay low. Slice allows you to hit off speed, disrupt your opponent’s rhythm, and force your opponent to get low and hit up.

A ball that has slice will either curve to the left or to the right depending on your swing path. A slice can be used as an offensive or defensive shot. At the beginner/advanced level, many players are not used to returning this type of spin, so it can carry a substantial advantage.

Now how do you hit Topspin? Think 12 o’clock is at your head and 6 o’clock is at your feet. You must swing from 6 to 12, your swing path needs to be vertical and upward, your swing path needs to be low to high. Also, adjust your paddle face and tilt it slightly downward.

Now how do you hit Slice? Instead of swinging low to high like topspin you must swing high to low. Think 12 o’clock is at your head and 6 o’clock is at your feet. You must swing from 1.5 o’clock to 7.5 o’clock. You must swing down/diagonal this will help you get the back of the ball to create backspin. Also, adjust your paddle face and tilt it slightly upward.

Click here for a short video describing topspin vs slice

Program Spotlight: Summer Programs Are In Full Swing

Summer is here and Universal Rackets programs are running at full speed across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas.

Whether you are looking to sharpen your game as an adult, get your junior player on the court for the first time, or keep your kids active and having fun this summer, we have something for you. Adult clinics, junior clinics, summer camps, and camp drop-in sessions are all underway, and Summer 2 registration is still open.

Our certified coaches are on the courts every week delivering the same structured, high-quality instruction that Universal Rackets is known for. Every session is designed to meet players where they are, whether that is a complete beginner picking up a paddle for the first time or an experienced player looking to add real skills to their game.

Summer goes fast. If you have been thinking about signing up, now is the time.

Visit universalrackets.com to find a program near you and register for Summer 2 before spots fill up.

Lesson of the Week: Pickleball Accuracy Masterclass

Thank you for reading and we can’t wait to see you on court!

-Universal Rackets