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How To Use Your Drive | Stop Bangers | 2026 Spring/Summer Programs | 5 Forehand Checkpoints
Universal Rackets Weekly Pickleball Update: Coaching - News - Tips
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Universal Rackets Weekly Update!
Let’s Talk About Your Pickleball Game…
🔑 Key Takeaways
🎯 Use Your Drive to Get to the Kitchen — Not Win the Point
🚫 High Balls Create Bangers — Keep It Low
👟 Drill of the Week: 3-Step 3rd Shot Drive Progression
🌸 Spring & Summer Programs + DUPR Clinics Are Live
📘 Forehand eBook Is Now Available
🏆 5 Forehand Checkpoints
🏕️ Junior Summer Camps Filling FastS
Stop Trying to Win with Your Drive — Use It to Get to the Kitchen
One of the biggest mistakes players make with their drive is simple:
They try to win the point with it.
They step up, rip the ball as hard as they can… and either:
• Miss
• Hit it out
• Or get stuck at the baseline
And the point is over.
The Real Purpose of the Drive
High-level players don’t use the drive to win the point.
They use it to get to the kitchen.
The drive is not the finish line.
It’s the ticket from the baseline to the kitchen.
When you hit a good drive, your goal is to:
➡️ Create a short or weak reply
➡️ Give yourself time to move forward
➡️ Take control of the point at the kitchen
Because that’s where points are actually won.
Shift Your Mindset
Instead of thinking:
“How do I win this point with my drive?”
Think:
“How do I use this drive to get to the kitchen?”
That one shift will instantly make you:
• More consistent
• Less rushed
• More effective
3 Keys to a Better Drive
If you want to improve your drive immediately, focus on these three things:
1. Hit and Move Up
Don’t hit and admire your shot.
Don’t hit and wait.
➡️ Hit — then move forward.
2. Use 60–70% Power
You don’t need to hit at 100%.
More power = less control.
➡️ Controlled pace creates more opportunities than forced winners.
3. Aim at the Chest
Stop aiming for lines.
➡️ Aim at your opponent’s chest.
It’s the biggest target on the court and creates awkward, jammed returns.
The Bottom Line
Your drive is not meant to end the point.
It’s meant to set up the point.
Use it to move forward.
Use it to create opportunities.
Use it to get to the kitchen.
Because once you’re there…
That’s where you win.
🌸 Spring and Summer Pickleball Philly Area Programs Are In Full Swing!
Our programs are designed for players of all ages and skill levels and built around fun, structure, competition, and real improvement.
Here’s what’s included this season:
✅ Adult Clinics
✅ Junior Clinics
✅ Pickleball & Tennis Summer Camps
✅ DUPR Rating Clinics
✅ Competitive Tournaments
✅ Indoor & Outdoor Options
✅ Multiple Skill Levels
✅ Weekday & Weekend Offerings
Whether you’re just getting started, looking to improve your rating, or ready to compete in tournaments, our structured programs are built to help you play smarter, move better, and gain confidence on the court.
Spots are filling quickly as spring kicks off — secure yours today.
👟 Drill of the Week: 3 Step 3rd Shot Drive Progression
How To Stop & Beat Bangers in Pickleball
Here’s the truth most players don’t realize:
Bangers aren’t self-proclaimed.
They’re created by you
Yes — YOU create the banger.
Some players naturally hit harder than others, but if you don’t want to deal with constant drives and speed-ups, the solution is simple:
Stop giving them what they want.
Where Bangers Come From
A player can only truly “bang” the ball from one place:
➡️ Above the net
Any ball you give your opponent above net height allows them to hit down into the court — and that’s where power becomes dangerous.
The Fix: Make Them Hit UP
If you keep the ball below the net, your opponent is forced to hit up.
And when players are hitting up, one of two things happens:
• They slow the ball down
• They hit a neutral shot or dink
If they try to hit hard from below the net?
• The ball goes out
• The ball goes into the net
Either way — advantage you.
Ask Yourself This
Next time you’re playing a “banger,” pause and ask:
“Where am I allowing my opponent to make contact?”
That answer tells you everything.
How To Keep the Ball Low
3rd Shot: Drop the ball shallow into the kitchen
→ Forces contact below the net
Returns: Use slice
→ Keeps the ball low and makes drives harder
At the Kitchen: Dink and keep it in the kitchen
→ Eliminates easy speed-ups
Bonus Tip: Let Balls Go
One of the most powerful adjustments is mental
Shoulder high? Let it fly.
This is easier said than done — but once a “banger” realizes you won’t swing at out balls, they start pressing… and the errors follow.
The Bottom Line
Bangers don’t magically appear.
They’re created by high balls.
Keep the ball low.
Force your opponent to hit up.
And suddenly… the “banger” disappears.
Instantly Improve Your Forehand Ebook Is HERE!
Our very own Universal Rackets coach & creator, @pickleballwithtyler, just dropped his brand-new ebook — and it’s a GAME-CHANGER for anyone looking to level up their forehand.
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player… this book gives you the full blueprint to hitting a cleaner, more powerful, more consistent forehand.
🚀 What’s Inside:
Fix your contact point once and for all
Master the “Turn–Bounce–Drop–Hit” timing system
Learn how to add real topspin
Build effortless power without muscling the ball
Improve accuracy, control & consistency
100+ video links included throughout the book
PLUS: exactly what to do after your 3rd shot drive
This is Tyler’s most complete forehand breakdown ever — built from 10,000+ in-person coaching hours, 10,000+ online coaching videos and millions of online views.
👉 Purchase your copy today at: www.instantlyimprovemyforehand.com
Program Spotlight: PHILLY AREA PROGRAMS ARE HERE!
Universal Rackets offers structured, high-energy pickleball clinics for players of all ages and skill levels across the Philadelphia region.
📍 30+ Locations Across the Philly Region
Including the Main Line, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County, and Philadelphia.
Spots are limited and filling quickly — secure yours today:
Main Line
Bucks County
Montgomery County
Chester County
Philadelphia
Program Spotlight: JUNIOR TENNIS & PICKLEBALL SUMMER CAMPS ARE HERE!
Summer is coming fast — and our Junior Tennis & Pickleball Summer Camps are officially open for registration!
Universal Rackets summer camps are designed to do more than just keep kids active. Our camps focus on skill development, confidence, teamwork, and FUN, all in a structured, positive environment led by professional coaches.
Whether your child is brand new to the sport or already competing, our camps meet them where they are and help them level up — both on and off the court.
What to Expect at Universal Rackets Summer Camps:
• Tennis & Pickleball options
• Ages grouped by age and skill level
• Beginner → Advanced instruction
• High-energy drills, games, and point play
• Emphasis on fundamentals, movement, and sportsmanship
• A fun, welcoming environment kids love
Our coaches create an experience that keeps kids engaged, learning, and excited to come back each day — while parents can feel confident their child is in great hands.
📍 Multiple Locations Available
📅 Weekly & Multi-Week Options
🎾 Tennis & Pickleball Camps Offered
Spots fill quickly every summer — especially beginner and prime-time sessions.
Lesson of the Week: 5 Forehand Checkpoints
Thank you for reading and we can’t wait to see you on court!
-Universal Rackets