Universal Rackets Weekly Update!

Let’s Talk About Your Pickleball Game…

Takeaways

🎯 Serve → Recover → Be Ready

⚡ Hit Hard Without Forcing

👟 Feel First, Then Build Your 3rd Shot Drop

📘 Fix Your Forehand With a Simple System

🌞 Junior Summer Camps Are Open

📍 2026 Pickleball & Tennis Programs Are Live

🎥 Learn the Best Serve Ever

What To Do AFTER Your Serve

A good serve isn’t just the moment you hit the ball.

It’s everything that happens immediately after.

Many players hit their serve… then admire it, wait to see if it’s in, or stand still and react late. That’s how points get handed away for free.

Serve → Recover → Be Ready

As soon as your serve leaves the paddle, your job is to recover immediately and get into a proper ready position.

That means:

• Feet about hip-width apart

• On your toes (not your heels)

• Paddle out in front

• Balanced and athletic

From here, you can move left or right, hit forehand or backhand, and react on time to the return.

Anticipate the Return

Once you’re set, it’s time to anticipate — not guess.

After you serve, you’ll do one of three things:

• Move up

• Stay at the baseline

• Move back

Base that decision on your opponent’s tendencies:

• Where they return

• How deep they hit

• How much pace they use

Use this simple rule:

• Weak return → move up

• Average return → stay back

• Strong, deep return → move back

If an opponent consistently hits deep returns, take a small step back after serving so you can move forward into your third shot instead of getting jammed.

Trust Your Serve

If your serve puts pressure on your opponent, trust it — and move up. Good serves should earn you better court position and more control of the point.

Final Reminder

Serving isn’t just about starting the rally.

It’s about setting up the third shot.

Serve with intention.

Recover with purpose.

Be ready for what’s coming next.

2026 Pickleball and Tennis Programs Are Here!

More Programs Announced! New Locations and New Offerings

Universal Rackets is excited to roll out our Spring & Summer Pickleball programming, offering Adult Clinics, Junior Clinics, and 50+ Summer Camps designed for all ages and skill levels and built around fun, structure, and real improvement.

✅ Adult Pickleball Clinics

✅ Junior Pickleball Clinics

✅ Pickleball Summer Camps

✅ Indoor & Outdoor Options

✅ Multiple Skill Levels

✅ Weekday & Weekend Offerings

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your skills, our programs are built to help you play smarter, improve faster, and enjoy every session.

Click here to view all of our adult & junior clinic programs!

Click here to view all of our junior summer camps!

👟 Drill of the Week: 3rd Shot Drop Progression

Purpose:

To learn and establish the feel of the third shot drop before worrying about power, depth, or pressure.

How It Works:

Step 1: Gently toss the ball up and catch it on your paddle

Step 2: Bounce the ball once, then catch it on the paddle

Step 3: Hit the ball up to yourself using a 3rd-shot drop motion

Step 4: Hit a soft drop to yourself, then catch it on the paddle

Step 5: Hit continuous drops to yourself while staying balanced and moving

Step 6: Start at the kitchen line and step back after each successful drop, eventually working back to the baseline

Why It Works:

This progression removes pressure and builds touch first. By starting with catching and self-feeding, you train rhythm, control, and feel without rushing. As distance increases, your body learns how to adjust height, arc, and speed naturally — which is exactly what a great third shot drop requires.

Master the feel first, then let the distance come to you.

Did You Grab Your Copy of the Instantly Improve Your Forehand Ebook Yet?

If you missed it last week — or meant to check it out but haven’t yet — this is your reminder.

The Instantly Improve Your Forehand ebook was built to solve one problem players at every level struggle with: hitting a forehand that feels clean, confident, and repeatable under pressure.

This isn’t a collection of random tips. It’s a step-by-step system that shows you exactly what to focus on, when to focus on it, and how to fix the most common forehand mistakes without overthinking your swing.

Players who’ve already started using it are seeing:

• Cleaner contact

• More topspin without muscling the ball

• Better consistency from the baseline

• More confidence after the 3rd shot drive

Every section is paired with short, clear video links so you can see and feel the changes immediately — not weeks later.

If improving your forehand is one of your goals this season, this is the fastest way to do it.

👉 Purchase your copy today at: www.instantlyimprovemyforehand.com

How To Hit Hard Without Losing Control

Everyone wants more pace on their serves, drives, and returns. But when players try to hit harder, the same things usually happen: the ball flies long, their arm or shoulder starts to hurt, and they tighten up trying to force power. The truth is, power doesn’t come from swinging harder — it comes from swinging better. When your body works in the right order, speed shows up naturally and safely.

Power starts before the swing, not during it. If you don’t load your body, you can’t generate real pace. Loading means using your legs, turning your hips and shoulders, and creating stretch before you swing. No load equals no power. When you load correctly, the swing becomes explosive without extra effort.

The next piece is acceleration. Power is not about muscling the ball from start to finish. The best players build speed into contact. The swing should feel smooth at the beginning and fast at the moment of contact. When acceleration happens at the right time, the ball jumps off the paddle with both pace and control.

Finally, power requires relaxation. Tension kills speed. A tight grip and stiff arm slow the paddle down and put unnecessary stress on your joints. The looser your grip and the freer your arm, the faster the paddle can move. Trust the paddle to do the work and let the swing flow.

The bottom line is simple: if you want to hit harder without missing more balls or hurting yourself, load your body, accelerate smoothly, and stay loose. When you do those three things, power becomes automatic instead of forced.

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.

Click here to view all of our junior summer camps!

Lesson of the Week: The Best Pickleball Serve Tutorial EVER

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

-Universal Rackets