Mastering Fast Hands at the Kitchen Line: Tanner Tomassi, a skilled pickleball player with a 5.8 Duper rating, explains how to develop fast hands at the kitchen line for players of all skill levels. Fast hands are essential for pickleball success, as they allow players to react quickly and control the game. By mastering the proper technique and footwork, players can increase their hand speed and overall performance.
Key Concept: Ball Placement Over Power
Tanner emphasizes that having fast hands isn’t about hitting the ball with extreme power. Instead, the focus should be on directing the ball towards the opponent’s feet. By hitting the ball down into the hand exchange, players force their opponents to return the ball upwards, creating easier opportunities for scoring. Tanner compares this strategy to a one-two punch, where the first shot sets up the next one.
Correct Paddle Technique
One common mistake is keeping the wrist locked and using a stiff punch motion when striking the ball. Tanner advises shifting the paddle to a more upright position and using the wrist for a more controlled and accurate shot. This change helps direct the ball downward to the opponent’s feet, creating a more effective offensive play.
Anticipating the Return
A common issue for players is failing to anticipate the ball’s return, which can lead to being caught off guard. To overcome this, Tanner suggests imagining that there is a ball under the armpit while playing. This technique forces players to keep their swings compact and stay ready for the next shot, ensuring they’re always prepared for the opponent’s return.
Footwork and Staying Ready
Tanner also highlights the importance of proper footwork. Many players make the mistake of having “happy feet,” constantly moving their feet when they hit the ball. However, to improve speed and reaction time, the best players keep their feet still, relying solely on their arms to react quickly to incoming shots.
The Best Drill for Hand Speed
Tanner shares a specific drill he used to increase his hand speed. In this drill, a player feeds a dead dink to their partner, who then speeds up the ball. The drill focuses on positioning the dinks to various areas of the court, forcing the player to shift and adjust quickly. It improves anticipation and awareness, making the player more responsive during hand battles.
Crashing the Net Drill
Another important drill involves attacking the ball from the net. This drill helps players generate offense from any area of the court, including the back and middle. In this exercise, a player at the net feeds a lofty ball to their partner, who must attack it and engage in a fast-paced hands battle. This improves reaction speed and footwork.
Bonus Tip #1: Anticipation
Tanner offers two bonus tips to enhance hand speed. The first is to improve anticipation. After hitting a dink, players should position themselves to face the ball’s landing spot. By getting their chest in front of the ball’s anticipated location, players limit the opponent’s angles and prevent them from exploiting open spaces.
Bonus Tip #2: Paddle Tracking
The second bonus tip involves paddle tracking. Players should always keep their paddle aimed at the opponent. By tracking the ball with the paddle, players react faster to speed-ups or changes in the play. Tanner explains that last-minute reactions are too slow and can leave the player vulnerable.
Improving hand speed at the kitchen line is crucial for players who want to level up their game. By mastering proper technique, anticipating the ball’s return, and using focused drills, players can become quicker and more effective at the net. With practice, players can elevate their pickleball skills and dominate the court.
News in Brief: Mastering Fast Hands at the Kitchen Line
Pickleball expert Tanner shares techniques for improving hand speed at the kitchen line. By focusing on ball placement, proper paddle technique, anticipation, and footwork, players of all levels can enhance their reaction times. Key drills and tips can help players achieve quicker responses and dominate at the net.
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