Eric Oncins Pickleball Forehand Drive: Pickleball player Eric Oncins recently broke down how to hit a forehand drive like a professional in a step-by-step instructional video. The session, filmed with his roommate and fellow player, focused on helping beginners and intermediate players improve their form, timing, and shot selection with simple but effective advice.
The video was aimed at players looking to build a strong and reliable forehand drive. Eric Oncins, who plays for The Ranchers on the PPA Tour, explained key techniques for generating power and spin while staying consistent. His roommate, who hosted the video, shared how much Eric has helped improve his own game. Together, they demonstrated what works and what doesn’t on the court.
Building the Right Technique
Eric Oncins said his strong tennis background shaped his forehand drive. He explained that players should focus on shoulder rotation first. “I remember I was thinking of the Nike logo, which you want to start at the top… A lot of people say paddle back first, but it’s actually your shoulders and then your paddle will automatically turn through and then getting low.”
His roommate agreed and added, “So, it’s easier for you to think, especially if you don’t come from a tennis background, just turn your shoulders and then the paddle will follow it.”
Another important tip was to prepare early. Eric said, “As soon as you recognize the ball is coming, you want to set your feet, turn sideways, turn your shoulders, and then get nice and low.”
They also emphasized the follow-through. Eric explained, “Really focus on following through and lean into your shot a little bit. You don’t want to pull back.” He compared it to throwing a frisbee, saying, “I’m going to throw a Frisbee or like I’m going to launch my paddle on my target.”
Practice and Consistency
Eric and his roommate shared drills for improving the drive. One tip was to freeze the follow-through. “You want to exaggerate and hold the follow… pose and like really hold there for like good like 3 seconds,” Eric said.
The host added that holding the follow-through helps players recognize mistakes and fix them faster. He noted, “If you’re not recording it, you may not really know where you’re finishing… and it’ll make it quicker to improve.”
During a demo, Eric hit several forehands cleanly and consistently. His roommate commented, “I’m not sure he missed one of them, except for maybe when I hit a really bad feed.”
Where to Hit the Drive
Eric also explained where to aim the forehand drive. His default is the middle of the court. “The safest spot and like my default setting is the middle of the court cuz there is like everyone like someone needs to move to that ball.”
He added that going behind a partner who is crashing the net is a low-percentage move. “So, if they hit that, good job. But if not, that’s either coming straight to Christian or back to me to hit a perfect reset and come in.”
He also shared when it’s best to target the player coming toward the net. “If they’re coming in, you see they’re like maybe in the midcourt and you’re setting up the drive, definitely go to the person coming in.”
Spot Demo and Court Awareness
They demonstrated different target zones using Eric’s partner “Mr. Tube” at the net. They showed how driving to the middle or at a moving opponent makes returns more difficult. “If he hits it big I have to go here and then if I start guessing he can come at my body,” said the host, showing how tough it is to defend well-placed drives.
Eric suggested adjusting based on the opponent’s responses. “You can always go like five times in the middle… But then like if the person adjusts… then you just switch your stroke.”
The duo finished with a drill showing how to hit at a moving opponent when returning from a wide angle. The idea was to increase pressure and limit the defender’s reaction time. “I’m going to let him know I’m going to drive to the person coming in,” said Eric.
Final Takeaways
The video wrapped with a review of the main ideas. The key points included early setup, the “Nike logo” paddle motion, and a strong follow-through with a frozen finish. The host encouraged viewers to model their drives after Eric’s style, saying, “If you guys are doing all that stuff, your drives will improve really quickly.”
He also praised Eric for being both a great player and coach. Eric plays on the PPA Tour and creates content to help players improve. His roommate concluded, “He’s doing a lot of cool stuff. He’s doing a little more content, and he’s on the Ranchers on the PPA Tour, crushing it.”
News in Brief: Eric Oncins Pickleball Forehand Drive
Eric Oncins, a professional pickleball player for The Ranchers on the PPA Tour, shared expert tips for hitting a forehand drive. He focused on shoulder turn, early prep, strong follow-through, and smart shot placement. The video included practice drills and detailed examples to help players improve power and accuracy.