Hayden Patriquin Pickleball Hand Speed Tips: Hayden Patriquin, the world’s number three men’s doubles pickleball player with a 7.0 DUPR rating, shared his secrets for developing lightning-fast hands at the kitchen line. His tips focus on paddle positioning, anticipation, and reflex drills, helping players react quickly and improve their game.
Proper Paddle Positioning and Wrist Technique
At the kitchen line, Patriquin says players should keep their feet hip-width apart with a slight bend in the knees. He recommends holding the paddle in front on the backhand side. “It’s a lot easier to have faster hands if you’re covering most of your body just with your backhand. You can’t do that with your forehand,” he explained.
He also suggests keeping the paddle about a forearm length from the body. Patriquin emphasized the use of both wrist and shoulder motion instead of just snapping the wrist. “A little like that instead of just like this,” he said, showing how combining wrist and shoulder movement gives more control and power.
Anticipation and Reading the Game
Anticipation is key to fast reactions. Patriquin teaches players to predict opponents’ shots using the “triangle method.” He explained, “So while you’re playing right when you’re about to hit the speed up, that’s what you’re thinking. Like, all right, I’m going cross body and then here.”
He also highlighted the importance of observing footwork and paddle angle to prepare for the next shot. “Even pros do this. I’ll hit a great speed up and then the opponent gets the ball back, and I’m not ready for the next one,” he said, emphasizing the need to stay alert at all times.
Drills to Improve Reflexes and Hand Speed
Patriquin recommends two main drills for developing reflexes. First, players should volley back and forth at the kitchen line with a partner, gradually stepping closer to increase difficulty. Second, a figure-eight drill helps transition between backhand and forehand strokes. “It just helps you flip from side to side. Flipping side to side is huge,” he said.
He demonstrated combining anticipation with hand speed during live points, showing how quick reactions can be achieved by reading opponents’ movements and footwork.
News in Brief: Hayden Patriquin Pickleball Hand Speed Tips
Hayden Patriquin, world-ranked #3 in men’s doubles pickleball, shared techniques for fast hands at the kitchen line. He emphasized backhand paddle positioning, combining wrist and shoulder motion, predicting shots using the triangle method, and practicing reflex drills like kitchen line volleys and figure-eight transitions to improve reaction time and speed.