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Racket Sports: Technique and strategy

Browse SportsMonkie's technique and strategy about racket sports, organized in one crawlable topic hub.

12 articles in this topic.

Close-up of a continental pickleball grip with the paddle face vertical
Racket Sports

How to Hold a Pickleball Paddle: Grips and Grip Pressure

How to hold a pickleball paddle: the continental and eastern grips, the neutral ready grip, and how much grip pressure to use for control.

A singles pickleball player recovering to the centre of the baseline after a shot
Racket Sports

How to Play Pickleball Singles: Strategy and Court Coverage

Pickleball singles strategy: where to serve, how to cover the court, when to attack, and why it rewards fitness and placement over doubles touch.

A pickleball player making contact below the waist on an underhand serve
Racket Sports

How to Serve in Pickleball: Technique for a Consistent Serve

A step-by-step pickleball serve technique: grip, ball drop or toss, contact point below the waist, and follow-through for a deep, reliable serve.

A pickleball player hitting a two-handed backhand drive from the baseline
Racket Sports

Pickleball Backhand Technique: One-Handed vs Two-Handed

Pickleball backhand technique: one-handed vs two-handed, plus how to hit the backhand dink, drive and volley with control and depth.

Two pickleball players running a cross-court dinking drill at the kitchen line
Racket Sports

Pickleball Drills: The Practice List That Fixes Your Game

The best pickleball drills for dinking, the third shot, serve and return, volleys and footwork — a practical list with reps and what each one fixes.

A pickleball player performing a split step as the opponent contacts the ball
Racket Sports

Pickleball Footwork: Split Step, Shuffle and Recovery

Pickleball footwork basics: the split step, the shuffle, recovery to ready position, and how to move through the transition zone under control.

A pickleball player lifting a lob over opponents stationed at the kitchen line
Racket Sports

Pickleball Lob Shot: When to Use It and How to Defend One

The pickleball lob explained: offensive vs defensive lobs, when to use each, how to hit one over the net players, and how to defend a lob.

A pickleball player in ready position with the paddle up and knees bent at the kitchen line
Racket Sports

Pickleball Ready Position: Paddle Up, Balanced, Prepared

The pickleball ready position: paddle up in front, knees bent, weight forward. Why paddle height matters and how it speeds up your reactions.

A pickleball player hitting a deep return and moving forward to the kitchen line
Racket Sports

Pickleball Return of Serve: Hit Deep and Get to the Net

How to return serve in pickleball: hit deep to pin the server back, follow your return to the kitchen line, and target the backhand for control.

Two beginner pickleball players advancing toward the kitchen line together
Racket Sports

Pickleball Strategy for Beginners: 5 Habits That Win Points

A beginner pickleball strategy primer: serve deep, get to the kitchen, dink with patience, aim the middle, and keep the ball in play to win more points.

A pickleball player brushing up the back of the ball to add topspin on a serve
Racket Sports

Pickleball Spin Serve: What's Legal and How to Add Spin

The pickleball spin serve explained: the pre-release hand spin is banned, but legal paddle spin is allowed. How to add safe spin the right way.

A pickleball player punching a compact volley at the kitchen line
Racket Sports

Pickleball Volley Technique: Punch, Block and Reset

Pickleball volley technique: the punch volley, the block and reset, and how to volley at the kitchen line without faulting in the non-volley zone.

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