The two-handed backhand counter is likely one of the most dependable weapons on the kitchen line in pickleball. Professional participant Ava Ignatowich breaks down the precise grip, footwork, and stroke mechanics you have to grasp this shot.
When your opponent assaults your backhand on the kitchen line, you may have a selection: reset the ball or take it on.
The two-handed backhand counter offers you a 3rd possibility that almost all leisure gamers by no means develop.
It is the shot that allows you to keep aggressive while you’re beneath stress, and it is the distinction between surviving a fast-hands battle and really successful it.
Ava Ignatowich, an expert pickleball participant on the PPA Tour, not too long ago launched a complete breakdown of this important shot.
Her video walks via every part from grip fundamentals to the refined wrist motion that retains the ball within the court docket.
For those who’ve been battling backhand volleys or getting pushed round on the web, that is the weapon you’ve got been lacking.
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Why the Two-Handed Backhand Counter Adjustments All the pieces
This is the factor about pickleball on the kitchen line:
Tempo is foreign money.
When somebody hits a tough speed-up at your backhand, a one-handed counter offers you restricted choices.
You are combating the ball’s momentum with one arm, and the margin for error shrinks quick.
A two-handed backhand counter, against this, enables you to take in that tempo and redirect it with management and confidence.
The shot is not nearly energy. It is about stability.
While you use each fingers, you are distributing the power throughout your whole higher physique.
While you use each fingers, you are distributing the power throughout your whole higher physique.
Your shoulders, arms, and core all work collectively to maintain the paddle face secure via contact.
That stability is what separates a winner from a ball that sails lengthy or dips into the web.
Ignatowich emphasizes that this shot is especially invaluable while you’re on the correct aspect of the court docket and a ball comes excessive previous your inside hip.
As an alternative of resetting, you may take it as a two-handed counter and put stress again in your opponent instantly. It is a momentum shifter.
Getting the Grip Proper (It is Easier Than You Suppose)
The grip intimidates most gamers as a result of it appears sophisticated.
You are stacking two fingers on one paddle, and should you’ve solely ever hit one-handed backhands, the positioning feels international.
However Ignatowich breaks it down into two easy steps.
- First, use a continental grip in your proper hand.
- Discover the U-shaped groove between your thumb and index finger, place it on the sting guard, and slide it down.
- Then, stack your left hand instantly on prime, putting the U of your left hand over the grip flat.
- Shut your fingers and shift up till it feels snug.
The way to Follow Pickleball Alone: 7 Solo Drills
Studying the best way to follow pickleball alone is likely one of the quickest methods to shut the hole between the place your recreation is and the place you need it to be. These 7 solo drills goal the photographs and motion patterns that really matter throughout stay play.
The fantastic thing about this grip is that it is private. Some gamers choke up on the paddle for extra management. Others maintain it on the backside for extra attain.
Ignatowich has been experimenting with putting her index finger behind the paddle, which she says offers her extra management these days.
The purpose is: discover what works on your fingers and keep it up.
One factor to keep away from: do not overthink the grip. For those who’re spending extra time adjusting your fingers than working towards the stroke, you are lacking the purpose.
Get it shut, then transfer on to footwork and the swing itself.
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Numerous gamers assume that hitting a two-handed backhand counter requires fancy footwork. It would not. In actual fact, the other is true.
Ignatowich retains it easy:
Keep sq. to the web and preserve your toes nonetheless when you hit.
On the kitchen line, you are by no means sideways. Your physique ought to be open towards the web, which suggests your shoulders and hips face the court docket.
When a ball comes at you, your first intuition could be to maneuver, however resist it. A break up step to organize is okay.
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Often, you may take a lateral step towards the center if the ball pulls you extensive. However more often than not, your toes ought to be planted.
Why? Steadiness. When your toes are nonetheless, your whole physique is secure. You’ll be able to concentrate on the stroke itself fairly than managing your motion.
Ignatowich catches balls late most likely 50 % of the time, however she will get away with it as a result of her toes are set and her backswing is compact.
You’ll be able to’t do this should you’re transferring round.
Grasp the Pickleball Dink: 5 Important Pictures
Your pickleball dink recreation is both successful you factors or gifting them away. Grasp these 5 important pickleball dink photographs and be taught precisely when to deploy every one based mostly on the ball you obtain.
The Stroke: Compact Backswing, Wristy End
That is the place the two-handed backhand counter separates from different photographs.
The backswing must be quick. Not medium. Not “fairly compact.” Brief.
Why? Timing. For those who take the paddle all the best way again and the ball catches you mid-swing, it is going straight into the web.
A compact backswing offers you a security web. Even should you’re late, you may nonetheless roll over the ball with spin and preserve it within the court docket.
Ignatowich describes the movement as a tiny child loop, just like the Nike swoosh she mentions in her drive video.
You are taking the ball out in entrance and to the aspect with minimal backswing, then driving via together with your shoulders and arms.
This is the place the left hand turns into crucial. Ignatowich says she desires 90 % of the sensation in her left hand.
That is the place the spin comes from. Your left hand closes the paddle face and rolls over the ball at contact, which retains it down and within the court docket.
For those who’re simply utilizing your arm with out that wristy motion, the ball floats up and out.
The facility comes out of your shoulders, however the management comes out of your left hand.
It is a partnership, not a solo act.
Superior Pickleball Attacking Technique on the Kitchen Line
There are solely 3 ways to assault on the kitchen line in pickleball. From velocity ups off the bounce to reaching in for air assaults, right here’s what separates the winners from the remaining.
When to Use the Two-Handed Backhand Counter (And When to Reset As an alternative)
Not each ball deserves a two-handed backhand counter. Ignatowich is obvious about this: if the ball is dipping beneath your waist, do not hit a counter.
Reset it as an alternative. Swinging up on a low ball is a recipe for catastrophe, irrespective of how good your approach is.
The candy spot for this shot is a ball that is coming excessive previous your inside hip. That is while you take it as two fingers and assault.
The ball must be at a peak the place you may hit down on it or a minimum of hit via it stage. Something decrease, and also you’re combating physics.
This distinction issues as a result of it retains you from growing unhealthy habits.
For those who’re always attempting to counter balls which might be too low, you may ingrain an upward swing path. That is the other of what you need.
Resolution Matrix: When to Assault or Reset in Pickleball
Pickleball is de facto all about two key components: your court docket positioning and the peak of the ball. This matrix decodes the sport for you.
The way to Follow This Two-Handed Backhand Counter (Fed Ball Work First)
Most gamers attempt to be taught the two-handed backhand counter in stay play, which is a mistake. You want reps with managed circumstances first.
Ignatowich recommends beginning with easy ball work. Get a coach or a buddy to feed you balls at a constant peak and tempo.
This allows you to concentrate on the grip, footwork, and stroke with out worrying about the place the ball is coming from. Movie your self doing it too.
Video suggestions is invaluable as a result of you may see in case your backswing is simply too massive, should you’re taking the ball out in entrance, or should you’re rotating an excessive amount of together with your shoulders.
As soon as you’ve got dialed within the feeling with fed balls from the baseline, transfer to counters on the web. The development issues.
You are constructing muscle reminiscence in phases, not attempting to grasp every part directly.
Grasp the Backhand Drop: A Step-by-Step Information
The backhand drop is likely one of the most prevented photographs in pickleball, however it doesn’t need to be. With the correct development and concentrate on fundamentals, you may construct a dependable backhand drop that turns into a weapon as an alternative of a weak point.the
The Distinction Between a Counter and an Assault
Earlier than you hit the court docket, perceive the excellence.
Each use the identical grip and footwork. The distinction is ball peak and the way a lot you may load up on the shot.
For those who’re confused about which one to make use of, let the ball peak determine for you. Excessive ball? Assault. Decrease ball? Counter.
The three-Zone Counter Method for Profitable Fingers Battles on the Kitchen
Counters are point-winners. They’re aggressive photographs that put your opponent on their heels. However they solely work should you’re positioned accurately and considering forward.
Why This Shot Issues for Your Pickleball Recreation
This is what separates good pickleball gamers from nice ones: they’ve weapons.
A two-handed backhand counter is a weapon that almost all leisure gamers haven’t got.
When you develop it, you may discover one thing shift in your matches. You may cease getting pushed round on the web.
You may begin dictating factors as an alternative of simply reacting to them.
Ignatowich notes that you will by no means get as a lot tempo on a one-handed counter as you’ll with a two-handed counter when you get it down.
That tempo is what makes opponents uncomfortable. It is what turns protection into offense.
As ESPN has reported of their pickleball protection, the two-handed backhand has turn into a defining ability on the skilled stage, with gamers who grasp it gaining a measurable edge in web exchanges. When you develop your two-handed backhand photographs throughout completely different conditions, the kitchen line begins to really feel like your territory, not your opponent’s.
The shot takes time to develop. It will not really feel pure for some time.
However should you decide to the development—fed ball work, baseline follow, then web play—you may have a shot that adjustments the way you compete on the kitchen line.
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Ceaselessly Requested Questions
What’s a two-handed backhand counter in pickleball?
A two-handed backhand counter is an aggressive web shot the place you employ each fingers on the paddle to soak up tempo and redirect the ball again at your opponent. It is particularly efficient while you’re beneath stress on the kitchen line and the ball is coming excessive to your backhand aspect.
What grip ought to I take advantage of for a two-handed backhand counter in pickleball?
Use a continental grip in your dominant hand, then stack your non-dominant hand instantly on prime with the identical U-shaped placement. The grip is adjustable: some gamers choke up for management, others maintain decrease for attain, so experiment till it feels locked in.
When ought to I take advantage of a two-handed backhand counter as an alternative of resetting?
Use the two-handed backhand counter when the ball is coming excessive, at or above your inside hip. If the ball is dipping beneath your waist, reset it as an alternative: attempting to counter a low ball forces an upward swing that normally ends badly.
How lengthy does it take to be taught the two-handed backhand counter?
With constant fed ball work, most gamers can construct a useful two-handed backhand counter inside just a few weeks. Getting it dependable sufficient to make use of beneath stress in actual matches sometimes takes a number of months of structured follow.
What’s the most typical mistake gamers make with the two-handed backhand counter?
Taking the backswing too far again. A giant backswing kills your timing and forces you to hurry via the contact level. Preserve the backswing compact, focus the spin via your non-dominant hand, and your consistency will enhance quick.
