Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you set up the perfect pickleball smash, but instead of smashing it for the win, you hit it into the net or hit it out? This is frustrating but there are simple things you can do to fix this for good.

Today we’re going to cover how to smash overheads more consistently with power. So the next time you get that perfect pickleball smash you’ll be confident it’s a winner. 

It happens to everyone. You get a nice easy lob or pop up, but you hit it too far out or into the net. And when I say it happens to everyone, I mean everyone. The good news is, this can be fixed with simple, repeatable mechanics. And that’s what we’re covering.

Watch the full video here.

Pickleball Smash Tip #1: Your Footwork

Your footwork is incredibly important with the pickleball smash because it can help you add power to your shots but also help you avoid injuries. Injuries happen when players backpedal. You either trip and fall or worse, you hit your back or head. Instead, you want your first step to be a pivot. Then after you pivot, you want to shuffle. 

Another reason you want your first step to be a pivot back is to avoid kitchen violations. When players pivot forward into the kitchen and then jump to hit the ball without establishing both feet, this is a kitchen violation. So it’s best to take your first step back.

Pickleball Smash Tip #2: Spot the Ball

• Now that the ball is in the air, you’ll want to spot it with your nondominant hand. You’ll want to place your paddle up on your dominant side just behind your head. This way your swing will be shorter and it will be easier for you to time your contact. If you take your paddle too far back, you may swing too late and you won’t be able to transfer weight into your shot.

Pickleball Smash Tip #3: Make Contact

To get a perfect pickleball smash, you’ll want to find a spot on the back of the ball and make contact like you’re going to give the ball a high five with your paddle. Hit the ball just in front of your head at the fullest extension of your arm without overreaching. You want your swing to be one continuous motion, similar to throwing a ball. If overheads are tough for you, you can throw a ball overhead to get the feel for it. 

• You’ll want to keep your eye on the ball and keep your head still at contact – don’t drop your head at the last second – this is how balls end up in the net
• Once you’re feeling comfortable with your pickleball smashes and you’ve got a repeatable pattern down, you can add extra power to your shots by stepping into your swing. This weight transfer can be a great way to add consistent power to your shots.