In Pickleball, there are a ton of tools and shots you can use to upgrade your game. One of those shots is topspin. Pickleball topspin is great because you can use it in multiple shots and scenarios to give your game an edge. Today we’re going to breakdown topspin step by step and look at it in game situations. It’s my hope that this will be easy for you to apply and you can use it to take your game to the next level.

Watch the full video here.

What Is Pickleball Topspin?

A pickleball topspin shot is when you hit the ball in such a way that it rotates forward. As the ball rotates forward through the air, it spins, and air friction causes the ball to dip. 

The Benefits of Pickleball Topspin

• You can hit the ball harder and it will stay in compared to a flat shot
• Pickleball topspin shots dip, so it can make it harder for your opponent to read the shot
• And lastly, pickleball topspin shots are harder to attack off the bounce because they bounce differently than flat shots

Pickleball Topspin Tip #1: Adjust Your Grip

The first step and one of the most important steps in applying topspin is your grip. You’ll want to adjust your grip to an eastern or a semi western when you hit the ball. A simple way to adjust your grip to eastern is to line up your base knuckle on your pointer finger to the side of the paddle handle or a little further for semi western. If you were to try topspin with a continental grip, the paddle face would be more open and it would be harder to really brush up on the ball. You won’t always use this grip but when you do, you can use your non-dominant hand to switch.

Pickleball Topspin Tip #2: Adjust Your Feet Placement

Before you swing, you want to be mindful of where the ball is and where your feet are. The ball should be out front in your goldilocks zone (so it’s not too far away and not too close). Your weight should be balanced and you can place your non-dominant foot slightly in front. This will help you turn your shoulders when you swing especially on drives and drops, which adds more torque and power to your swing.

Pickleball Topspin Tip #3: Swing & Brush Up on the Ball

When you swing, your wrist should be relaxed but not loose. Drop your paddle head down below the ball and when you make contact, you want to hit the ball from low to high and brush up on the ball. Be sure to engage your shoulders here and turn your shoulder to generate power and spin. You don’t have to swing very hard to generate spin, however if this shot is new for you and you’re practicing, try to over exaggerate your brush to really get a feel for it. After you make contact, you will follow through and finish with your paddle on the other side of your body. 

BONUS Pickleball Topspin Tip

When you’re at the net or advancing to the net in game situations, be careful not to exaggerate your follow through too much because the ball will likely come back at you quickly and you want to be ready to defend your opponent’s shot