How To Keep The Ball Low In Pickleball?

The guide elaborates on the tips to keep the ball low in pickleball and reasons why you should keep it low so you can make the right shots.

Hit the ball as low as possible in pickleball to get more success in the game! Many professional pickleball players are seen recommending this to young players or beginners. And why should they not be?

Keeping the ball low in pickleball is very beneficial and advantageous. It helps in dominating rallies giving you the upper hand and delivering the shots that are harder to return. There are several tips and tricks to keep the ball low in pickleball.

If you are here to learn the secret behind keeping the ball low in Pickleball and what is its importance we have got you covered. This guide elaborates on everything from techniques to keep the ball low in pickleball to the reasons why you should keep the ball low and tips that can help you make the right shots. Let’s unfold some of the basic steps that you can take to keep the ball low in pickleball.

How To Keep The Ball Low In Pickleball?

To keep the ball low in pickleball you have to make sure to maintain and control the paddle angle properly, hit the ball as soon as possible before it drops, and have to make sure to hold the paddle softly. Well, these are only key points but here we are going to look at the details of all the basic techniques to keep the ball low in pickleball below. Pay attention to learn the best techniques to keep the ball as low as possible to get control of the game.

Best Techniques To Keep The Ball Low In Pickleball

Here we are going to discuss some of the very basic and simple techniques that you can follow to keep the ball low in pickleball. The steps that can help you keep the ball low include:

• Loosening the grip
• Optimizing the paddle angle
• Timing your hits
• Mastering topspin
• Simplifying the swing
• Leveraging your body position
• Using cross-court dinks

1. Loosening The Grip; Handling The Paddle With Soft Hands

Handling the paddle with a soft hand helps in hitting the shots as low as possible. A tight paddle grip can interrupt the precision of the shots and result in hitting the shots directly into the net, which of course is not what you want.

You need to make sure to hold the paddle with a soft grip to maximize accuracy, flexibility, and paddle maneuverability that ultimately will help in hitting the low shots. You need to be conscious of your grip pressure because if you grip the paddle tightly the ball will rebound off the paddle more.

This ultimately hits the ball harder and of course higher than you want. You need to make sure that your grip is firm and you’re controlling your paddle but you are not holding it tightly, all at the same time.

Moreover, it is quite common for a pickleball player to unconsciously grip the paddle tightly or hard, during the game because of fear or panic but it is never a good idea. You need to make sure to focus on how you are holding your pickleball paddle and practice to hold it as softly as possible so that you do not lose control and can hit the shot as low as you want.

Holding your paddle while staying in your comfort zone and keeping the grip of the paddle loose is something very easy and efficient to master. This helps in mastering the skill of hitting the balls of pickleball low.

2. Optimizing The Paddle Angle: Holding The Paddle Correctly

This is another important thing that you must understand to master the low shots. A pickleball player should have a concept of the relationship between the paddle angle and ball trajectory.

To make low shots you have to maintain the paddle angle in a downward direction and make sure that the paddle you are holding is facing in the download direction. You have to hold the paddle just below the waistline.

Make sure it is slightly below the waist level and not more than that. Angle it in toward this direction and make sure to develop contact with the incoming ball in this direction.

This angle will help in generating a low, stable, and controlled shot. You must have to optimize the paddle angle to make sure that you can hit the low shots as much as possible easily. Mastering the paddle in the right direction is the key to mastering the low shots in pickleball.

3. Time Your Hits: Make Contact With The Ball Before It Drops

Hitting the ball as soon as possible and striking the ball earlier helps keep the shot angle downward. It is one of the most effective techniques that you can use to hit the ball low. Moreover, it not only is easy to practice but also helps you in other ways during the game.

Never wait for the ball to drop because it unconsciously forces you to make high shots and hit upward. This raises the ball’s flight and does not keep it low, giving it extra height. So always remember to hit the ball as soon as possible without it dropping in its angle and coming downward.

Moreover, to get optimal trajectory control you should try to connect with the ball when it is still above net height. It will give you optimal control and will make it easier for you to hit the ball as low as possible.

4. Master Topspin: Adding Spin

Adding spin, mainly the top spin can help you give the ball low. Top spin is an extremely efficient tool that helps the pickleball player play the winning game. It is both an offensive shot and a defensive shot at the same time and this is something very unique and needy during the game.

The shot is offensive because the ball with topspin makes it difficult for the opponent to maintain clean contact. After all, it complicates the timing of the opponent. This further complicates the timing when the shot hits the ground. This is because it just speeds up when it hits the ground.

Alternatively, the shot is defensive because the top spin when compared with other shots clears the net higher. It gives more margin of error.

When we talk about top spin for keeping the ball low, we can say it is an effective technique you can use for this purpose because top spin curves the ball in the downward direction during its flight and this downward direction of the ball helps in keeping it low. So if you have made a right shot and hit the ball perfectly by the time the ball reaches the opponent, it will be low.

5. Simplify The Swing: Prefer Short And Compact Swing

Another thing that you can focus on to keep the ball low while playing pickleball and maintaining shot precision is to simplify your swing. You can simply opt for a compact swing and a short one to make sure the consistency and angle of the paddle are maintained throughout the shot. This ultimately helps the players in keeping the ball low.

Moreover, keep in mind a lengthy backswing increases the ball’s height and of course affects your control over the ball which ultimately ends up in hitting the ball very high and making the shot with quite a height that you just don’t want. It is one of the best things that you can do and learn to keep the ball low.

Furthermore, keep in mind adding spins in your pickleball game is quite complicated and an advanced step so don’t need to panic nor do you need to rush yourself or fatigue yourself into learning it. What you have to do is to first master the control over all simple straight shots without spin while playing pickleball.

This is because controlling all of your shots without spin helps in learning how to add spin to your game. If you want to improve your game and want to keep the ball low on the opponent’s side, focus on learning the skill of spinning the ball as it helps in keeping the ball low.

6. Leverage Your Body Position: Indulge Your Body In Making A Shot

The way you are standing and the way your arms and hand are moving while playing pickleball depicts the angle of the shot. Adjusting your body position can help in noticeably affecting the angle of the shot. You have to properly position yourself while hitting the ball, lean forward, and try your best to engage your whole body to hit the shot.

Target their feet and try to keep the ball as low as possible so that there are minimum contact points for them that they can use to attack you. This of course turns the game in your favor. Moreover, one of the main reasons the ball unintentionally is high during pickleball is that you are using your wrist or your elbow excessively.

It’s not always necessary to engage your wrist and elbow every time you hit the shot. Eliminate all the unnecessary movements of your body including arms but make sure to direct your body in hitting the shot. If you are hitting a soft shot at a low position you need to make sure that your arms and wrist are not much involved.

You can simply generate the power to hit the ball with the use of your legs and your body movement. Moreover, you can use your shoulder as the main hinge. It will be easier for you in this way to keep the ball low.

7. Use Cross Court Dinks

This is another strategic way to hit the ball low while playing pickleball. Dinks help in maintaining a lowball trajectory. You can simply target the cross-court shots and can get the benefit of the increased distance over the net.

This ultimately gives you a great space and margin so that you can control the height of the shot you are hitting. This helps in keeping the ball low ultimately making it complicated for the opponents to return the shot and results in keeping the game in your favor throughout the time.

Why Should You Keep The Ball Low In Pickleball?

Several reasons compel you to keep the ball low in pickleball. Undoubtedly keeping the ball low is important to make the ball unattackable.

A general rule of thumb used in pickleball is the lower you keep the ball while hitting, the fewer attackable balls your opponent will get. Let’s look at some of the reasons why you should keep the ball low in pickleball.

• Low balls in pickleball create more difficult returns
• It minimizes the reaction time
• It decreases the chances of easy volleys
• It forces the opponent player to lift the ball
• It improvises placement and control

1. Low Balls In Pickleball Create More Difficult Returns

A low ball in pickleball makes it difficult for the opponent player to predict the ball’s trajectory. Tracking the ball’s path and mapping where it will go becomes difficult when you hit the ball low. This makes it difficult for the opponent to return the ball.

Moreover, when you hit the ball low the opponent player tries his best to hit the ball with the paddle face at an angle to clear the net. This most of the time results in making contact below the net. All of this combines and increases the chances of mishitting the ball.

2. It Minimizes The Reaction Time

When you hit the ball low while playing pickleball your opponent tries his best to get into a position to return the shot. This takes some time and ultimately results in decreasing the reaction time of hitting the ball. This, of course, goes in your favor.

3. Decrease The Chances Of Easy Volleys

When you hit the ball low while playing pickleball it minimizes the chances of hitting high shots into your opponent’s zone giving them the chance to put away. But keep in mind it also increases the chances of blocking the opponents from attack strategy.

I know targeting and aiming your shot to hit at the feet level is quite a challenge but if you do and if you miss your shot your ball would be low enough to give you the benefits of keeping the ball low. So try to make a shot as low as possible while playing pickleball.

4. It Forces The Opponent Player To Lift The Ball

When you hit the ball low in Pickleball it becomes difficult for the opponent player to play the return shot actively and in a straight motion. This ultimately results in forcing the opponent player to lift the ball because of miscalculation and confusion.

Imagine you have hit the ball low and the opponent has a moment to strike the ball when the ball is below the knees. Now the opponent must dip and set the right angle of the paddle face to hit the ball so that it can clear the net.

In case there is even a few degrees difference in the angle of the paddle face, the ball will lift. This ultimately ensures that the ball won’t reach your courtside with all that power and spin. This lift will keep the opponent in the rally and this is what makes the game in your favor. Simply keep them on defense for longer so the court control is in your hands.

5. It Improvises Placement And Control

If you are a pickleball player you must have an idea that a low shot gives a shorter flight than a lob shot. Although both of these types of shots travel the same distance in the court, the direction they choose is quite different.

There is no doubt that whipping the ball with spin is quite challenging mainly when the ball is in the air. A low ball maximizes the control and also helps in spinning the shot easily. This is because you get over the top of the ball to keep it low and this just makes it comparatively effortless for the player to add some spin in his shot.

Simple Tips To Keep The Ball Low In Pickleball

Here are some of the tips and tricks that you should learn to keep the ball low while playing pickleball. Make sure to focus on the following points to learn how you can keep the ball low and play the winning game.

• Maintain your body position properly and make sure that you are fully focused on the ball.
• Hold the pickleball paddle with a loose grip and never hold it tightly if you want to hit a low shot.
• Time your shots properly and make sure to make contact with the ball as soon as possible.
• Do not wait for the ball to touch the ground to make contact; instead, hit as early as possible.
• Simply optimize the angle of the paddle to ensure that you are holding the paddle in the right way to hit the ball low.
• Hold the paddle in a downward direction and aim to hit the feet of the opponent.
• Moreover, do not use your wrist or elbow too much. Use your shoulder as the hinge.
• You can simply target the opponent’s feet to make the low shot.
• Practice simple spin because a spin can help you keep the ball low.
• Moreover, you can make contact with the ball just in front of your body. This is because it helps in keeping the shot low by providing you better control over the angle and paddles you’re holding.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Keep Your Pickleball Ball Low?

To keep the ball low in pickleball, avoid hitting low to high shots and make sure to hit with a soft grip. Always keep in mind to target the feet of opponents and try your best to hit the ball as soon as possible, meaning hit as early as possible.

Is Pickleball Low-Impact?

Pickleball is particularly famous among older Americans and middle-aged people. The reason for its popularity is that it is easy on joints and is low impact. Moreover, the game is also popular in gym classes and school sports because it is comparatively easier for young people and children to learn.

What Is Pickleball And Why Is It So Popular?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that is a combination of badminton, tennis, and ping pong making it one of the most interesting and adventurous games to play. It is played with the use of a paddle and a plastic ball with holes and is one of those games that is simple to learn and interesting to play. The game is appropriate not only for old age people but also is appropriate for young adults and middle-aged people.

What Is The Importance Of Keeping The Ball Low In Pickleball?

A low ball in pickleball makes it difficult for the opponent to return with accuracy and power. Moreover, the opponent gets less time to react when the incoming ball is low. Furthermore, it also increases your control over the ball and minimizes the risk of a putaway from the opponent side.

How Does The Angle Of The Paddle Affect The Height Of The Ball You Are Hitting?

Paddle angle is an important factor that depicts the height of the ball you are hitting. If you want to keep your shot low you need to make sure to hold the paddle in such a way that it sends the ball just above the net and not more than that. You need to make sure that you are holding the Pickleball paddle in the downward direction and optimizing the angle properly to develop contact with the ball in the perfect way to generate a stable and controlled shot.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to keep the ball low should be of utmost priority for every pickleball player to play successful games. Undoubtedly the low ball in pickleball not only makes it challenging for the opponent to make successful play against you but also makes you more dominant in the game.

The above article tells you about the details related to how you can keep the ball low in pickleball and the reasons why you should focus on it. The guide will help you understand, learn, and implement all these tips, tricks, and techniques during the game.

Moreover, don’t be sad if you don’t remember all the steps because after understanding the concepts clearly, and practicing them regularly, with time, these skills to keep the ball low during the game will become your habit and will come naturally while playing. Right now, what you have to do is to make sure to focus on each and everything mentioned above so you can learn how to keep the ball low in pickleball.

 

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