The Secret To More Paddle Speed

Week 48

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible to get a free paddle this week. Last week’s winner was Charles from Virginia!

Here’s what I’ve got for you:

• The two biggest benefits of a lower paddle grip

• The process for how to start taking advantage of them

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win a paddle!

This week, feel free to respond directly to this email with any feedback you have or any questions you’re dying for me to answer. I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can this week!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible! I personally have been using a Selkirk paddle for over five years now, and every paddle I’ve used has been better than the last one. I recently started using their newest paddle - the Project 008, and it’s giving me more power and spin than I’ve ever had before. You can pick yours up on their website and use code INF-Shea for a gift card on a future purchase.

How Low Can You Go

There are a bunch of different ways to hold your paddle in pickleball, but some grips offer more benefits than others. Personally, I hold my paddle lower on the handle because it unlocks some really cool advantages you just don’t get with a higher grip.

For one, gripping lower gives you more reach and helps you generate more paddle-head speed. Holding the handle lower gives you more leverage to whip the paddle around more freely, which can add serious spin and pace to your shots. Now, there are some situations—like drops for example—where you want to limit your wrist movement. But for shots like serves, drives, or rolls at the net, being able to snap your wrist when you make contact with the ball adds a ton of spin and power.

If you want a visual representation of this, you can check out the video below where I talk about what it looks like to snap your wrist upon contact (timestamp 3:18).

It does take a little time to adjust. Holding the paddle higher up on the handle can make it easier to control your shots at first, but it also limits you in other areas. With practice, you can build that same control while gripping lower—and in the long run, it opens up way more options.

Another major benefit is the two-handed backhand. A lower grip gives your other hand room to come in higher up on the handle, making the “twoey” feel way more natural. If you haven’t already developed a two-handed backhand, I strongly recommend it! Having two hands on your backhand gives you extra control and power on your shot. It can be a real game-changer.

Obviously, you can see what kind of grip I recommend, but at the end of the day, it really comes down to your playing style and what shots you want to optimize for.

Bend and Snap

Don’t try to change everything at once! Instead of a drill, I’m giving you a step-by-step progression for implementing the things we went over this week.

If you’re new to holding your paddle lower or trying out the two-handed backhand (or both), it’ll feel super weird and unnatural at first, so give yourself time to adjust. Instead of trying to master it all immediately, take it one step at a time. Here’s the process I recommend:

Step 1: Adjust your grip

Start by simply moving your grip lower on the paddle. Don’t worry about the two-handed backhand yet. Just start playing rec games with the lower grip and focus on getting comfortable. Let yourself adjust and your shots stabilize. Once the new grip starts to feel natural and your consistency returns, move to the next step.

Step 2: Add the second hand

Now begin introducing your top hand on backhand shots. Place your non-dominant hand just above your dominant one—kind of like you’re holding a baseball bat. Many players rest their index finger on the face of the paddle for a little extra stability and control.

Step 3: Add wrist action

Once both the lower grip and two-handed backhand feel solid, you can start adding in wrist movement. I want to give a disclaimer though - you HAVE to have a solid foundation first: proper paddle positioning, consistent contact, and a good follow-through.

When you have that solid foundation, try adding a bit of wrist motion after contact with the ball to generate more spin and power. To do this, you need to use what’s called ‘wrist lag.’ That just means letting your wrist bend back slightly during the swing so your paddle trails behind (see image below). Then, as you strike the ball, snap your wrist forward while keeping your follow-through compact and clean. You’ll feel and see the difference in your shot - the ball will have more spin and speed than before.

You can refer to the video above if you want a visual representation on how this works (timestamp 3:18).

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