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Hey PICKLEBACKERS! 🏓✨

Some of the most dangerous shots in pickleball don’t come with a big windup. They’re compact, disguised—and over before your opponent realizes an attack was coming.

This week, we’re breaking down the backhand flick: the sneaky kitchen speed-up that can turn a patient dink rally into an instant advantage. You’ll learn when to use it, where to aim, how to disguise it, and which common mistakes can leave you vulnerable at the net.

Read on, then forward this to the partner who loves a well-timed surprise attack.

The Backhand Flick: The Sneaky Speed-Up That Changes Everything

^{If you’ve ever been in a dink rally and suddenly watched the ball zip past your opponent before they even reacted, chances are you just got beat by a backhand flick.}

^{It’s one of the most effective offensive shots in pickleball—not because it’s powerful, but because it’s unexpected.}

^{The best players don’t speed up every ball. They wait. They disguise. Then they strike.}

^{Let’s break down how you can add this shot to your game.}

^{What Is the Backhand Flick?}

^{A backhand flick is a compact backhand speed-up hit out of the kitchen. Instead of taking a big swing, you use your wrist and forearm to generate quick acceleration while keeping your paddle movement small.}

^{The goal isn’t to hit as hard as possible.}

^{The goal is to surprise your opponent before they’re ready.}

^{Because the motion is so short, your opponent often can’t tell whether you’re about to dink or attack until it’s too late.}

^{When Should You Use It?}

^{The backhand flick works best when you receive:}

✅ ^{A ball that’s slightly above net height}

✅ ^{A dink that sits up in the middle}

✅ ^{A ball that drifts toward your backhand hip}

^{Avoid trying it on balls below the net. Those are still defensive balls that should usually be reset or dinked.}

^{The biggest mistake recreational players make is speeding up attackable-looking balls that are actually too low.}

^{Patience wins more points than forcing speed-ups.}

^{Where Should You Aim?}

^{Instead of swinging for winners, focus on high-percentage targets.}

^{Your best options are:}

• ^{Your opponent’s right shoulder (their backhand if they’re right-handed)}

• ^{The player who is leaning or cheating toward the middle}

• ^{The paddle-side hip, which creates awkward contact}

• ^{Right through the middle when both opponents hesitate}

^{Think “body first, corners second.”}

^{Body attacks create more pop-ups than sideline winners.}

^{The Keys to Great Technique}

^{A good backhand flick is built on efficiency.}

^{Remember these four checkpoints:}

• ^{Keep your paddle out in front.}

• ^{Stay compact—no big backswing.}

• ^{Rotate your forearm instead of swinging your entire arm.}

• ^{Recover immediately after contact, expecting the next ball to come back.}

^{The best flicks look almost identical to a dink until the last moment.}

^{That’s what makes them so dangerous.}

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Common Mistakes

❌ ^{Flicking every chance you get}

^{If your opponents know it’s coming, the shot loses its surprise.}

❌ ^{Trying to hit too hard}

^{Power isn’t the goal.}

^{Placement and disguise create the winners.}

❌ ^{Falling backward}

^{Stay balanced and let your body move through the ball.}

❌ ^{Admiring your shot}

^{Good opponents often block speed-ups.}

^{Be ready for the next ball immediately.}

Drill of the Week

^{Grab a partner and head to the kitchen.}

1. ^{Dink crosscourt for 10 balls.}

2. ^{On any ball above the net, the hitter may use one backhand flick.}

3. ^{The defender’s only job is to block the ball back into the kitchen.}

4. ^{Continue the rally.}

^{This teaches two important skills:}

• ^{Recognizing attackable balls.}

• ^{Recovering after your speed-up.}

^{After five minutes, switch roles.}

^{PICKLEBACK Tip} 🥒

^{Think “surprise,” not “power.”}

^{A 60% speed-up that your opponent never sees coming is far more effective than a 100% swing they were waiting for.}

^{That’s the beauty of the backhand flick: you don’t need to overpower your opponents—you need to catch them unprepared.}

^{Stay patient, keep your motion compact, and wait for the right ball. With a little practice, this subtle speed-up can become one of the most reliable weapons in your kitchen game.}

^{Try this week’s drill with your partner, and let us know how many pop-ups you create.}

^{Until next time, keep dinking, disguising, and PICKLEBACKING.} 🥒🏓

See you on the courts,

The PICKLEBACKCLUB Team 🏓

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