Drill of the week

Loose-Grip Putaway Swings

Overhead / smashCompeting (DUPR 3.0–3.5)10 minutes

The drill

Shadow-swing or hit against a fence/wall, focusing entirely on grip pressure and arm looseness. Start with a deliberately tight grip and notice how stiff the swing feels, then consciously relax your shoulder and arm — keeping only a slightly firmer grip than a dink — and feel the difference in how the paddle whips through. When you hit live balls, say "loose" to yourself before each swing as a reset cue.

You've got it when: your follow-through flows all the way to the target without the arm "braking," and the ball comes off the paddle with noticeably more pop than your tight-grip attempts.

Spotted in a breakdown by The Pickleball Clinic watch the full lesson.


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