Great Pickleball: The Importance of the Impact Point

The Crucial Role of the Pickleball Impact Point and Sweet Spot

Pickleball is pretty simple: you want to put the ball in play once more than your opponents do. But executing on this is not so straightforward. The Pickleball Impact Point is very important. Sending the ball with the right height, speed, spin, distance, and direction requires excellent control of the paddle. You have to get the vertical and horizontal angles just right, have the paddle moving at the perfect speed. Then you must ensure that the swing path is appropriate for the height and spin of the ball you are trying to send. That’s a lot to worry about!

Why is the Impact Point So Vital?

A good impact point, often referred to as the “Pickleball contact point” or “Pickleball paddle contact point“, is often the difference between making a shot or missing it.

This is why it is so crucial for players to prioritize having a good impact point. The impact point is where a person makes contact with the ball relative to their body. It exists on three planes: up and down (how high or low the ball is at contact); side to side (how close to or far from your belly button); and forward and back (how far between your body and the net when standing sideways).

Understanding the Sweet Spot Concept

Another essential aspect of pickleball is the “Pickleball sweet spot“. The sweet spot is the specific area on the paddle face where hits are powerful, predictable, consistent, and satisfying. Hits that are not in the sweet spot lack power and consistency. These hits often result in unsatisfying shots that don’t go as expected. This makes understanding and targeting the sweet spot as important as achieving a good impact point.

Techniques to Improve Your Game

More than virtually anything else, the impact point is a key contributor to control. With so many variables to consider when hitting the ball, it is essential to receive it at a position where those variables can be adjusted. When the ball is close to you — but not too close — it becomes easier to control where you strike it. When the ball is at a comfortable height and you don’t have to bend over, it will be easier to subtly adjust your paddle angle or swing path. Good impact points allow us to hit the ball in a place where it is relatively easy to manipulate while being in a strong hitting position.

Advanced Techniques:

Here are some advanced techniques and considerations to further enhance your pickleball game:

• Avoid hitting low to high shots hard: Use a low to high swing motion to contact the ball at a relatively low point and send it up and over the net. However, hitting the ball too hard with this motion can result in a high contact point for opponents, making it attackable.
• Target your opponent’s feet: Aim at the feet of your opponents or hit knee height or below shots to keep them contacting the ball low and prevent them from attacking.
• Develop quick hands and feet: Reach the ball quickly and make contact at its highest peak on your side of the net. This gives you a better angle to keep the ball low on the opponent’s side.
• Paddle face angle and contact comfortably in front: Make contact with the ball out in front for better control of the paddle face angle.
• Be conscious of grip pressure: Loosen the grip during a fast-paced game to hit soft shots and reset the point.
• Don’t flick your wrist or break your elbow: Minimize abrupt flick motions for better control and accuracy.
• Add spin to your game: Use topspin and under spin to keep the ball low in pickleball.
• Movement Before and After the Shot: Use the split step as the initial move to spring to the ball.
• Effective Coil and Uncoil: Use the entire body, especially the legs, for hitting shots.
• Good Use of the Off Arm: Use the off arm to stabilize the body during the shot.
• Appropriate Backswing: Adjust the backswing depending on the shot type and shoulder turn.
• Eyes on Contact: Track the ball properly by keeping the eyes and head down during contact.
• Contact in Front: Strike the ball in front of the body for optimal energy transfer.
• Appropriate Follow-Through: Match the follow-through with the shot type for efficiency.

While it is nice to try to have great impact points and hit the sweet spot consistently, the truth is that it is tough. Your opponents will try to force a bad impact point by hitting fast, low, away from you, or with spin. Your job is to fight for the impact point and sweet spot — to resist their attempts at making you break down. Work hard on your movement, be attentive to where you make contact, and above all else, care. Once having a great impact point and consistently hitting the sweet spot becomes a priority for you, you’ll be amazed at how often you can achieve both.