I saw someone at my local courts today who switches the paddle between hands during rallies to always hit forehands. It looked awkward but they were winning. Is this a real strategy or just a quirk? My backhand is definitely my weak spot so im tempted to try it but worried about looking silly
6 Comments
I do this! Started because my left wrist was injured and i had to play right handed for a few months. Now I switch naturally. The main benefit is no backhand to exploit. The downside is slower reactions when you need to switch mid-rally and occasional confusion about which hand has the paddle.
how long did it take you to get comfortable playing with your off hand?
probably 2-3 months before it felt natural. i practiced against the wall a lot with my off hand. now theyre about equal which is a nice advantage
Honestly Id recommend just improving your backhand instead. At higher levels the hand switch creates a gap in your coverage during the switch. A good player will attack that moment. Better to develop a solid two-handed backhand or consistent one-hand than to avoid it entirely.
agree with this. unless you plan to put in the thousands of hours to make both hands equal, youre better off with one strong side and a workable backhand
I came from tennis where switching hands is almost unheard of. But pickleball is different - shorter swing, less power needed. If it works for someone, why not? At rec level nobody is going to exploit the switch. Play how you enjoy playing.