Make More Thirds: Loosen the Grip for Arc + Spin
Summary
Richard Pickleball’s fix for topspin thirds that flatten into the net is grip pressure. A tight grip pops the ball off the face early; loosening lets the ball stay on the paddle longer, grab spin, and carry a little arc.
Same arm path forward — just without the death grip. When the softer feel clicks, you can repeat it instead of muscling every third into the tape.
Key takeaways
- Tight grip → flat thirds into the net
- Loosen so the ball stays on the face longer
- Softer grip = more spin + arc on the same swing
Action items
- Hit 20 topspin thirds alternating tight vs soft grip and note net %
- On each third, say “soft hand” before the swing