Stop Blasting Counters Long: Keep Backhand Counters Short and Compact

Summary

Elite Pickleball Coaching’s cue is simple: stop taking huge swings on counters — that’s why they sail.

Keep counters short and compact in front of the body so you recover for the next ball. Compact contact beats a big rip when the exchange is already fast.

Key takeaways

• Huge counter swings cause long misses
• Short, compact contact in front of the body
• Stay ready for the next ball — counters are links, not winners every time

Action items

• Hands-battle feeds: 20 BH counters with a one-foot swing arc max
• Partner speeds up; you only win the rep if you’re set for ball two