Forehand Short Hop: Keep the Paddle Sideways and Push Through — A Vertical Face Makes You Flick and Pop It Up

Summary

Richard Pickleball says the forehand short hop is one of the most important — and easiest — shots in pickleball if you do it right. The common miss is holding the paddle vertical. That setup makes you flick the wrist, and the ball pops up.

Instead, keep the paddle more sideways (it can be down a little). Get low and use your arm to push through the ball so it stays low to the net, rather than popping up and handing your opponents easy offense.

Key takeaways

• A vertical paddle on the forehand short hop leads to a wrist flick and a pop-up
• Keep the paddle more sideways — it can sit a little down
• Get low and push through with the arm so the ball stays low to the net

Action items

• Have a partner feed short, low balls and hit 15 forehand short hops with a sideways face, no wrist flick
• If you pop one up, check the face: was it vertical at contact?