Quick Fix Backhand Counter
All Things Pickleball diagnoses BH counters that die in the net as a prep problem: players close the paddle face early and swing high-to-low on balls that are above the tape but below chest height. A closed face on a downward path has nowhere to go but the net.
The quick fix is to prep with the face slightly open, then swing low-to-high / brush up so the ball clears while topspin still comes from swing path — not from slamming a closed face. Reframe the counter as “up,” not “down.”
Key takeaways
- Closed face + downward path = automatic net
- Prep slightly open on mid-height BH counters
- Swing low-to-high; topspin from path
- Counter up instead of chopping down
Action items
- Partner feeds mid-height BH attacks; start every rep face-open
- Call-out drill: partner yells “open!” if face closes early
- Wall: 30 BH counters focusing only on low-to-high brush
- Film paddle face at contact — should not be fully closed
- Next session: 10 minutes “counter up only” rule
- Send short to doubles partner and practice together once