If You Can’t See It, It’s Too Far
Summary
Kyle Koszuta’s rule for fast exchanges: if you can’t see your paddle in your peripheral vision, your backswing is too far back. The paddle should stay in front of your shoulder for a tight, compact swing.
The reason is time. The ball arrives in a fraction of a second, so you don’t need extra force; just send your opponent’s pace back at them. On the backhand, a one-hander can turn and punch, while a two-hander turns the body a bit more, but it’s still more of a core twist than a swing.
Key takeaways
- Keep the paddle in front of your shoulder
- If you lose sight of the paddle, the backswing is too big
- Use your opponent’s pace instead of adding your own
- Backhand: turn and punch, more core twist than swing
Action items
- Do a fast-hands drill where you can always see your paddle
- Have a partner speed up at you and focus only on short blocks
- Film a hands battle and check whether your paddle goes behind your body