6,048 Things You Didn’t Know About the Backhand Roll

Chaz Jones Takes America By Storm!

In this issue of Bite Size Pickleball’s newsletter:

1. The Backhand Roll

2. Why the Mental Game is So Important

3. BBC Reporter Chaz Jones 47th Part Series on Pickleball

I posted a page from my book How to Play Better Pickleball last week on the Bite Size Pickleball Facebook group on the backhand roll, and it went off, in terms of how many people saw it, and commented on it. This tells me players understand how vital the backhand roll is to the future of their game. The message was specifically geared for beginners and intermediates who need to transition from a backhand punch to a backhand roll, largely because too many of the punches sail out of bounds. I’ll repost that page below, and then get into the other 6,048 things you should know about a roll below it, along with an instructional video from the GOAT himself.

For anyone first trying a roll, start small, with just a little arm movement that begins a little lower than you would with a punch. The idea is to come up, and under the ball, and then rolling your paddle arm over the top of the ball. So, you make contact with the ball on its downside, then carry the ball up, and over, and down at your opponent’s feet. This action will create topspin. Topspin balls, when hit right, sail downwards.

There is also what is called a backhand flick, and that’s when you use your wrist to do the same thing, starting low, and coming over top of the ball. I have played guitar for years, so my wrist is very Gumby-like, and I use it to create a lot of power on my flicks. However, many players don’t have that wrist flexibility, or timing needed to perfect the flick. If that’s you, don’t worry, keep your arm relatively steady, and the roll will work just fine for you, and help you eliminate a lot of the balls you hit out with the punch. The main thing to think about, on the beginner and intermediate level, is that you’re using a roll so the ball heads downward, rather than up, and “out.”

But don’t eliminate the punch entirely, because you’re going to use it when you are at the NVZ, and you’re keeping your opponents pinned at the baseline. And you’re going to use it when you get to an advanced level and you’re engaged in firefights. In those, you’re waiting for a ball, just high enough, to go from the punch, to the roll on, and end the point. Punch, punch, punch, high ball, roll, end point.

I see a lot of balls flying out when players are using their backhand punch when they’re moving in from the baseline to the kitchen. Number one, it’s often really hard to be accurate when you hit on the run, so you want to think about hitting first, and moving after that. Number two, put just a little roll into those, and you’ll correct a bunch of your unforced errors. But if you roll too much, you’ll hit it into the net.

Also, you need to make sure to utilize your legs when you’re rolling. Bend at the knees, and then use the spring in your body action to help propel the ball with more force than you’re able to have standing straight up. Once you get really good, you’ll be able to get super low in your stance, and your paddle way out over the kitchen, where you’ll take balls below the height of the net, and roll them back over the net.

For that, let’s look at a video from the GOAT, Ben Johns, who has the most lethal backhand roll in the game. Watch video.

Why the Mental Game is so Important

I was playing in a league recently with a player who was filling in for my usual partner. This guy had some truly amazing 5.0 level plays. Like, sh*t that blew my mind. But then, right after a bunch of brilliant plays, he could turn around and make several unforced errors in a row. Hot, and cold. I believe, it was because his mental game needs work. I’ve already told him if he improves upon it, he can easily get to 5.0, so I am not trying to “out him.” I am just being honest. It’s not like I am saying he sucks. Because he doesn’t, the skies the limit when it comes to his potential. Plus, the dude is really nice, and I think he knows I only have his best interests in mind. As I do yours. And if you want to improve rapidly in pickleball, you need to be just as honest about your own game.

Improving your mental game is so KEY, no matter what level you’re at, or trying to get to. BUT, if you’re shooting for the gold, in high level competition, and you don’t have just as strong of a mental game as your physical game, you’re going to be in trouble.

I’m constantly amazed at how serious pickleball players will play, and practice, twice a day, take lessons, watch videos, etc., without any of that time devoted to the mind work. You are shooting yourself in the foot by not working on your mind. You might not shoot yourself in the foot, every time, but it’ll be there for you in the heat of the battle, and your mind, and game, will unravel.

This is a very in-depth topic, and I could take up 14 newsletters with it. Or, write a book about it. Oh, wait, I did write a book about it! The entire 2nd section of my How to Play Better Pickleball book is called The Mind Game. If you are serious about improving your mind, and thusly your pickleball, read it. I promise, no matter what level you are, you’ll gain valuable insight into how to use mindfulness to grow your overall game. As you can see by the reviews below, the mindfulness stuff is mentioned each time, and in several of the other reviews not shown here.

Read a sample of How to Play Better Pickleball for free at Amazon.

BBC Reporter Chaz Jones 47 Part Series on Pickleball in America

Don’t be sad, spoiler alert: Chaz recovers! So you may get to see parts 3-47 after all! You can send fan mail to Chaz in the comments below. Is there anything you’d like to see him tackle with pickleball? Maybe you’d like to see him play? We may need eclipse glasses for that!