The Advantages of Underspin

Underspin, also called “Slice” and “Backspin”, is one of the two main techniques used to hit the ball. This technique can be used on any ball hit to you and can hit all the different shots in the game. It is the most versatile because it is a short and concise movement. One of the best features of this technique is that it models the skill of catching the ball with your hand. If you can physically move to catch a ball, then you could use your paddle to hit the ball back over the net. When catching a ball, you don’t use a backswing and there is no follow through. So this is the case when hitting the ball with the underspin technique.

Tennis most closely resembles pickleball in the names of the shots and techniques of hitting a ball over a net. The USPTA, United States Professional Tennis Association, has a skills test that the professional teachers must pass in order to earn their teaching certificate. The specific skills tests require that you hit the ball with both spins: topspin and underspin.

All the professional pickleball players hit the pickleball with both spins. The fact that professionals in both pickleball and tennis should be overwhelming evidence that you too should learn and use both techniques.

Underspin can be used on any ball an opponent hits to you. During a game you will have to return shots that are wide and require you to stretch, and fast shots and balls that are hit at various heights. The underspin technique enables easier small blocking motions that can be used to return any ball you can get your paddle on.

Every shot can be hit with underspin. Underspin is the most versatile technique, allowing you to hit the ball from a drop shot, to a drive, to a volley, or to a lob.

The small and compact motion of underspin allows you to return fast and difficult balls. If you have the hands to catch a ball, then you are able to position your paddle face in order to block the ball back over the net. When you catch a ball with your hand, you don’t use a backswing or a follow through. The mechanics of what you hand does when catching a ball is similar to hitting the ball with your paddle. Make contact with the ball out in front of your body with a compact motion.

It allows you to return shots to all areas of your opponent’s court. The controlling factors for ball placement are the angle, height, pace, and spin that are applied to the ball. In this chapter, we are talking about the spin. The skill that exemplifies your ability to control the ball by taking speed off of an incoming ball is the “chip and catch”. If you master this skill, you can then control shots to your opponent’s kitchen, inside their baseline, and all distances in between.