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What is the Pickleball Drive?
A pickleball drive is a hard, flat or topspin groundstroke hit with pace and power. You can also drive with slice but this is less common as it tends to float the ball more. The primary goal of a drive is to attack, putting your opponent under pressure and potentially forcing them into a weak return or error. Drives are typically hit from the baseline or mid-court and are typically aimed at an opponent’s body, down the center in doubles and into the spaces in singles making them difficult to return.
The drive can be hit on both the forehand and backhand sides, with variations in spin and trajectory depending on the situation. It's particularly useful in both singles and doubles play, though its effectiveness may vary depending on your positioning, your opponent’s positioning, and your overall game plan.
How To Hit A Pickleball Drive
Grip
The best grip is the one you usually use for your regular forehand or backhand side. For most people, this is usually Continental or Eastern for both the forehand or backhand or a standard two-handed-backhand grip.
If you are unsure about grip position, here is a video to help you:
Stance and Positioning
Usually, we choose to hit a drive from a ball that is easier to attack and generate power on. This is generally the kind of ball that you can step in on. The more you step into the ball, the more you can use your body weight to help generate power.
Move your feet quickly and get into position before hitting the ball. Good footwork allows you to strike the ball at the optimal point of contact, ideally just in front of your body. Shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you swing through the ball. This motion helps generate power and maintain balance throughout the shot.
Here's a video with some tips on how to generate power:
Contact Point
You should always be looking to contact the ball out in front. This is the area where you can generate the most power and spin. This is generally why we look to drive on a ball that has room to move into. Most drives should have at least a little topspin to help keep the ball controlled. Try to lift your paddle from low to high through the contact point.
Follow Through
Stay Loose on your follow-through. Lift the finish above the contact point and make sure the swing extends out and is not short and tight. The higher lift will help apply topspin and give you suffiecient net clearance.
When To Use The Pickleball Drive
A Short Serve
When you are returning and your opponent has served the ball short you can drive the ball to put pressure on the two baseline players. Driving down the center between the two players or to one of the player's weaker shots can help add more pressure.
A Short Return
The opposite situation to the above. You or your partner may have hit a strong serve which forced a short return. A good way to capitalize on this 3rd is to attack with a heavy drive down the middle. This can often win you the point outright or at least pop up the ball for an easy next shot!
Transitioning
When you are moving through the transition zone at any point and the ball comes at a speed that is easier for you to attack then it's a great way to cut down your opponent's reaction time. Make sure that the ball is not too low to strike well. It should be a ball that sits up high enough to attack.
Generic Groundstrokes
If you find yourself at the back of the court in singles or doubles then the opportunity often arises to drive the ball. More so in singles than doubles which is a game based more around groundstrokes. Try to mix it up to keep your opponent guessing!
Common Mistakes With The Pickleball Drive
The drive can be a hard shot to master if you have no prior racket sports experience.
Here's some common mistakes that we see with the pickleball drive:
Hitting In The Net
Hitting in the net is a common mistake and usually comes from players being too tight and not relaxing under the swing enough.
Below is a video that shows you some of the ways to stop hitting in the net:
Hitting Too Flat
We get it, hitting with spin is hard. Topspin is your best friend when it comes to drives. It means you can apply a lot more speed and still keep the ball controlled. If you are unsure about what topspin is, then here's an article that can help: Pickleball: Topspin 101
Something else that can help is the TopspinPro which was designed to help players master the biomechanics and muscle memory needed to become consistent with topspin. If you would like to see the TopspinPro in action then have a quick look at any of the videos listed in this article.
Hitting Long
Another very common mistake is to hit the ball long. It's easy to get over excited when you see that ball drop short and you just want to whack it! Again, this is where topspin can really help. There's also a few other factors that can cause it to go long. Check out the video below to see more:
Reacting Too Slowly
The key to a good pickleball drive is first anticipating it and second executing fast enough. If you are slow to notice a short ball or a ball that is easier to attack then by the time you get to the ball the opportunity may be lost to hit your best shot. Slow reactions can also lead to mishits and loss of control. A good way to improve this is to either train with a ball machine or a partner who can feed you some short balls. Practice moving up smoothly and quickly.
Conclusion
The pickleball drive is useful for players of all levels. Whether you're hitting a third-shot drive, returning serve with pace, or executing a passing shot, knowing how and when to use the drive can dramatically improve your game. By focusing on proper technique and regular practice, you can master the drive and become a more aggressive, successful player on the pickleball court.
FAQs
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What is a pickleball drive?
A pickleball drive is a hard, flat or topspin groundstroke hit with pace and power, usually from the baseline or mid-court. Its primary goal is to attack and put the opponent under pressure, making it difficult for them to return.
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How should I grip my paddle to hit a pickleball drive?
The best grip for a pickleball drive is the one you usually use for your regular forehand or backhand. Most players prefer the Continental or Eastern grip, or a standard two-handed backhand grip.
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What are key positioning tips for hitting a pickleball drive?
Good footwork is crucial; move your feet quickly and get into position before hitting the ball. Shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you swing, which helps generate power and maintain balance.
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When should I use a pickleball drive?
Use a pickleball drive on a short serve, a short return, while transitioning through the court, or during generic groundstrokes. These situations allow you to put pressure on your opponent and potentially win the point.
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What are common mistakes to avoid with the pickleball drive?
Common mistakes include hitting the ball into the net, hitting too flat, hitting long, and reacting too slowly. Focusing on topspin, staying relaxed, and practicing quick reactions can help overcome these issues.
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