Mark Renneson
One of the most important yet often overlooked fundamentals in pickleball is the ability to have a good impact point when hitting the ball. This is true whether you are hitting a drop or dink, a volley or smash, a serve or return. While many factors contribute to shot quality, the impact point (where a player hits the ball relative to their body) can significantly influence the quality and outcome of your play. After all, if you make contact in a comfortable position, it is much easier to control the paddle angle, swing path and swing speed.
A good impact point is typically out in front of your body, between you and the net. Ideally, the contact should be as high as possible, not too far away so that you are overstretching, and not too close, where your swing becomes cramped. Basically, it is the goldilocks rule – not too high, not too low, not too far and not too close.
Why is the impact point so important? For starters, while a perfect impact point doesn’t guarantee your shot will go exactly where you want, it makes it far more likely. Having a good impact point allows for better shot disguise (e.g. if your dink and speed up look essentially the same, it will be hard to know which is coming next). When you can make several different types of shots from the same position, you keep your opponents guessing.
Another key benefit is enhanced control and power. Good feel for the ball comes from contacting it at the right spot, where you can use your body most effectively. Power also comes more efficiently when your impact point is solid, reducing the strain it takes to hit the ball hard.
When a shot goes somewhere it isn’t supposed to—whether it sails long, falls short, or misses wide—the first question you should ask yourself is, “How was my impact point?” If it was poor, there isn’t a whole lot of additional digging you need to do. By analyzing and improving this fundamental element, you’ll build a stronger, more consistent game. Great shots start with great contact!
Mark Renneson is Tennis Canada’s Head of Pickleball Coach Education. He oversees Canada’s National Pickleball Instructor Certification Program which is a joint project between Tennis Canada and Pickleball Canada. He can be reached at mrenneson@tenniscanada.com