Master 4 Pro Pickleball Shots: Two-Handed Roll, Forehand Speed-Up, Backhand Flick & Offensive Lob

Main Points

• Two-Handed Backhand Roll (Hayden):
  • Use an upward brushing motion, not a flat groundstroke.
  • Contact the ball in front or at the middle of your stance.
  • Stay low and lean forward through the shot.
  • Keep the grip continental and motion compact.
  • Use the roll to attack slice dinks or neutralize aggressive players.
• Forehand Speed-Up Off the Bounce (Kate):
  • Best used on slightly higher, dead, or topspin dinks.
  • Disguise the shot by maintaining a dinking posture.
  • Use wrist flexion to direct the ball down the line or to the body.
  • Prioritize placement and deception over power.
  • Choose attack spots based on your opponent’s tendencies—body for women’s doubles, hip or wide targets in mixed play.
• Backhand Flick from the Right Side (Gabe):
  • Execute from a continental grip, dropping and brushing upward with the wrist.
  • Aim to go behind your opponent or to the middle to create chaos.
  • Coordinate positioning with your partner to control middle space.
  • Keep paddle face slightly closed and use forearm pronation for spin and control.
• Offensive Lob (Anna):
  • Most effective from the kitchen line or taken out of the air.
  • Right-side geometry offers easier angles over opponents’ backhands.
  • Add topspin for control and bounce depth.
  • Avoid “panic lobs” and keep your wrist stable.
  • Use successful lobs to push opponents back and dominate the kitchen line.

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Summary

This video brings together four world-class pickleball players—Hayden, Kate, Gabe, and Anna—each teaching a signature offensive skill designed to elevate your court play. The combination of their lessons gives you a full toolkit of advanced techniques for every part of the kitchen and transition game.

Hayden begins with the two-handed backhand roll, breaking it down into three fundamentals: brushing up and through the ball rather than swinging like a groundstroke, making contact out in front, and staying low with forward momentum. He emphasizes simplicity and body positioning, using this shot to generate topspin and aggression while staying balanced. The roll becomes a key weapon against slicers or players who rely heavily on topspin exchanges.

Next, Kate takes over to demonstrate the forehand speed-up off the bounce, one of the most useful attacks in doubles play. She focuses on disguising the shot, keeping her motion identical to a dink until the last second. By flexing the wrist and changing paddle angle slightly, players can send the ball down the line, to the middle, or directly at their opponent’s body. Kate highlights how timing, control, and deception outweigh pure power—especially when countering opponents who expect hard drives.

Gabe then showcases the backhand flick from the right side, a quick, wrist-driven move that creates surprise and pressure in fast exchanges. Using a continental grip, he drops his wrist and brushes upward to create topspin while aiming for weak spots like the middle or behind opponents. He discusses teamwork and positioning with his doubles partner, stressing how court coverage and anticipation dictate whether he or his partner takes the middle attack.

Finally, Anna explains the art of the offensive lob, showing why it’s a powerful and underused tool. Lobbing out of the air at the kitchen line takes away opponents’ reaction time and keeps them off balance. When done from the right side, it exploits natural court geometry and opponents’ weaker backhands. She encourages players to use topspin for control, avoid panic lobs, and transition forward after a good lob to seize kitchen dominance. Her advice turns the lob from a defensive bailout into a calculated, point-winning tactic.

Altogether, these four lessons provide a masterclass in advanced offensive pickleball. Whether you’re rolling, speeding up, flicking, or lobbing, this video shows how proper mechanics, smart shot selection, and disciplined positioning can turn high-level techniques into consistent weapons on the court.

Source: Friday Pickleball | YouTube

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Tags: Anna Bright | Backhand Flick | Backhand Roll | Friday Pickleball | Hayden Patriquin | Kate Fahey | Lob | Speed Up