Stop Slicing Every Dink: Use the Bump to Create More Pressure and Win More Points

Main Points

• The bump is a more aggressive alternative to the traditional sliced dink out of the air.
• A bump adds pace and takes away your opponent’s time, making it harder for them to roll or attack the next ball.
• The shot is hit with a loose wrist before contact, then driven mostly with the shoulder and arm.
• Use the bump mainly to target your opponent’s feet or the middle of their stance to create awkward short hops.
• The bump is especially effective against players who like to roll the ball with a two-handed backhand.
• Compared with a slice, the bump gives you more reach and makes it easier to change direction forward.
• The slice still has value when you are moving or off balance, but the bump is better when you are set and ready.

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Summary

This video explains why the bump is becoming a valuable kitchen-line shot in modern pickleball. Instead of slicing a dink out of the air, the bump sends the ball with a little more pace, which reduces your opponent’s time and makes their next move harder.

The key technique is simple: keep the wrist relaxed before contact, then lock it in and push through the ball with the shoulder. The paddle face is adjusted based on ball height, with a slightly more closed face on higher balls and a more open face on lower balls.

The most effective targets are your opponent’s feet or the middle of their stance. That placement creates awkward contact, short hops, and fewer easy roll opportunities, especially against players who like to attack with a heavy backhand roll.

The bump also gives you more reach than a slice, which makes it useful for changing direction forward or pushing the ball into space when opponents are crowding the net. The main takeaway is that when you are set and expecting a roll, the bump can be a stronger, more disruptive option than the slice.

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Tags: Backhand | Defense | Dink | Drill | Richard PIckleball