3 Must-Know Pickleball Signals

WEEK 34

Welcome back to the Road to Pro!

Each week, I answer one of your questions, give you one advanced tip, and walk you through one helpful drill. Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

• Question: What hand signals to use with your partner?

• Tip: Why switching sides with your partner provides an advantage

• Drill: A fun and competitive drill to play with your friends

This week Seamus asked our featured question, so I’ll be sending him a new Selkirk paddle! If you want a chance to win a paddle, click on the button below to submit your pickleball questions. Anyone whose question is featured in my newsletter will automatically win a new paddle!

Now let’s get to it!

Q&A Spotlight

Talk to the Hand

Answer: When playing doubles in pickleball, hand signals are a great way to coordinate with your partner without giving away your strategy to your opponents. The player who isn't returning the serve is the one who gives the signals. You can either hide the signal behind your back or behind your paddle. I’m going to go over the three easiest and most common hand signals you and your partner need to know.

First, there's the open hand. This signal indicates that you want to switch sides after they return the serve. If you are going to switch after the return, your partner should return the ball straight ahead. Since you’re sliding over for the switch, you leave behind a gap that your partner has to fill. So, if your partner returns cross-court, they are giving that opponent the chance to hit an easy shot down the line before your partner can cross the court and reach the kitchen. Returning straight minimizes this risk and sets you both up for a smooth and safe switch.

Next up is the closed fist signal, which tells your partner to stay on their current side after the return. You should use this signal if you and your partner are already on the sides of the court that you both feel most comfortable and confident on. It’s also good to use this signal when you want to play it safe and maintain your positions to avoid being caught off guard by a strong shot from your opponents after the return.

The third signal is the fake switch. This is when you open and close your hand as if it's talking. It tells your partner you're planning a fake switch to confuse your opponents. Your partner should return the ball, pretend to be switching by taking a step or two cross-court, but quickly change directions and head straight to the net on the same side instead. Meanwhile, you should start sliding over as if you're going to switch, but at the last minute, move back to your original position. This can trick your opponents into thinking you’re leaving behind an open space. The best strategy for a fake switch is for your partner to return the ball cross-court to bait that opponent into hitting down the line. They’ll see you sliding over and think they’ll have a clear shot, so when you move back over and return the ball, you’ll catch them off guard and ideally win the point.

Using these hand signals adds an extra layer of strategy to your game, keeping your opponents guessing and giving you and your partner a tactical advantage.

______________________________________

If you have a question you’d like for me to answer, click the button below to fill out the question submission form.

If your question is chosen for next week’s newsletter, you’ll win a free paddle!

Stay in the Loop

All you sports fans out there should check out these other newsletters. It’s completely free to sign up, and not only do they give you great content, but it also helps me out, as I earn a little for each new subscriber.

Take a look!

Tip of the Week

Switch it Up

You know how to use the hand signals to switch sides, but now you need to know when you should be switching in the first place. It can be a game-changer for a few different reasons. You can switch sides after the return simply to mix things up and confuse your opponents, or maybe you feel more confident playing on a particular side of the court. The most common reason teams switch is to keep the strongest player on the left side, allowing them to cover the middle with their forehand.

Another common reason you might switch sides is if you're teaming up with a left-handed player. It's a smart move to keep both of your forehands in the middle. This setup makes it harder for opponents to take advantage of the gap between your backhands, which can be an easy target if both your forehands are on the outside.

It’s really important to remember that when you’re using hand signals to switch, you need to be adaptable. Always watch your return and adjust your plan if needed. For example, if your partner gives you a switch, but you end up hitting a really short return, you might not have enough time to cross the court and reach the net. In that case, just call out "stay" so your partner knows you can’t make the switch, and they’ll stay on their side.

The bottom line is to stay flexible and communicate with your partner. You and your partner should be able to adapt to what’s happening in the moment so you’re making the best decision for your team.

Drill Highlight

King of the Court

This week’s drill is a competitive game you can play with 2 or more players. Only 2 players stay on the court at a time, and if you have more than 2, they will wait on the side until it’s their turn to play. Choose one player to be the King, and the rest of the players are the challengers.

How it works: Start with one of the challengers playing against the King, and use half the court to play out a skinny-singles point. If the King wins the point, he continues as King and stays on the court, while the loser goes to the back of the challenger line. If the challenger wins the point, they become the new King, and the old King will become a challenger. After each point, a new challenger steps in and starts a new rally. The goal is to stay the King for as many consecutive points as possible.

Every player should keep track of their points as they play. You can set a timer for 30 minutes, and the player with the most points as King wins the game.

Videos You’ll Enjoy

• You can now go watch my most recent video on YouTube called, $1 vs $250 Pickleball Paddle Competition. Enjoy!

• Go take a look at Cracked Pickleball’s latest video, 6 Shots Unique To Pickleball That You NEED To Know!

Discounts for You

• (CODE: INF-Shea | $10-$40 future purchase gift card at Selkirk.com or SelkirkLabs.com)

• (CODE: SheaU-104849 | 10% off at PickleballSuperstore.com)

• (CODE: Shea20 | $20 off at PickleballSuperstore.com)

• (CODE: SHEA | $100 off at ernepickleballmachine.com)

• (CODE: SHEAUNDERWOOD | Free shipping at EnhancePickleball.com)

• (CODE: shea | Free $100 Swing Stick with purchase of SwingVision Pro at http://swing.vision/r/sheaunderwood)

Share the Road to Pro Newsletter

Share this newsletter with others! The button below will take you to my website where you can copy the URL to send to anyone you think may enjoy this content.

OR copy and paste this link: https://shea.beehiiv.com/