LEARN & PLAY
Your first pickleball hit
Now let’s turn paddle control into a simple shot.
You don’t need an advanced tennis-style forehand. For now, the goal is much simpler: make clean contact, stay balanced and send the ball where you want it to go.
30 AUG 2026 - 2 MIN READ
Scott · Pickled to Play
Start with the simple version
Before you swing, get yourself into a comfortable ready position:
Feet balanced
Knees relaxed
Paddle in front
Eyes on the ball
Then keep the shot simple.
Let the ball come in front of your body.
Use a short, smooth swing.
Contact the ball in front.
Finish towards your target.
Bring the paddle back to ready.
Remember
Paddle in front.
Contact in front.
Short swing.
Finish towards your target.
What a beginner-friendly forehand looks like
A good first forehand doesn’t need a huge backswing.
Think about gently sending the ball towards your partner rather than trying to hit through it.
Stay balanced, meet the ball in front of your body, guide the paddle towards your target and then return to your ready position.
The goal isn’t power. It’s clean contact and control.
Try it with a partner
Stand roughly 3 to 4 metres apart.
Start with an easy toss.
Your partner gently tosses the ball towards you.
Let the ball bounce once.
Hit it softly back for your partner to catch.
Do 5 repetitions, then swap.
Once that feels comfortable, move into a simple rally.
Both players let the ball bounce and try to hit it back to each other.
Start by aiming for:
3 hits in a row
Then:
5 hits in a row
Then see if you can beat your longest rally.
The goal is not to beat your partner.
The goal is to help your partner hit the next ball.
That mindset will make learning much easier.
Try it against a wall
No partner? A wall works too.
Find a safe wall with plenty of space around you.
Start close to the wall.
Drop the ball, let it bounce, then hit it gently towards the wall. Let the rebound bounce before you hit it again.
See if you can make:
3 controlled hits
Then: 5
Then: 10
If the ball starts getting away from you, slow everything down and shorten the swing.
Common mistakes
Huge backswing
If your swing feels big and rushed, make the movement about half the size.
A shorter swing is usually much easier to control.
The ball keeps flying upwards
Try contacting the ball a little further in front of your body and guide it more forwards towards your target.
Trying to hit too hard
Slow everything down.
At this stage, control matters far more than power.
Quick check
Where should you ideally contact the ball?
In front of you.
That gives you more control over both the direction of the shot and the paddle face.
The goal for now
You don’t need a perfect forehand.
You simply want to be able to:
stay balanced
make clean contact
control where the ball goes
recover your paddle back to ready
keep a short rally going
If you can do that, you’re already building the foundation for much more of the game.
Want to practise this on court?
Sometimes the easiest way to learn is to have someone guide you through it while you play.
My beginner coaching sessions are relaxed, practical and focused on helping you build confidence from the basics up.
READY TO GET ON COURT?
Whether you're completely new or just want to feel more confident, let's get you playing.
Enquire Now