Independent & Unbiased
Founded in 2017, Pickleball Portal is one of the original pickleball content sites — built before the sport went mainstream. Our reviews are written by 14 independent contributors who play competitively and test gear firsthand. We may earn a small commission through affiliate links, but this never influences our recommendations. You pay nothing extra.
Top 5 pro player James Ignatowich
Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich, and I’m going to cover one more very important part of the overhead. You want to have your shoulders oriented to the sideline (Figure 1), so it’s a closed stance with the shoulders.
(Figure 1) View Selkirk Paddle at JustPaddles
You are not hitting the overhead like this (Figure 2).
(Figure 2)
I’ve seen way too many people hit an overhead like that, and that is not how you generate power with the overhead. It is a lot easier to get more power and leverage if you are faced towards the sidelines, so that when you hit it, your shoulder turn brings your right arm forward. You’re able to get way more leverage like that, and you’ll hit it significantly harder.
Turn your shoulders, side shuffle back, and when you hit it, let your shoulders do the work.
For exclusive content and special giveaways, make sure to check out the full James Ignatowich newsletter.
About James Ignatowich
Pickleball Portal Contributor
James Ignatowich is a contributor to Pickleball Portal, sharing insights and expertise to help players of all levels improve their game.
