Universal Rackets Weekly Update!

Let’s Talk About Your Pickleball Game

Why You Can’t Hit Big 3rd Shot Drives

🎯 THIS ONE SECRET WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING

Most coaches teach this:

• For Beginners: Takeback → Contact → Follow Through

• For Intermediates+: Takeback → Drop → Contact → Follow Through (to get under the ball and generate topspin)

  Click here to see a quick video explanation of this

  And yet… your drives still float. They don’t go through the court. They just pop up.

Is it because experienced players have decades of racket sports under their belt?

No. It’s because they’re doing 5 steps… and you’re doing 4.

The 5th Step That Changes Everything

Let’s break it down:

1. Takeback

2. Drop

3. Contact

4. Extension

5. Follow Through

Extension is the key. It’s the moment after contact and before your full follow through. It’s what drives the ball forward instead of just upward.

What Extension Does:

• Makes the ball penetrate through the court

• Keeps your shot low and fast

• Forces your opponent to hit up from their feet

• Transforms your drive from a pop-up into a weapon

  Try These Tips to Feel Extension:

• Hit through 3 balls, not just one

• Think “forward, then up”, not “just up”

• Keep swinging forward until your paddle tip points at your target

Click here for a full video on how to 10 Different Ways To Hit A Forehand 3rd Shot Drive

3 Musts to DOMINATE the Kitchen

Controlling the kitchen — it’s about discipline, mindset, and micro-movements. Here are three must-know principles that will immediately improve your kitchen game::

🎯 #1 Less Is More

Time is currency at the kitchen line. The more you move your paddle, the longer your shot takes — and the more time you give your opponent. Whether it’s volleys, dinks, or speedups: limit your swing.

How to train this: Grab a partner and practice dinks, then volleys, with one goal in mind: move your paddle as little as possible. Build muscle memory for compact, efficient strokes. You’ll be amazed how little motion it takes to execute clean shots.

🎯 #2 High = Tilt Down l Lower = Tilt Up

Players often pop balls up or hit them into the net because they use the same paddle angle no matter where contact happens.

• If you’re below the net, you need to hit up — slightly open your paddle face.

• If you’re above the net, you need to hit down — close the face slightly.

This tiny adjustment will give you the trajectory and margin you need to control every ball at the kitchen.

🎯 #3 Shift Your Mindset

In a dinking rally, most players get scared. They think: “Don’t pop it up… don’t miss… don’t let my partner down…” And guess what? They pop it up.

Instead, shift your thinking. You’re in it. You can go one more ball. Treat it like an ice bath or a yoga pose — embrace the stress, stay present, and commit to the moment.

This mental approach builds confidence and keeps you calm, focused, and ready — whether you’re dinking or battling at the net..

Master these 3 and you’ll control the kitchen like a pro. Think small. Think smart. Think dominant.

Photo From our Lower Merion Junior Pickleball Camp
Click here to view all 2025 Junior Summer Camps

Summer Programs Start This Week!

Universal Rackets is kicking off another exciting season — now offering programs at 38+ locations across PA, NJ, TX, FL, and IL!

Whether you’re looking for:

✅ Adult or Youth clinics

✅ Rating clinics

✅ Youth Summer Camps

✅ Social tournaments

✅ Round robins

✅ Picklepaloozas

✅ Fundraising events

✅ Or just a great way to play…

We’ve got something for every pickleballer and tennis player — of every age and skill level.

As your all-in-one, inclusive community provider, Universal Rackets offers flexible scheduling with programs available on weekdays, weekends, mornings, and evenings.

For Jersey Shore Programs visit: www.jerseyshorepickleballclinics.com

For Philadelphia Programs visit: www.phillypickleballclinics.com

For Main Line Programs visit: www.mainlinepickleballclinics.com

For Montgomery Programs visit: www.montgomerypapickleball.com

Click here to view all of our programs!

Pickleball Hydration: The Game-Changer You’re Probably Ignoring

You spend hours drilling your third shot drop… working on your footwork… dialing in your serve…

But if you’re not prioritizing hydration, you’re leaving wins (and your health) on the table.

Why Hydration Matters More in Pickleball

Pickleball might seem low-impact — but it’s a high-output sport. Short bursts, constant movement, hot sun, tight games. That all adds up to sweat. A lot of it. And when you’re even slightly dehydrated, everything suffers:

• Reaction time slows down

• Muscle fatigue sets in quicker

• Focus and decision-making drop off

• Injury risk increases

3 Keys to Staying Hydrated and Sharp on the Court

1. Hydrate Before You Play

Start sipping water 60–90 minutes before your match or clinic. Think of it like pre-loading your tank — not scrambling to fill it mid-match.

2. Don’t Rely on Water Alone

In long sessions or hot weather, plain water doesn’t cut it. You’re losing sodium, potassium, and electrolytes. Use a quality hydration mix (skip the sugar bombs) to keep your balance right and your body firing on all cylinders.

3. Sip, Don’t Guzzle

Big gulps = side cramps. Little sips throughout = steady performance. Keep a bottle by the bench and drink between games or during any break.

Pro Tip:

If you’re feeling off, tired, foggy, or cramping — assume it’s hydration. Adjust and rehydrate before it affects your game or leads to injury.

You might not even feel thirsty, but if you wait until you do — it’s too late.

Hydration isn’t a bonus — it’s a performance tool. The best players don’t just train harder. They recover smarter. Stay sharp. Stay fast. Drink up.

Lesson of the Week: Topspin Masterclass

Click here to view this week’s lesson

Thank you for reading and we can’t wait to see you on court!

-Universal Rackets