Shea Underwood - Road to Pro

Maximize Power

Shea Underwood — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:00:10 +0000

This newsletter is sponsored by Selkirk

Week 67

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter!

Here are three valuable pickleball tips in under a minute…

_____________________________________

Be deliberate in your backswing.
- Have a slow and controlled backswing. This will give you consistent timing, and your serve will be more effective and reliable.

Load your weight on your back leg.
- Transfer your weight to your front leg as you swing forward and make contact with the ball. The momentum will maximize the power you can add to your serve.

Keep your torso upright.
- Also keep your knees bent and generate power from the ground for maximum power. When your torso is bent over, you’re unable to add a lot of power or see where you’re aiming your serve.

_____________________________________

Here’s a 7-day free trial to a pickleball resource created by the best pickleball coach I know, Kyle Koszuta. Click the button below for access.

That Pickleball School

- Shea

Third Shot Cheat Code

Shea Underwood — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 19:30:13 +0000

This newsletter is sponsored by Selkirk

Week 66

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter!

Here is one valuable pickleball tip to put into practice this week…

_____________________________________

How to Set Up for the Optimal Third Shot

One of the most common (and easiest to fix) mistakes I see in players 4.0 and below is what happens right after they serve. They serve the ball, then immediately take a step or two inside the court. And when the return comes back deep, they are caught scrambling backward.

If you have the tendency to do this, you’ll find it puts you out of position to hit a good third shot, which means you won’t be able to get to the net, or you’ll just miss the shot altogether.

The incredibly simple fix is to take a step back directly after you’ve followed through on your serve. Your goal is to create space so that a deep return lands in front of you when you’re already balanced and ready. Your third shot will be so much more controlled and effective, which means you’ll be able to approach the kitchen sooner.

It’s so much easier to run forward on a short return than it is to be reeling backward on a deep one. So, start making it automatic to take a step back and get balanced after your serve. If you’re intentional about the way you start each point, you’re well on your way to becoming a much better player overall.

_____________________________________

If your New Year’s resolution is to get better at pickleball, the resource below will help you immensely.👇

Valuable Pickleball Resource

If you’re serious about getting better at pickleball, I want to put you onto a resource that’s genuinely game-changing.

That Pickleball School, created by my friend Kyle Koszuta (ThatPickleballGuy), a pro player and incredible coach, has 1,000+ members focused on improving. What makes this resource unique is that it’s not just content. It’s a full community where you can interact with other members and expert coaches, join weekly live office hours, submit match footage for personalized breakdowns and coaching from an expert coach, and even send in footage to get your DUPR rating.

If you want to check it out, you can use the link below for a 7-day free trial to check it out before committing. You’ll get a ton of value just in those 7 free days, so there really is no reason not to do it. Use this link to sign up: That Pickleball School.

Discounts on Pickleball Gear

(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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Bait The Return

Shea Underwood — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:06:10 +0000

Week 65

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Why the lob serve is the easiest pickleball strategy
A truly valuable pickleball resource

Estimated read time: 2 minutes and 18 seconds

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

I’m sure you’ve heard about the Boomstik by now. It’s Selkirk’s newest and most powerful paddle. I’ve been using it for a while now and trust me…it lives up to its name. It comes out of the case perfect and ready to play, with no break-in period. The core is built to last an incredibly long time, there are weights on the sides that keep it perfectly balanced, AND it comes with the new InfiniGrit surface, which gives longer-lasting spin.

You can get it on Selkirk’s website here and use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card toward a future purchase.

The Underestimated Serve

If you want to play mind games on your opponents, throw in the lob serve every now and then in a game. I know that sounds pretty random, but when you hit this type of serve at the right time, it’s one of the easiest and most rewarding strategies in pickleball.

The reason why is because one of three things will almost always happen with the return:

Your opponent will get over-eager to rip the ball off the high bounce, and it will often just go into the net or out of bounds.
They will hit a lob return back to you, which sets you up for a super easy third shot that you can drive from above the net.
They will hit a weak return because they are unfamiliar with generating pace from above their hips since the ball bounces so high.

All three situations are extremely favorable for you and are easily accomplished with a simple lob serve. Just make sure you keep it deep in the court. If you serve it too short, then you’re just giving your opponents an easy return that’s dangerous for you.

Wait for the right time to hit this serve in a game, and watch if it throws your opponents off. It’s possible this simple shot could flip the game in your favor.

That Pickleball School

If you’re serious about getting better at pickleball, I want to put you onto a resource that’s genuinely game-changing.

You’ve probably heard of my friend, Kyle Koszuta (ThatPickleballGuy), a pro player and an incredible coach. Last year he launched a project called That Pickleball School, which already has over 1,000 members all dedicated to getting better at pickleball.

What makes it really unique is that it’s not just pickleball content, but it’s also a community where you can post questions and get answers from expert coaches and other members. There are also weekly live office hours, options to send in match footage for a full breakdown of personalized feedback and coaching from an expert coach, and even submit footage to get your DUPR rating.

To be a part of this community, you can click the link below to get a 7-day free trial to check it out before you commit. You’ll get a ton of value just in those 7 free days, so there really is no reason not to do it. You can use this link to sign up: That Pickleball School.

Discounts on Pickleball Gear

(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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Ultimate Training Tactic

Shea Underwood — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:44:50 +0000

Week 64

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Luis from Georgia!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Two ways to use rec games for faster improvement
A great pickleball resource I don’t want you to miss out on

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Estimated read time: 2 minutes

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

If you’re still looking for some Christmas gift ideas for friends and family, pickleball gear is a great choice! Selkirk is having some great holiday deals going on, so go check them out before they end! Some of their best paddles have insane discounts right now.👀

Don’t forget to use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card toward a future purchase.

Intentional Defense

I want to help you rewire the way you look at rec play. Even if you’re competitive, winning the Saturday morning games at your local courts doesn’t really matter, but the reps do. If you use those games intentionally, you can improve in really specific ways and level up fast. This week I’m giving you two simple ways to do that.

1) Hit more shots to the better player.

Make it a goal to send most of your balls to the stronger opponent. You’ll naturally get tougher shots, more attacks, and better placement, which means higher-quality reps for you. But of course, since it’s just rec, you don’t need to freeze out the weaker player, because they want to play too, but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself with the stronger one. Wins and losses don’t matter much in open play, so treat each game like a training ground.

2) Put yourself on defense on purpose.

Every now and then, create a tough situation on purpose. Hit a slightly bad lob, or leave a drop or dink a little high, then focus on defending or counterattacking your way out of it. The more you do this, the sharper your reflexes get, the better your court awareness becomes, and the more comfortable you’ll feel under pressure when points actually matter.

That said, it’s smart to clear this with your partner before you start baiting opponents on purpose. Otherwise, they may just get annoyed if you keep putting them on defense when they didn’t ask for it. So maybe just double-check before committing to this kind of game.

That Pickleball School

If you’re serious about getting better at pickleball, I want to put you onto a resource that’s genuinely game-changing.

What makes it really unique is that it’s not just pickleball content, but it’s also a community where you can post questions and get answers from expert coaches and other members. There are also weekly live office hours, options to send in match footage for a full breakdown of personalized feedback and coaching from an expert coach, and even submit footage to get your DUPR rating.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Speedup Trap

Shea Underwood — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:00:50 +0000

Week 63

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Hayden from California!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Two tricks for exploiting your opponents’ weaknesses
A fun and simple way to master lobs

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Estimated read time: 2 minutes and 25 seconds

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

I personally have been using a Selkirk paddle for over five years now, and they just released an incredible new paddle called the Boomstick. Trust me…it lives up to its name. It’s the most powerful paddle I’ve ever played with, and it comes out of the case perfect and ready to play, which means there’s no break-in period. The core is built to last an incredibly long time, there are weights on the sides that keep it perfectly balanced, AND it comes with the new InfiniGrit surface, which gives you longer-lasting spin.

You can get it on Selkirk’s website here and use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card toward a future purchase.

Shoot the Gap

I’m sure you’ve played with plenty of opponents who hit every single ball, even the ones that are obviously going out. If you do, I’ve got good news for you: your opponent’s inability to let out-balls go makes it a lot easier to hit speedups.

Since they struggle to see when a ball is going out, it takes some pressure off you to hit a perfect, low speedup that lands in every time. In this case, your speedups don’t always have to be perfect since your opponent will save your bad ones. Now, I’m not saying that means you can just stop trying to hit good speedups. You should still work on mastering this shot because it is a necessary skill in pickleball. However, knowing that your opponent might bail you out gives you more freedom to go for speedups much more often without stressing about making them perfect.

Another trick I’ve got for you is for when you’re playing on the right side. Most opponents don’t expect the right-side player to be aggressive because that’s usually the “weaker” player. It’s a great opportunity to use that to your advantage. When the opponent in front of you slides over to take more shots from the middle (which is very common in doubles), they leave their sideline open. The second you see that happening, hit a speedup down the line into the gap they left behind. They usually won’t expect that kind of attack from the weaker player, which means they won’t be very prepared, and will often just miss that shot. As the weaker player, your secret weapon could simply be that your opponents think you’re too weak. Prove them wrong.

If you end up playing some doubles this week, keep your eye out for these two things and see if they can earn you some points.

The Underestimated Shot

In my opinion, lobs are undervalued but highly useful in pickleball. However, I know many people struggle to hit them or even know how to respond properly when they get lobbed on, since it’s not as common of a shot. That’s why I’m giving you a fun drill this week to practice both hitting and receiving lobs.

First, position yourself crosscourt from another player at the kitchen line. One of you will be hitting lobs, the other will be retrieving them. Once you figure out who’s doing what, start a rally by hitting a couple dinks. After hitting 1-2 dinks to get the rally going, the designated lobber will lob down the line.

The retriever will run back, hit a good drop into the kitchen to reset, then get back to the kitchen, ending up directly in front of the lobber. The lobber should play cooperatively to let their partner get back to the kitchen, since the goal of this drill is lobbing and responding.

Once the retriever gets back to the kitchen, hit 1-2 dinks, then lob crosscourt. The retriever will run back, drop it in the kitchen, then end up at the kitchen crosscourt again from the lobber where they originally started the drill.

Make sure you switch positions so both players get practice in both scenarios, and the retriever can catch their breath.

Have fun!

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Control the Point

Shea Underwood — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 18:41:39 +0000

Week 62

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Isabelle from Minnesota!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

How to set yourself up for a favorable third shot
A way to level up your footwork and composure on the court

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Estimated read time: 2 minutes and 25 seconds

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

You can get it on Selkirk’s website here and use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card toward a future purchase.

Keep Them On Their Toes

Contrary to what many beginners in pickleball think, the serve isn’t necessarily meant to win the point. If it does, great, but you should always expect a return. Instead, think about using your serve to set yourself up for a favorable third shot.

The way to do this is by trying a variety of serves: a fast topspin, a slice, a lob, one landing short in the court, etc. Every opponent responds to various serves differently because they all have different weaknesses. So, find the serve they struggle to hit a strong return off of and use that to set yourself up for an easy third. The easier your third shot is for you, the quicker you can get to the net. Once you find the serve that works, stick with it until your opponent proves they can handle it, then switch it up and try a new one. Never let them get too comfortable.

This method will help you control the beginning of the rally. It puts more pressure on your opponent at the very beginning of the point and allows you to establish yourself offensively right away.

I actually just posted a video with my partner Caleb on our YouTube channel, Cracked Pickleball. We break down a bunch of different serves, how to do them, and whether or not they are worth using. You can watch it by clicking on the link below!👇

Cat & Mouse

If you’ve never played cat and mouse, you’re missing out. This is a really fun drill that’ll clean up your footwork, get you warmed up, and help you remain calm in fast-paced rallies.

What to do: Both players start in the kitchen. Take a ball, place it on top of the net, and hit the net with your paddle so the ball falls naturally to one side. Whosever side it lands on starts the rally. From there, you use the entire kitchen, hitting only dinks to win the point. The first player to 5 points wins.

The rules are simple: The ball drop decides who starts, and you play only in the kitchen. If you hit a shot past the kitchen that’s a lost point. The player who loses the rally starts the next point with the ball drop. Around the post shots (or ATPs) are in play! If you get the opportunity, take it. Even though it’s past the kitchen, it’s still a point.

Since you’re using the entire kitchen for this, you’re going to get tired and feel rushed to get to the ball. That’s good. It’ll train you to stay calm, stay low, move efficiently, maintain clean footwork, and still hit intentional shots in a fast rally.

Overall, it’s a really fun drill to play with friends. You could even play King-of-the-Hill style where the person who wins the point stays on the court, and the person who loses gets off to be replaced by a new player.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Drive vs. Drop

Shea Underwood — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:01:39 +0000

Week 61

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Eugene from Colorado!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

What to look for before you hit your third shot
A simple, effective way to practice this☝️

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Estimated read time: 2 minutes and 30 seconds

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

You can get it on Selkirk’s website here and use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card toward a future purchase.

Where Does the Return Land?

If you’ve been playing pickleball for any amount of time, I’m sure you’ve heard of the third-shot drop. It’s a popular way to start a rally: serve, return, drop into the kitchen. Another popular option is to drive your third, then drop your fifth to start moving toward the kitchen. A third-shot drive can be a great idea, but it’s not always the right call. I’m going to tell you a really simple way to know when to drop and when to drive your third shot.

If the return lands in the front half of the court, you should hit a drop. When you’re closer to the net, it’s more difficult to hit a drive that’ll be high enough to clear the net but still low enough to stay in the court. You also don’t want to be hitting a drive while you’re rushing forward to get to a shorter return. You won’t have much time to get into a good position, and you might be making contact with the ball while moving, which is a great way to hit a bad shot. That’s why hitting a drop is a lot smarter when you get this kind of return. A drop into the kitchen will let you approach the net safely where you can then become more offensive.

If the return lands in the back half of the court, you can drive the ball. This is when you can comfortably hit a drive without worrying that it’ll go out of bounds. You also have more time to get into a good position so you can hit a great drive.

One caveat here: there’s a little risk when you drive from so far back. Your opponent could choose to dump their next ball really short, forcing you to sprint forward to get it. It could possibly put you in a difficult position if you’re not careful, so be prepared to run to the net if you’re driving the ball on your third shot.

Perfect Your Third

A really good way to practice what I told you this week is by grabbing a bucket of balls and heading to the courts with your drilling partner. Position yourself and the bucket of balls at the baseline in a serving position, and put your partner diagonally across from you at their baseline to hit returns.

You’ll serve a ball, your partner will hit a return, and then you should drive or drop your third shot based on whatever return you receive. That’s one rep of the drill. No need to keep the point going or stop to chase the ball. Just keep hitting serve-return-third, using the bucket of balls you brought.

Your goal is to read the return and make the right decision to either drive or drop. The repetition of this drill will help you create muscle memory. The more you do this, the easier it will be for you to know what type of third shot you should hit, and the less you’ll have to think about it in a real game. It’ll just come naturally.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Target Forehands

Shea Underwood — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:00:10 +0000

Week 60

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Anna from New York!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Two tips for applying more pressure at the net
How to break the habit of moving prematurely

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

You can get it on Selkirk’s website here and use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card toward a future purchase.

Hit Down

Control at the kitchen can shift so quickly. One moment you’re on offense, the next you’re getting attacked. This week, I’m going to share two really important tips with you that will help you become more dominant at the net.

I see plenty of players try to win more points simply by adding more power. But power doesn’t always translate to better play or more rallies won. When you’re at the net, the key is to keep the ball low so that you force your opponent to hit up on the ball. When you aim for your opponent’s feet, or just keep the ball low over the net, it’s a lot more difficult for them to return those shots. They’ll most likely be forced to hit up on the ball, trying to reset it, and the more you can put them in this position, the more likely you are to get a shot you can easily put away.

Another tip you should keep in mind when you’re at the net is to target forehands when hitting speedups. Many players rely heavily on their backhands during hands battles. That’s because your backhand is steadier and more controlled at the net, and it easily defends the majority of your body, meaning most players’ natural instinct is to counter your attack with their backhand. So, if you aim for their forehand, you could easily be forcing them into a chicken wing (see image below) by taking advantage of their instinctual backhand. And when players are caught in a chicken wing, it most often leads to a weak or missed shot from them.

Elbow out, awkward position, getting jammed with the ball

Next time you’re out on the courts, try to focus on these two things and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Avoid Flinching

Since I just told you where to aim your speedups to take advantage of other players’ weaknesses at the net, here’s a drill to help you avoid being exploited the same way.

As I said, most players instinctively block or counter a speedup with their backhand because it covers most of their body and offers more control. The problem is you never truly know where the ball is going. That’s why if you always default to your backhand, you’re going to get surprised by a speedup to your forehand (just like I explained above). To avoid getting caught in this position yourself, try this:

Stand across from your drilling partner at the kitchen line and start dinking. Every now and then, your partner should fake a speedup. Meaning they should swing as if they are speeding up at you, but instead miss the ball entirely. You’ll immediately notice that you move your paddle instinctively even though they never hit the ball. Most likely, you’ll flinch to your backhand. Ask your partner to keep pointing it out to you so you become hyperaware of this premature movement. Keep repeating this until you don’t flinch when your partner fakes a speedup.

This drill is ultimately about awareness. It’ll train your body and mind to respond only when the ball is truly coming towards you, instead of guessing and moving too early.

Always remember: opponents are unpredictable. Instead of trying to outguess them, trust your eyes and your reflexes. Premature movement can cost you a lot of points.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Overlooked Strategies

Shea Underwood — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Week 59

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Levi from Colorado!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Easy strategies to regain control of the game
Two quick drills for developing faster reflexes

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

You can get it on Selkirk’s website here and use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card toward a future purchase.

Slow It Down

If you ever feel like you can’t keep up with the pace of a game and you start to lose control, there’s a really simple and overlooked strategy to get your control back. You can change the pace of the game with how (and when) you hit certain shots, especially as the server or the returner.

Server:

If you need to slow things down, remember (according to tournament rules) you have up to 10 seconds after calling the score to serve. Use that window to pause—catch your breath, settle your nerves, or even let your opponent’s impatience build.

On the flip side, don’t be afraid to keep up your momentum and serve quickly so that your opponent doesn’t have a chance to breathe. Not giving your opponent time to rest between points can put more pressure on them to keep up with your speed, and it can make them feel like they’re scrambling to keep up.

Returner:

On the returning side, raise your hand in the air before the server calls the score to signal you’re not ready to start the point. By rule, they can’t serve until you’re ready. Take that time to breathe, plan what kind of return you’re going to hit, or disrupt the other team’s momentum if they are trying to keep a faster pace. Small pauses at the right time can reset the rally for you.

______________________________________

These small strategies are designed more specifically for tournaments when the stakes are higher. However, it doesn’t hurt to practice them in rec play so you can easily use them in a tournament. Plus, if you care about winning your rec games too, (which, let’s face it, who doesn’t?) these strategies can still come in handy.

SwingVision Offer

If you haven’t already heard about SwingVision, you need to go check it out! It makes recording and reviewing pickleball matches so easy, specifically because it cuts out dead space from videos, it automatically compiles clips of different shots I can filter through, and probably one of the most innovative things is that it gives access to live line calls. 👀

Those are only a few of the highlights though. There are so many more features that are really beneficial to pickleball players (and tennis… if you’re into that).

I’ve also got a great discount for you! Click on the image below to receive a $100 Swing Stick for free with SwingVision Pro.

Automatic Movements

To be really good at pickleball, quick reflexes are absolutely essential. If you feel like you respond slowly to faster shots on the court, I’ve got good news for you…you can develop faster reflexes so that your reactions become quicker and more automatic.

So, this week I’ve got one solo drill and one partner drill that’ll help you enhance your reflexes.

Solo Drill:

If you want to drill on your own, find a solid wall that you can hit a ball off of, or go to the courts if there’s a dedicated wall there. Stand a few feet away from the wall, and hit a series of fast punches against it. Keep up a rally as long as you can, and if you miss the ball, just restart. Standing this close to the wall will make the ball travel back to you way faster than it ever would in a game. The easier this drill becomes for you, the slower everything else will seem on the court, which means your reflexes are getting faster.

Partner Drill:

If you have a partner to drill with, here’s what you can do: start a dinking rally and have your partner randomly hit speedups. You can decide to either block these or counter. It doesn’t matter what you choose. Maybe do a mix of both. This is just good practice to enhance your reflexes with unexpected attacks from your partner. Attack shots that are unexpected like these are what get most people in a pickle (no pun intended). So, practicing it before you get into a game can help you become much more prepared.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

ATP Trap

Shea Underwood — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 23:20:02 +0000

Week 58

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Alejandra from Michigan!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Tips for hitting one of the best high-level shots
A way to practice creating ATP opportunities

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

You can get it on Selkirk’s website here and use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card toward a future purchase.

ATP Hacks

Most players think of the ATP (around-the-post) as a flashy highlight shot, but in some situations, it’s actually the best shot option. If you want to advance your game and start whipping out the ATP, you need to know how to do it right.

One of the main things you should know is what kind of spin to use. Make sure that you’re applying sidespin rather than topspin. Unlike topspin that pushes the ball down, sidespin makes the ball curve to one side. This effect will help you curve the ball around the net post and back into the court. To do this, you want to brush up against the side of the ball with your paddle at an angle so you can cut across it. Applying this sidespin makes your ATP much more likely to land inside the court.

The beauty of the ATP is that you can actually set yourself up for one. If you’re the player on the right side of the court, you might find yourself in a position where your crosscourt opponent is targeting you in a dinking rally. They’ll try to put a lot of pressure on you by hitting you several attack dinks back to back, and odds are, you’re trying to do the same to them. But here’s where you can switch it up. Purposefully feed them a soft, high dink with no spin, one that they can and will easily attack. With such an easy ball, they’ll most likely hit a very aggressive, fast, topspin dink to push you out wide off the court and out of position. That’s exactly what you want. Because when they hit that kind of shot, you’ll be ready to step out and hit an ATP.

Next time you’re in one of those grinding crosscourt battles, remember this setup. By controlling the kind of ball you give your opponent, you can actually bait them into handing you the perfect opportunity for an ATP.

Baiting Practice

Try putting what we talked about this week into practice. It’s really simple; just grab one other person and position yourselves crosscourt from each other at the kitchen. Start a dinking rally where you are both trying to attack the other, like you would if you were trying to target the weaker, right-sided player in a doubles game. Whenever you see a good opportunity, hit a really soft, slightly high ball with no spin that your partner can’t resist attacking.

Your partner’s job is to hit an aggressive dink that’ll push you out wide. Be ready for it, run out to meet the ball, and hit your ATP, using sidespin to ensure the ball curves around the post and lands in the court. Aim for midcourt to give yourself plenty of margin for error. Reset and do it again several times so this shot starts feeling more automatic.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Unspoken Rules

Shea Underwood — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Week 57

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Jason from South Carolina!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Quick tips for becoming a better doubles partner
An easy way to strengthen your mental game

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible!

You can get it on Selkirk’s website here and use my code INF-SHEA for a gift card on a future purchase.

Be an Active Partner

Many players act as if the point doesn’t really start until the ball comes their way. But if you want to be a great partner, you can’t think like that. What you do when you’re not hitting the ball often makes the difference between setting your partner up for success or making their job a lot harder, specifically on the return.

Your role starts the moment your opponent serves. You should already be up at the kitchen line, and be sure to keep your eyes glued to the ball at all times. Watch the serve and watch your partner’s return. If you’re paying attention, you can and should call out balls when you see them, so that your partner doesn’t have to question whether the serve was in or out and get distracted. You should also observe what kind of return your partner hits. It will give you clues about what kind of third shot your opponents may hit, which means you can get into position and better prepare for the next shot.

Another thing to be aware of is to make sure you’re not blocking your partner’s view of the serve. I often see players who aren’t receiving the ball stand right on top of the middle line, usually as a means of distracting their opponent. But really, if you’re crowding the middle line, you’re most likely blocking your partner’s line of sight, so they won’t see where the serve is coming from. It makes their return unnecessarily difficult. So instead, just slide over closer to your sideline so that you’re completely out of the way.

These things might sound inconsequential, but becoming aware of small things like this can make a big difference in your value as a partner on the court.

Lock In

Focus is one of the most important skills in pickleball, but also one of the hardest to train. If you don’t have a big background in sports, then you probably find it easy to lose concentration in your game and get distracted. Once your mental game slips, everything else tends to fall apart.

So, here’s a drill to sharpen your mental strength, as well as your reflexes on the court.

What to do: Grab one other person and stand across from each other at the kitchen line. Each of you starts with a ball in hand and feeds it to the other person at the same time. The goal is to keep both balls in play by dinking back and forth.

It sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly tough because you have to stay very locked in the entire time. You literally can’t focus on anything else but hitting the ball, because the second you get distracted, you’ve missed a shot. If either of you lets a ball go at any time, stop the rally and start over with both pickleballs going at the same time.

The more you train your mental game, the easier it will become, and you’ll be a much better athlete for it.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Reset Techniques

Shea Underwood — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 21:05:15 +0000

Week 56

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Andrew from Florida!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

The three types of contact you need for resets
An easy way to practice each type

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible! I personally have been using a Selkirk paddle for over five years now, and every paddle I’ve used has been better than the last one. I recently started using their newest paddle — the Project 008, and it’s giving me more power and spin than I’ve ever had before. You can pick yours up on their website here and use code INF-Shea for a gift card on a future purchase.

Reset it Anywhere

There are three different ways you can make contact with the ball when hitting a reset, and it depends on how hard the ball is hit toward you and where it lands on the court.

The first and easiest method is to let the ball bounce, peak, and begin to fall before making contact. When the ball hits the court, it loses a lot of its pace, making it easier to control and apply your own spin. Ultimately, this just gives you more control over your shot.

Sometimes, though, you won’t have time to wait for the ball to bounce and peak. The second option is to hit it off the short-hop, meaning right as it’s rising from its bounce in the court. The ball is still traveling quickly, but since it hits the ground first, some of your opponent’s speed is absorbed before it gets to you.

The last option is taking the ball out of the air. This is the most difficult because you're hitting against the full force of your opponent’s shot. But even though it’s more difficult, you need to learn how to do this well, since you’ll definitely run into this shot in a game as you transition to the kitchen.

You’ll face all three types of contact in a game, so make sure to practice each one. The more you drill resets using all three types of contact, the more confident you’ll be in any position on the court. And that means you'll transition to the kitchen more smoothly and with fewer mistakes.

Learn Control

Practicing the three types of contact on your resets is honestly very simple. All you need is one other person, and then have them stand at the kitchen line while you stand farther back in the court.

To practice the first type - letting the ball bounce, rise, and peak before falling - start at the baseline. This gives the ball plenty of room to hit the court and reach its peak. Keep a volley going with your drilling partner, and every time the ball comes towards you, watch for it to reach its peak and then make contact as it’s falling back towards the ground.

To practice the short-hop, move a few feet in from the baseline. Have your partner aim their shots just in front of your feet, so that you’re forced to make contact with the ball right after it starts rising from the bounce.

For practicing resets out of the air, stand around midcourt. Ask your partner to aim their shots knee-height or above so that you have to hit the ball before it bounces. Keep a rally going this way.

The goal is to get comfortable with all three types of contact so you're ready to reset the ball no matter where you are in the court. The more you practice each situation intentionally, the more natural your resets will feel—and the easier it’ll be to stay in control as you move up to the kitchen.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Get Better Footwork

Shea Underwood — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 19:01:09 +0000

Week 55

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was David from New York!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

The two most important techniques for split stepping
An engaging drill to practice footwork and transitions

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

The Right Footwork

Split stepping is the most important footwork movement you need to know to improve at pickleball. If you don’t train this footwork, then you’ll always have a hard time making your way up to the net without losing the point.

In case you’re unfamiliar with this term: split stepping is when your feet are about shoulder-width (or slightly wider) apart, your knees are bent, and your body is balanced so it can move quickly in any direction.

I’ve got two simple—but super important—techniques for better split stepping. First: don’t jump into it. A common mistake I see is players jumping into their split step instead of stopping their forward momentum first.

Do this: take one final step to stop your forward movement, then plant both feet at the same time in a wide, athletic stance and lower your body. That way, you’re balanced and ready for whatever shot you’re about to receive.

The second thing you need to be doing is split stepping BEFORE your opponent makes contact with the ball. A lot of players rush to the kitchen as fast as they can, but you can’t always get there in just one shot. Sometimes it takes several.

To effectively make that transition, you need to move forward when you can, but also stop, get balanced, and split step, before your opponent hits the ball. If you wait too long to split step, you’ll still be in motion while the ball is already coming towards you, and that can easily prevent you from getting to it successfully.

Split stepping is a really important movement that you need to learn. When you have better footwork, you’ll quickly see your overall skill on the court improve.

________________________________________________

You can go watch my YouTube video about this where I go into more detail, and you can visually see the split stepping process (timestamp 1:22). Check it out! 👇️

SwingVision Offer

If you haven’t already heard about SwingVision, you need to go check it out! It makes recording and reviewing pickleball matches really easy, specifically because it cuts out dead space from videos, it automatically compiles clips of different shots I can filter through, and probably one of the most innovative things…it gives access to live line calls. 👀

Those are only a few of the highlights though. There are so many more features that are really beneficial to pickleball players (and tennis… if you’re into that).

I’ve also got a great discount for you! Click on the image below to access the best discount on SwingVision.

7/11

There’s a fun, popular drill called 7/11 that’s perfect for working on the footwork we’ve been talking about this week.

Here’s how it works: one player starts at the net, the other at the baseline. The player at the net feeds the first ball, and then you just play out the rally. The player at the baseline is trying to work their way up to the net, and both players are trying to win the point.

The player at the net needs 11 points to win, but the player at the baseline only needs 7, since that player is starting at a disadvantage in every rally.

When you’re doing this drill, don’t rush to the kitchen if you don’t have time. If you hit a pretty solid drop, go ahead and move up a bit, but keep your eye on your opponent’s paddle. Split step before they hit their next shot, then keep moving forward if your next drop or reset is good enough to let you.

Just remember: court movement is super dynamic. If you hit too high of a drop, you might actually need to move back. Just make sure that before your opponent hits the ball, you aren’t reeling back or running forward. You’ll easily lose the point if you’re not balanced and ready.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Unlock Your Roll

Shea Underwood — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Week 54

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Emma from Minnesota!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

How to attack from below the net
Two quick drills for practicing the roll

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Learn to Be Offensive

When you're up at the kitchen, it’s almost always better to take the ball out of the air when you can, instead of stepping back and letting it bounce. The more volleys you attack, even if the ball is below the net, the more often you can take time away from your opponent and keep them on defense.

Now, attacking volleys at net height or slightly lower takes more advanced skill. Usually, beginner and intermediate players should step back and let the ball bounce to give themselves more time to hit a safer shot. But, if you want to start developing the roll, I’ll give you three tips this week so you can establish the basic technique for hitting rolls.

The tip of your paddle needs to be pointing down. And, make sure your paddle face stays consistent through contact. Don’t flip or twist your wrist mid-shot. Instead, keep the paddle face pointed in the direction you want the ball to go, and let your paddle naturally finish high after you’ve made contact.
Remember that the ball goes where the surface of your paddle is facing, so make sure you don’t change your paddle angle as you make contact with the ball on your rolls.
Your shoulder is your powerhouse for generating the perfect roll. The majority of movement comes from your shoulder as you brush up on the ball, not your elbow or your wrist. Once you’re comfortable with that movement, you can then add small adjustments from your forearm and wrist for extra speed or spin. But if you’re just starting to learn this shot, don’t worry about adding any wrist in. That’ll come later once you’ve solidified the basics.
You want a really pronounced upward brush on the ball—really exaggerate that low-to-high motion. However, be mindful that when you’re using a roll as a speedup, the ball often comes back fast, so if you make a huge, sweeping motion, you’ll have a hard time resetting your paddle for the next shot. Keep your stroke compact, brush up quick and hard for topspin, and snap back into a ready position as soon as you can.

Go check out this video below 👇️ for a visual and more detailed breakdown of the roll.

When in Doubt, Roll it Out

This week, I’ve got two quick and simple roll drills for you. They’ll give you practice hitting rolls in two super common situations you’ll run into in a game. Just grab one other player and crank them out.

Rolls Off drops

Objective:

Position yourself at the net while your drilling partner remains straight ahead of you, either at the baseline or in midcourt.
Your partner feeds you a ball that you can hit a roll off of.
Start by feeding one ball at a time, then work your way up to a rally of drops and rolls if you feel comfortable.
Switch roles after several reps if your partner wants practice too.

Why this helps:

This drill helps you recognize which drops you can attack with a roll. The more you can attack, the better you can keep your opponent back in the court by not giving them any time to approach the net.

Dink Roll Reps

Objective:

Stand at the kitchen line, crosscourt from a partner.
Your partner feeds soft, slightly higher dinks.
Hit a roll off each dink when possible, aiming for midcourt straight ahead of you.
Note: It’ll help to have a bucket of balls ready for quicker reps.

Try the same thing, but with your partner straight ahead of you at the net.
When you see an attackable dink, hit a roll as a speedup.
Your partner should be ready to counterattack.
Be ready for the ensuing hands battle if your partner successfully counterattacks.

Why this helps:

You’ll be more prepared to attack dinks out of the air to catch your opponents off guard. And it’ll also help you improve your recovery time after the attack. Never expect you’ve hit a winner – instead always assume the ball is coming back, so be ready.

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)
(CODE: SHEA | $10 off PPA tournament registration)

Fix Your Return

Shea Underwood — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Week 53

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Daylan from Washington!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Return strategies that will enhance consistency
A competitive drill to practice the best returns

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Consistent Returns

In pickleball, starting off each rally on the right foot is huge. When you’re the returning team, your return can either make or break the start of a rally. A great return can put you in an offensive position right off the bat, and a bad return can force you onto defense immediately. I’m giving you two things this week that’ll help you boost your consistency and strategy on your returns.

Aim for the middle.
There are a couple ways to interpret this. The first is to aim for the very center of the court. This is for those of you who, in general, struggle with your returns, specifically if you often hit them out of bounds. You have the highest margin for error if you aim for the center since there’s plenty of court on all sides to ensure the ball stays in bounds.
The other way it can be interpreted is to aim for the middle of the court, but as deep as possible. You should really be aiming for the ‘T’ at the backline. When you aim for this spot, you force your opponents to communicate about who is hitting that third shot, which can quickly lead to a mistake on their part. Also, aiming for the 'T' cuts off your opponents’ attacking angles, limiting their third shot options and making your next shot much easier to handle.
Control your pace.
If you need more time to get to the kitchen line after you return the serve, feel free to take some pace off your return. You can hit a soft, lofty return, which will give you more time to make it all the way to the kitchen, and if you successfully hit the ball deep in the court, a drive from your opponent from that far back in the court is very manageable. However, if you happen to hit a shallow, lofty return, it’ll set your opponent up for a great attacking third shot. So, if you choose to hit soft, try to also hit deep.

The Return Challenge

You can easily practice the tips we learned this week by making it a fun competition on the court. Here’s what you can do:

You and your drilling partner are on different teams. One player serves and one returns for ten rounds (the rounds will be explained in a minute), then you’ll switch roles and play ten more rounds.

One round is a three-return sequence, meaning:

Off your drilling partner’s serve, hit the very center of the court, or no more than a couple feet from it (put a piece of tape or a cone on the court to mark the center).
Your partner will serve again, then you’ll hit a hard and fast return to the “T,” which is the intersection of centerline and baseline (see image below). Again, it counts if you hit the “T” or hit within only a couple feet from it.
Your partner serves a third time, and then you’ll hit a deep lob return.

How you score points:

One round = all three returns in a sequence.
If you complete the full sequence successfully, you get +1 point.
If you miss any return in the sequence, no points for you that round.

Do this 10 times, then switch roles with your partner. You will then be the server while they go through 10 rounds of the return sequence. Whoever has the most points by the end of all 20 rounds, wins!

If you want this drill to be more of a challenge, have whoever is serving the ball to have no mercy with their serves, so that the returns are tougher to hit. If you want to keep it more on the easy side, the server can feed soft, non-aggressive serves to the returner. It’s up to you how you want to play it!

However you do it, turning a drill into a game with a point system can make it a whole lot more fun, and the competition helps keep the focus and determination that you need in a real game.

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)

Stop Reacting Late

Shea Underwood — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:11:51 +0000

Week 52

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Jax from Arizona!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

How to know when Ernes make sense in a game
The right process for developing the Erne

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible! I personally have been using a Selkirk paddle for over five years now, and every paddle I’ve used has been better than the last one. I recently started using their newest paddle - the Project 008, and it’s giving me more power and spin than I’ve ever had before. You can pick yours up on their website here and use code INF-Shea for a gift card on a future purchase.

It’s All About Body Language

Everybody wants to hit an Erne—but most players don’t really know when to go for it. The key is knowing what to look for. If you can read your opponent’s body language, you’ll know when the shot makes sense. It’s a really useful move when timed right—and let’s be honest…it just looks cool.

What do you look for?

One of the biggest giveaways is your opponent’s hips. If their hips are turned toward the sideline as they hit the ball, they’re probably not going crosscourt with their shot. From that position, it’s tough to angle the ball away from you, so chances are they’re sending it straight down the line. That’s your cue to go for it. Jump over the kitchen and keep your paddle out, ready to meet the ball. And if you happen to miss, then ideally your partner is covering you and you can get back into position and continue the rally.

That’s your starting point for practicing Ernes: look for that body language, get into position early, and be ready. The quicker you can train yourself to see the signs and go for the shot, the quicker you can start hitting more advanced Ernes.

What’s the right footwork?

It’s best when you can catch your opponents off guard with an explosive jump over the kitchen, but you need to establish great footwork before you start going crazy with it.

If you’re a right-handed player, here’s how you do it:

When you’re on the left side of the court → Push off with your left foot so you land outside the court on your right foot. This lets you easily keep your paddle extended over the kitchen while you’re in the air.

When you’re on the right side of the court → You’ll still push off with your left foot and land on your right. This will allow you to keep your body squared towards the net as long as possible while you use your backhand to hit the Erne.

Note: For left-handed players - simply reverse everything.

Once you know what to look for and train the right technique, you’ll be able to put a lot of pressure on your opponents with your Ernes.

Little by Little

To get the Erne down, start small and build up your movement. All you need is one partner across from you at the kitchen line. Here’s how you can start practicing this shot:

Start by feeding a dink to your drilling partner and have them give you an easy, attackable dink back. Off this shot, you should hit an aggressive dink to their backhand close to the sideline, aiming for their feet. This will force your partner to step back and turn their body sideways to respond to the shot.

As soon as you see their hips turn to the side, jump over the kitchen and keep your paddle up. Moving early here is important—waiting until the last second could mean missing the shot. Plus, in a real game, if your opponent sees you move for an Erne, they could feel pressured to hit the perfect shot, which could quickly cause them to make a mistake.

Practice this simple setup several times—set yourself up with that aggressive dink to their backhand, watch for their hips to turn, and then step over the kitchen and hit the ball.

Once you’ve got the footwork down and the movement feels more natural, you’ll start reacting faster to the cues. You’ll be quicker to spot opportunities for an Erne, and because you've trained your movement, your reactions and reflexes will naturally be sharper.

Quick Info

If you’re finding that the Road to Pro Newsletter appears in your promotions tab instead of your inbox, you can manually move this email to your inbox, and all future issues should automatically stop going to your promotions tab!

Thanks for your support!

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)

This Shot Buys You Time

Shea Underwood — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Week 51

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Emily from Missouri!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

How to slow down the rally with one shot
A partner drill that builds your lobs, footwork, and defense all at once

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible! I personally have been using a Selkirk paddle for over five years now, and every paddle I’ve used has been better than the last one. I recently started using their newest paddle - the Project 008, and it’s giving me more power and spin than I’ve ever had before. You can pick yours up on their website here and use code INF-Shea for a gift card on a future purchase.

Hit Reset

Let’s talk about one of the most underrated shots in pickleball: the lob.

If you’re ever in the middle of a rally and you’re starting to feel pressured, hitting a lob can be like hitting the reset button. It buys you time to give yourself and your partner a chance to breathe, recover, and get into an offensive position. A good lob will push back your opponents and force them on defense so that you can take control of the point.

Singles note: This is especially useful in singles. A singles game usually moves a lot faster than doubles, and you have more court to cover. So, a lob can be exactly what you need to buy some time while you recover.

Feel free to disguise your lob. The most deceptive offensive lobs are when it looks like you could be hitting a dink or speedup. Nothing should change as you’re setting up to take your shot—the only thing that’ll change is your follow-through to make sure the ball goes up and over your opponents’ reach. If you can disguise your shot, your opponents will be slower to read your movements and less prepared for the lob.

There’s also an ideal place to aim – go for cross-court. The diagonal distance of the court is longer than it is straight on, so you have a bit more “real estate” to drop your lob in. It can be really easy to hit a lob out, so a little extra court can only help.

Whether you're on defense or just want to mix things up, don’t overlook the lob. When used at the right time—and with a little disguise—it can completely shift the momentum of the rally in your favor.

Don’t Bother Going to the Gym

I’ve got a really great drill for you to practice hitting and returning lobs this week. It’ll help you practice real, game-like scenarios, and it’ll give you a great workout.

You can play this with two, three, or four players. If you’re playing with two players, just use half the court. If you’re playing with three, have two players stand on one side and hit only to the half that the third player is standing on. If you have four players, then naturally, use the full court.

Here’s what you do (from the perspective of two players):

Designate one player to hit lobs – the other player will return them.
Position at the kitchen line and start by hitting a couple of dinks. Don’t hit too many – the dinking is just a segue into the real action.
After a couple of dinks to get the drill started, the designated player hits a lob.
The other player runs back to retrieve it and immediately starts transitioning back to the kitchen with drops and resets.
Once that player makes it back to the kitchen, hit a couple more dinks, then lob again.

Keep repeating this cycle several times in a row without stopping. The player hitting lobs will get great practice refining this shot, and the one retrieving the lobs will be learning how to read the shot properly, return it well, and make it back up to the kitchen to continue the rally seamlessly.

Switch roles and do it again so both players get plenty of practice in both areas. After you practice this drill a few times, your lobs will look so much better, and you’ll also be extremely prepared to return lobs in a real game.

Note: Don’t forget to warmup a little before you start this drill since it does require more cardio.

Quick Info

Thanks for your support!

The Third Shot You Don’t Consider

Shea Underwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 18:33:06 +0000

Week 50

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible to get a free paddle this week. Last week’s winner was Polly from Ohio!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Two essential strategies for hitting effective drives
A way to practice starting off your rally offensively

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible! They have way more than just paddles though. You should go check out their new Essentials clothing line if you’re in the market for some new pickleball clothes. I’ve basically been living in those clothes on and off the court. Super comfy, look great, really airy and moisture-wicking - I recommend! Here’s the link if you want to check it out → Selkirk Essentials. You can use code INF-Shea at checkout for a gift card on a future purchase.

Drive…If You Dare

Let’s talk about your third shot. The most common third shot of each rally is a drop, but you should also start considering adding in some drives. If you can hit a strong, well-placed drive, you might force your opponents to hit a weak shot, putting you in an offensive position right off the bat.

But there are a few things to consider. A drive isn’t always the right choice, and there’s definitely a right way to do it. Here are two key factors:

If you’re at the baseline, you can drive the ball.
If the return lands in the back half of the court, you’re usually safe to drive the ball without much fear of hitting it long. However, you do need to keep in mind that there is a risk involved here. Your opponent could respond by dumping the ball really short in the court, forcing you to sprint forward to return it. But, thankfully, the pickleball court isn’t that big, so just be ready to move and cover the court quickly if you choose to drive from deep.
Target your opponent’s paddle-holding shoulder.
This is a great location to aim. Most players use a continental grip, which favors the backhand at the net more than the forehand, so this spot is really awkward to defend. A drive to this shoulder can easily jam your opponent up and lead to a weak return. If you can get your opponent in this awkward position, you’ll get an easier fifth shot – either a soft ball you can seamlessly drop into the kitchen as you move in or a pop-up that you can put away.

Driving the third shot, fifth shot, or even the seventh shot can be a game-changer when done right. Just make sure you focus on establishing strong technique and strategy before you go crazy with it.

SwingVision Offer

Those are only a few of the highlights though — there are so many more features that are really beneficial to pickleball players (and tennis… if you’re into that).

I’ve also got a great discount for you! Click on the image below to access the best discount on SwingVision.

Drive and Reset

Here’s a drill to go out and start practicing the strategies I shared with you this week. It’ll help you work on targeting the paddle-holding shoulder side and reacting to your opponent’s returning shot.

Set up at the baseline and have your drilling partner stand straight ahead of you at the kitchen line.

Start the drill by hitting drives at your partner, and make sure you aim for the shoulder on their paddle-holding side. Really focus on that target—like we talked about earlier, this is the spot that jams up a lot of players.

Have your partner mix up their returning shots. They should send some deep to try to keep you back, but they should also throw in some short ones that’ll force you to run forward quickly to get it. This will help you stay ready for whatever shot you get.

Whenever you can, start moving forward in the court, just respond appropriately to whatever shot your partner hits off your starting drive. If they happen to pop up the ball, then run up and put it away – that was your goal all along anyway. If they send back a strong shot, then keep aiming drives at their weak shoulder, or start resetting until you can make it up to the kitchen. If they dump the ball short in the court, then be ready to cover the court and return it. Just be careful that you’re only driving from far back in the court. It’s almost never a good idea to drive from midcourt because you could easily hit it out or get an attacking shot to your feet that’s really tough to return.

Each time you make your way up to the net successfully, reset the drill and start again from the baseline. Feel free to switch positions with your partner so you get practice in both situations.

Quick Info

Thanks for your support!

The Key To Consistent Serves

Shea Underwood — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Week 49

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible to get a free paddle this week. Last week’s winner was Fisher from Florida!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

Two crucial techniques for consistent serves and drives
A bonus pro tip for singles players

Now, let's get to it!

Focus on Deliberation

A powerful and consistent serve is not an accident — it’s a repeatable sequence that you control from the very first movement. It sounds simple in theory, but there are quite a few different techniques that take time to master if you want to start hitting a killer serve. I’ll share two that you can start working on right away.

Start with a controlled backswing.

However you typically serve the ball, it’s crucial to keep your backswing slow, steady, and intentional. I see way too many players rush it or fling their arm back without thinking — and that will never give you consistent contact with the ball, which leads to unpredictable serves you can’t control. But if you focus on a deliberate, controlled backswing, you’ll set the stage for repeating a successful serve the same way every time.

I can’t stress this enough - consistency is everything.

Engage your hips — every time.

Your hips are the secret weapon in your serve. Unless you’re the rare exception, every player wants to hit a powerful serve. When you keep your knees bent and get your hips involved in the motion of your serve, that’s where real power comes from.

As you move your paddle backward, think about coiling your hips back like a spring. Most pros lead their backswing with their elbow, bringing it slightly behind their body, while their hips twist back in sync. That gentle coil lets you twist forward and transfer power from your body into your serve, making it far more powerful than just using your arm.

Imagine a rubber band — pull it back to create tension, then release and let it snap forward.

Clean technique = consistent results.

If your serves are incredibly inconsistent (which usually happens below the 4.0 level), it’s not a fluke—it’s mechanical. In general, a lack of controlled movement is one of the primary reasons people can’t rely on their serves (or really any shot for that matter). So slow things down, focus on your form, and give your serve the attention it deserves.

And honestly, you can apply these same techniques in a very similar way on your drives. You don’t want to be flinging back your arm before you hit a drive. Just like with your serves, your backswing needs to be controlled and steady, otherwise your drives are always going to be a hit or miss. You also need to get your hips engaged on your drives for the same reason you do on your serves - you create more power when you use your entire body, than if you were only to use your arm.

____________________________________________

If you want to start working a killer serve, you can also go watch my recent YouTube video where I give you absolutely everything I know about hitting incredible serves.👇

Bonus Tip for Singles Players

For those of you who play a lot of singles, especially if you’re playing in tournaments, I want to share a reliable and easy strategy that 5.0 to pro-level players take advantage of. The strategy is this: If you’re returning the ball, return deep to the middle of the court and move up to the net. When you return deep, it gives you time to reach the kitchen before your opponent makes contact with the ball. And when you aim for the middle, your opponent has less angles to hit from, meaning the shots they hit you from that spot are going to be easier to return. You’re basically forcing them to hit the perfect shot if they want to win the point off their return; otherwise, you’ve put them in a defensive position with you on the attack at the net.

This strategy is specifically good to keep in mind when your opponents are players coming from tennis. Tennis players’ drives in pickleball are usually so good, they are hard to defend for long. So, if you take away some of their shot options, you put yourself in a really good position to win more points.

Quick Info

The Secret To More Paddle Speed

Shea Underwood — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Week 48

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible to get a free paddle this week. Last week’s winner was Charles from Virginia!

Here’s what I’ve got for you:

The two biggest benefits of a lower paddle grip
The process for how to start taking advantage of them

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win a paddle!

This week, feel free to respond directly to this email with any feedback you have or any questions you’re dying for me to answer. I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can this week!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible! I personally have been using a Selkirk paddle for over five years now, and every paddle I’ve used has been better than the last one. I recently started using their newest paddle - the Project 008, and it’s giving me more power and spin than I’ve ever had before. You can pick yours up on their website and use code INF-Shea for a gift card on a future purchase.

How Low Can You Go

There are a bunch of different ways to hold your paddle in pickleball, but some grips offer more benefits than others. Personally, I hold my paddle lower on the handle because it unlocks some really cool advantages you just don’t get with a higher grip.

For one, gripping lower gives you more reach and helps you generate more paddle-head speed. Holding the handle lower gives you more leverage to whip the paddle around more freely, which can add serious spin and pace to your shots. Now, there are some situations—like drops for example—where you want to limit your wrist movement. But for shots like serves, drives, or rolls at the net, being able to snap your wrist when you make contact with the ball adds a ton of spin and power.

If you want a visual representation of this, you can check out the video below where I talk about what it looks like to snap your wrist upon contact (timestamp 3:18).

It does take a little time to adjust. Holding the paddle higher up on the handle can make it easier to control your shots at first, but it also limits you in other areas. With practice, you can build that same control while gripping lower—and in the long run, it opens up way more options.

Another major benefit is the two-handed backhand. A lower grip gives your other hand room to come in higher up on the handle, making the “twoey” feel way more natural. If you haven’t already developed a two-handed backhand, I strongly recommend it! Having two hands on your backhand gives you extra control and power on your shot. It can be a real game-changer.

Obviously, you can see what kind of grip I recommend, but at the end of the day, it really comes down to your playing style and what shots you want to optimize for.

Bend and Snap

Don’t try to change everything at once! Instead of a drill, I’m giving you a step-by-step progression for implementing the things we went over this week.

If you’re new to holding your paddle lower or trying out the two-handed backhand (or both), it’ll feel super weird and unnatural at first, so give yourself time to adjust. Instead of trying to master it all immediately, take it one step at a time. Here’s the process I recommend:

Step 1: Adjust your grip

Start by simply moving your grip lower on the paddle. Don’t worry about the two-handed backhand yet. Just start playing rec games with the lower grip and focus on getting comfortable. Let yourself adjust and your shots stabilize. Once the new grip starts to feel natural and your consistency returns, move to the next step.

Step 2: Add the second hand

Now begin introducing your top hand on backhand shots. Place your non-dominant hand just above your dominant one—kind of like you’re holding a baseball bat. Many players rest their index finger on the face of the paddle for a little extra stability and control.

Step 3: Add wrist action

Once both the lower grip and two-handed backhand feel solid, you can start adding in wrist movement. I want to give a disclaimer though - you HAVE to have a solid foundation first: proper paddle positioning, consistent contact, and a good follow-through.

When you have that solid foundation, try adding a bit of wrist motion after contact with the ball to generate more spin and power. To do this, you need to use what’s called ‘wrist lag.’ That just means letting your wrist bend back slightly during the swing so your paddle trails behind (see image below). Then, as you strike the ball, snap your wrist forward while keeping your follow-through compact and clean. You’ll feel and see the difference in your shot - the ball will have more spin and speed than before.

You can refer to the video above if you want a visual representation on how this works (timestamp 3:18).