Almost every amateur player makes the same critical error on their forehand speedup. A pro coach reveals the exact wrist technique that separates winners from the rest.
If you've been playing pickleball for any length of time, you've probably heard that your forehand speedup needs work.
But here's what most players don't realize: the problem isn't your footwork, your stance, or even your timing. It's your wrist.
According to Tanner Tomassi, a coach who spent 10 weeks teaching clinics across Asia, nearly 90% of amateur players make the exact same mistake on their forehand speedup.
And once you see it, you can't unsee it.
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The Mistake Almost Everyone Makes
Here's what's happening on most amateur courts: players are hitting their speedups by pushing through the ball with a slapping motion.
Their wrist stays stiff or moves forward aggressively, like they're trying to punch the ball into the kitchen.
The result? The ball either goes into the net or sails long. There's almost no middle ground.
Tomassi explains that this aggressive, linear motion removes all control from the shot. You're fighting physics instead of working with it.
The ball has too much forward momentum and not enough spin to keep it in the court.
Why Your Wrist Is Sabotaging You
Your wrist is one of the most powerful tools in pickleball, but most players use it wrong on the speedup. Instead of generating power, they're generating chaos.
When you slap at the ball, you're relying entirely on arm speed and forward momentum.
That's a recipe for errors. The forehand speedup isn't about hitting harder; it's about hitting smarter.
The key difference?
Brush, don't push.
The Windshield Wiper Motion: Your New Best Friend
This is where everything changes. Instead of pushing through the ball, you need to brush across it with your wrist, just like a windshield wiper moving side to side.
Here's what that looks like in practice: as you make contact with the ball, your wrist moves in a brushing motion rather than a driving motion.
Your forearm and wrist work together to create spin and control, not raw power.
Tomassi demonstrates the difference clearly: when you brush with your wrist like a windshield wiper, the ball stays in the court and stays in control.
Every single time. There's no guessing, no hoping the ball lands in. It just does.
This motion accomplishes two things at once.
- First, it creates topspin on the ball, which naturally brings it down into the kitchen.
- Second, it slows the ball down just enough to keep it from sailing long.
You get pace without recklessness.
The Dink Media Team
Why This Works (The Physics Part)
The forehand speedup is supposed to be an attacking shot, but it's also a precision shot.
You're trying to accelerate the ball while keeping it in a narrow target zone. That's a contradiction if you're just pushing harder.
Spin solves that problem. When you brush the ball with topspin, gravity and the spin work together to pull the ball down.
You can hit it harder without losing control because the spin is doing half the work for you.
Think of it like this:
A slap shot is all effort and no efficiency. A brushed shot is all efficiency and controlled effort.
One leaves you frustrated. The other leaves your opponent scrambling.
The Dink Media Team
How to Practice the Windshield Wiper Motion
Start slow. Don't try to hit hard speedups while you're learning the new wrist motion. Instead, focus on the feeling of the brush.
Take your normal ready position and have a partner feed you balls at the kitchen line.
As the ball comes to you, focus entirely on that windshield wiper motion with your wrist. Let your arm follow naturally. The speed will come later.
You'll notice something immediately: the ball feels different off your paddle. It's more controlled. It's more predictable. That's the feedback you're looking for.
Once the motion feels natural at slower speeds, gradually increase your pace. You'll be surprised how much harder you can hit while maintaining control.
The brush motion scales beautifully.
The Dink Media Team
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
This isn't just about hitting one shot better. The forehand speedup is one of the most important offensive weapons in pickleball.
If you can't execute it consistently, you're leaving points on the table.
Better yet, once you master the windshield wiper motion on your speedup, you'll find it applies to other shots too.
The same brushing principle works on your drives, your attacks, and even your serves. It's a foundational skill that elevates your entire game.
Tomassi's observation from his time teaching in Asia is telling. He saw this mistake everywhere, across all skill levels.
That means it's not a beginner problem or an advanced problem. It's a universal problem. Which also means fixing it is a universal opportunity.
The Dink Media Team
The Takeaway
Your forehand speedup doesn't need more power. It needs better technique.
Stop slapping. Start brushing.
Let your wrist do what it's designed to do: create spin and control.
The difference between a mistake and a winner on the speedup often comes down to millimeters and milliseconds. The windshield wiper motion gives you both. It's simple, it's effective, and it works every single time you execute it properly.
Share this with your doubles partner. Chances are, they're making the same mistake you were.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a speedup and a drive in pickleball?
A speedup is an attacking shot hit from mid-court that accelerates the ball into the kitchen with control and spin. A drive is typically hit from the baseline with more power and less spin. The speedup requires finesse; the drive requires pace. Both are important, but they serve different purposes in your game.
Can I use the windshield wiper motion on my backhand speedup too?
Absolutely. The brushing principle works on both sides of your body. Your backhand speedup will benefit from the same wrist motion, though the direction of the brush will be opposite. Practice it the same way: slow, controlled, and focused on the feeling of the brush before adding pace.
How long does it take to fix a bad speedup habit?
Most players see improvement within a few practice sessions once they understand the concept. However, building true consistency takes repetition. Expect to spend 2 to 3 weeks of regular practice before the motion feels completely natural and automatic during match play.
Why do so many players make this mistake?
The slapping motion feels more powerful and more aggressive, which appeals to players who think harder equals better. In reality, pickleball rewards control and placement over raw power. The windshield wiper motion is counterintuitive at first, which is why so many players never discover it on their own.
Should I change my grip to hit a better speedup?
Your grip doesn't need to change. The windshield wiper motion works with your existing grip. Focus on the wrist motion first, and your grip will naturally support it. If you're struggling, a coach can evaluate whether your grip is contributing to the problem, but most of the time it's purely a wrist technique issue.
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