For a Better Forehand Flick, Ditch the Windshield-Wiper Technique

A simple wrist adjustment will transform your forehand speed-up into a point-scoring weapon

Content creator Ed Ju teamed up with player and coach Cori Elliott to break down exactly why his forehand flick was falling short and how to fix it.

If you've ever felt like your forehand speed-up is inconsistent or just doesn't pack the same punch as your backhand, this one's for you.

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The Problem: Too Much Wrist, Not Enough Consistency

Ed admits right off the bat that his forehand flick is rough. While he's solid with his backhand, his forehand speed-up sits at about 35 percent reliability, which is exactly the kind of weakness that costs you points in tight matches.

The culprit? Too much wrist action. Ed was trying to execute what coaches often call the "windshield wiper" motion, but that analogy was actually working against him. He was cutting across the ball instead of driving through it, which made the shot feel glancing and unpredictable.

Cori's Key Insight: It's About Position and Paddle Angle

Cori Elliott jumps in with the fundamentals that matter most. Before you even think about the swing, your feet need to be right.

Get your foot behind the ball in a semi-closed stance, which helps with disguise and lets you adjust direction at the last second.
Find "the pocket" – that sweet spot slightly between your legs where you want to make contact.
Keep your paddle tip low and start your acceleration from there, not from a big backswing.

The paddle angle matters too. Cori shows Ed that a slight open paddle face, held low, is the starting point. From there, it's not a twist or a wipe. It's more like closing a book or flipping a pancake.

The Windshield Wiper Myth

Cori straight-up says the windshield wiper analogy is misleading. A windshield wiper moves side to side across glass, but your forehand speed-up should move forward and slightly upward.

Think of it differently: your paddle starts open, and you close it. That's it. You're not twisting your wrist wildly. You're using your forearm to accelerate through the ball while keeping the motion compact and controlled.

The Mechanics: Forearm Acceleration, Not Wrist Flick

The real power comes from your forearm and a bit of body weight. Cori has Ed practice the motion out of her hand first, which immediately feels different from what he was doing before.

The key adjustments include:

Minimize wrist movement and focus on forearm acceleration instead.
Lean into the shot slightly, shifting your body weight forward without kicking off hard.
Push through the ball and cover it at the last second, ending with your paddle in front of you.
Keep your feet active and positioned correctly before you even think about the paddle.

When Ed tries it Cori's way, the difference is immediate. The shot sounds cleaner, travels more predictably, and feels way more linear than his old glancing blow.

From Clinic to Competition: The Speed-Up Game

To test the new technique under pressure, Ed and Cori play a game where they can only speed up with their forehands. First to seven wins, and the loser gets "forehand bagged" (yes, that's exactly what it sounds like).

The game shows that technique alone isn't enough. Ed has to balance thinking about his feet and paddle angle with actually playing aggressive pickleball. There's a moment where he realizes he's overthinking the mechanics instead of trusting his instincts, which is a real lesson for anyone learning a new shot.

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The Takeaway: Open, Close, Not Twist

By the end, Ed's forehand speed-up is noticeably sharper. The biggest mental shift is moving away from the "windshield wiper" frame and toward the "open and close" frame. It sounds simple, but it changes everything about how you approach the shot.

If your forehand speed-up feels weak or inconsistent, the fix probably isn't complicated. Check your footwork, keep your paddle angle slight, and remember: you're closing a book, not wiping a windshield. Your consistency will jump immediately.