Pickleball Tips: Watch the Ball Closely Through Contact

"Keep your eye on the ball." Does the age-old adage apply to your dinks, drives, and drop-shots?

One of the fun parts about pickleball is the variety of scenarios that play out each and every game. No two points are the same.

It's fun to think about what shot to hit and where you want to ball to land. But how closely should you be watching the ball all the way through contact?

This question is making the rounds on Reddit. One user submitted the following:

Recently, I came across some slow-motion footage of Alcaraz and Federer, and one thing stood out immediately: they keep their eyes locked on the contact point even after the ball has left the racquet.

So they tried it – and saw instant results:

So I tried incorporating that into my pickleball game and it made a huge difference. My shanks and mishits dropped by about 80-90%, and I started hitting much closer to the sweet spot consistently.

It begs the question: how actively are you watching your own shots out on the pickleball court?

Take Your Cues from the Pros

The golden rule of "keeping your eye on the ball" absolutely pertains to rec league pickleball.

But it's likely something you're not doing enough – or at all.

If you watch high-level pros play, you'll notice this is standard practice. So much so, it seems like more of a rule than a recommendation.

The best pros in the game – Anna Leigh, Ben, Gabe, Hayden, Anna, Catherine, Federico... the list goes on and on – all lock in visually through the duration of every shot. With very few exceptions.

So... why aren't you?

The next time you hit the court, consider this:

Treat every single shot like it's the most important shot of the entire game. Because it it.
Watch the ball as it approaches your paddle and makes contact with the sweet-spot.
Don't break eye contact with the ball until it's left your paddle face.

Is this sounds extreme, that's probably because you're not paying close enough attention in your own game. Try it and see what happens.

If you need any further convincing, watch this slow-mo video of a recent pro event, courtesy of paddle reviewer John Kew.