Learn how to hit the World’s No. 1 Pickleball Athlete, Ben Johns’ favorite shot in the game. Ben shares the fundamentals, what to look for, and how to set up drills to improve your backhand roll.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:34 Drilling Set-Up
1:06 Things to Watch For
5:14 Variation 1: Roll
6:18 Variation 2: Flick
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46 Comments
Absolutely brilliant tutorial on the pickleball backhand roll shot, Ben Johns! Your step-by-step breakdown makes this advanced technique seem much more approachable. The slow-motion replays were especially helpful for catching the subtleties of wrist movement and foot positioning. I appreciate the emphasis on practice and patience – it’s clear that mastering this shot can really elevate one’s game. Thanks for sharing your expertise and making high-level play more accessible to us all. Looking forward to applying these tips on the court!
Benny boy!
We do this all the time in table tennis.
Back hand roll/flick is really similar to a ping pong move
Flick!!! I was flicking the entire time! Can't wait to drill this into exsitance…Mine also were staying too high/out and i think it's the trottle wrist(mine was to flat). Ben your the best, thank you for this content and keep it coming!
Dude should of been a pro tennis player. Ohhhh wait…. Wasn’t good enough.
Some slo-mo replays would be helpful to better see the nuances. Thanks
The motorcycle throttle makes total sense to me as I didn't understand it before that. Thanks!
Do you change grip mid point? Or do you stick with the same grip throughout a point?
Hi Ben, very pleased with your guidance, thank you from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ( Picklelagi)
That’s calleda one handed back hand. Every one, just play tennis instead.
Do you start with the top of the paddle at 8oclock low and finish with the top of the paddle at 11oclock high?
Great Video. I think it's important you point out what you're doing with your LEFT arm. Having it back to balance the center of gravity is an important lesson. I can see a bunch of beginners trying this after watching this video and having both arms out front and falling into the kitchen.
Which motorcycle has a throttle that you turn AWAY from you like in this video?
Pickleball is the hottest game in the country. Great video!
We need Collin's video on the best defense against this shot since he has practiced the most!
Extraordinary Technique!
Who's gonna disagree with this guy!
All of that is played with the same grip ? Continental ?
Love your profile pic BJ!
When I hit this it's more like a forearm rotation, and very little wrist.
Colin looks so enthused. You must be hitting too many balls off the tape.
Ah, so this is basically a backhand strike from table tennis.
Continental grip?
This is called a backhand in tennis… the fact that rb player will use two hands to hit backhands is ridiculous and stupid. It's a plastic ball. You don't need two hands. A tennis ball coming at you at 80mph is one thing. A plastic ball no matter how hard it's hit at you doesn't require two hands.
Thank you Ben! 😀
We definitely need more of these types of videos, thanks Ben!
It seems that you are also changing the grip a little on the backhand roll. It is not continental because with continental grip and closing the paddle on the backhand feels very awkward in the hand. It would be nie if you could address this issue. Are you changing your grip a little?
What about the grip?
Great vid Ben! Super helpful!
Thank you for all the tutorials, professionalism, good manners, sportsmanship on and off the court. This video is going to help a lot of people…hopefully not the people I play against here in Naples. 🙂
That’s how I backhand drive when playing table tennis. I applied the same technic the first time I played and it was easy to adapt.
Please teach us your backhand dink, looks very elegant!
If Ben Johns were trans, he'd be Jen Bohns.
Jonesy from Letterkenny. Can’t unsee
Excellent player and excellent coach/teacher
It's essentially a backhand topspin shot in table tennis. I personally find many skills from table tennis, badminton and tennis I have transferred to pickleball are super helpful.
Thank you Sir 🙏🏼
is that your house brokie
hi ben, do i need to change grip on this shot? thanks
A slow motion shot up close would’ve been helpful.
I don't know if Ben reads comments, but if you do thanks for posting. I like many were confusing the flick and the roll. I will try this out. Any chance of sharing some tips on aggressive dinking?
No wonder the Johns bros are the best doubles team it’s not surprising
Very ping pong
Bro is doing table tennis moves with the pickelball
Wow. Worlds No 1 men's double teams doing a training video. Crazy. When's the last time you saw something similar from the top Tennis players? Never.