Comment what you guys think about topspin returns👇And please like & subscribe if you like this video! It really helps our channel grow 🙏

I'm a beginner. 50 years ago I played tennis for one summer and in the military I got proficient at ping pong and used lots of English with a soft paddle. I've been playing pickle ball two months and just today watched your videos on setting up for forehand and backhand shots. I have't been doing that, and usually miss my backhand shots. I've been flicking my wrist for all shots, using lots of spin. But I've been extremely inconsistent. I like your lessons. Your speech is clear, and the lessons are logical, and I find them helpful. I bought a Selkirk racket today and expect it mid-week. I'll start practicing body positioning, geting to the kitchen, setting up with the split stance, turning my hips and shoulders for my shots, and will re-watch all the videos I've already watched because my memory is for sh*t. (I'm 77). Pickleball is helping me with my heart failure, as my legs swell up. Playing the game had reduced the swelling quite a bit, probably close to 90% improved, just one foot is slightly swollen. Plus I've lost 7 pounds, and my diabetes is better controlled since playing burns so much blood glucose. I do use top spin on my serve, and my slice return is almost unhittable. Most of my opponents are not very good, half of them are women, and usually my return slice bounces out of their reach. I'm looking forward to putting into practice what I've seen in about 8 of your videos.

I am a 60 year old 4.0 player. I hit 75% slice returns as I am more consistent keeping them deep and it gives me a little more time to get set at the kitchen. I tend to hit a harder topspin return when the serves are short as I still have time to get to the kitchen and be set before they hit their third. Being at the line and stationary really does seem to be the most important thing.

i always say "Spin begets Spin"....in other words, if I cut a shot and they return it, it may jump side ways or down because of the original spin shot...so remember, If you put a spin on the ball, and they return it to you, don't be surprised if it darts one way or another

Thanks for clarifying about stopping and hitting the ball. I have wondered about that tip and have not been sure which method was best. Great!

I hit a hard deep topspin drive right down the middle for my returns. It creates confusion for the other team about who should take it, and it pushes them back. Those two things together create a lot of bad third shots

Fantastic information! Loaded with a lot to think about.

Great video thank you! Love your channel

Much clearer presentation than Zane's (very good) video. I've been really proud of my deep slice returns, but I'm learning to switch to more topspin. I like that you allow for the slice, too, Connor. Great extra tips, too!

8:14 is an interesting debate. I hear coaches advocate both to “stop and hit” and “hit during motion” … I personally opt for your recommendation/latter as I’m not hitting 2nd shots into the net. That said, if someone is not always landing 2nd shot, *from a variety of serves*, then they may need to stop and hit before going forward

When Zane’s video came out I was convinced that I needed to abandon my slice return. Gave it a try this week and I had mixed feelings. Thanks for clarifying about still keeping it in my game but being judicious when using it. So tonight I mixed my returns with slice and topspin and felt much happier with the results. Great video and instruction.

Definitely level contingent!...Mix it up!

i have a deep and very spinned underspin return. many players trying to third drop that shot of mine often end up in the net. i don't think they will have problem third shot drop if i do a topspin. if many people switch to top spin i am actually happy because new players will have to adjust to my deep spinned return of serve without much practice or experience. also, top top elite players are in a diff league. let's be real here

I understand this....but feel that the topspin return bounces significantly higher providing the opponent a better opportunity to hit the ball in a powerful strike zone. I remain a fan of a slice serve with bite that bounces much lower. Of course, as is the case with all shots, variety is always very important....so...mixing these up is great.

IMHO - a slice return does not take as much power to hit the ball deep, can be hit high, slow and deep giving you enough time to get closer to the kitchen.

Hey, Connor! At 3.5 and rising (on a good day), I’m most comfy with a high, heavy topspin return. I have always had more trouble controlling the trajectory of chip shots. I’ve been playing with working in the corkscrew return from your other return video too for some variety. I’ve found your advice about depth being the first priority completely true. If I can get my return a foot or two inside the baseline, it’s a rare opponent at my level who can hit a decent third from the back fence.

I've always hit a heavy top spin return on serve, but have incorporated the slice (right/left) and backspin return for change ups. I will also return serve with a heavy cut dink depending on the serve.

Thanks. Great video. Just learning pickleball coming from tennis but there are differences I'm trying to adjust to.

I've only been playing for a few months and long time tennis player. It's very natural to run thru my returns and no problems getting to the NVZ. I'm sure I've watched this video before, I appreciate your tips and this is a great video. Those Brionnes guys coach to plant yourself before hitting a return. That's fine for a deep serve that you take a step back for, but it's way more comfortable hitting (topspin is my preference) on the move to the kitchen. I'll pay attn to how far I'm carrying my backswing. Those low, spin serves are tricky

I started playing a week ago, and top spin drive has been my go to return from day 1. Surprised to see this wasn't more common, as it comes directly from tennis.

Your how to spin video was so informative with so many examples. I can’t wait to learn and practice on a wall.

Love your comment about not stopping to hit your return. Most all coaches tell you to, but when you watch them play they don’t, and as you said neither do the pros. I never have, and just decided I would do it “wrong”. In my mind I am doing a slight pause when hitting the ball, but don’t know if you could tell if you were watching.

I have better accuracy when my swing is a underhand/bowling type swing to get top spin. It's not as powerful for me but more accurate. Good instructional methods BTW

I use topsin almost exclusively. I rarely use slice. Great video. Hope to see you and Kanadi in Mesa!

Excellent video! You're right. It really depends on what they give you. Blooper, just get it in serves are perfect, but a LOT of top players hit their serves with topspin, where, despite what I would like to do, I just hit a slice return. If I try to judge their topspin serve and hit a topspin return, my consistency is not 100%, which is the cardinal rule? Connor, at your level, would you work a lot on topspin against topspin, or as in Vegas, the odds are sometimes just not worth it?

Your videos are incredible, man. Just a suggestion, but you should consider doing voiceover for your script/explanations as opposed to recording your audio on the fly. You're doing an amazing job as is. However, I've been working for a KZfaq channel for years now and the production is much, much easier when you record your video and audio separate. Again, you're doing great and this is just a suggestion to help with scale.

Your key statement: "for high level players" Sure, a good topspin return will be more effective against high level players but most players are 2.5-3.5 at best and that's most of your target audience based on your video content. My most effective return to those players is definitely a deep slice backhand return. I get so many players to hit in to the net.

Another good video "Return Run Split"

Good Video!

I’ve been playing two months. I naturally use an eastern grip and hit lots of top spin. It’s very effective in the forehand, but I might need to change because it’s hard on back hand. Opponents with big screw ball back spin get it back in spades. There is no need for a third shot, lol. Then, they mysteriously use less backspin, lol.

Currently playing at 5.0 to 5.5 level (in Canada, may lose a bit on the exchange rate 🤑) Top spin returns work well for me against all levels I typically see here (3.0 to 4.5 mainly). My favorite go to return adds a bit of sidespin as well (left to right and right to left) and placed in the middle back of the court - causes lots of weak or missed returns if they can even decide who is going to take it in time. Thanks Connor, awesome videos!

Yet Tyson Mcguffin used mainly slice returns on the serves in his match against Ben Johns this weekend. One would think Tyson knows what is good and what is not. He choses the slice over the topspin when he returns a serve.

Good stuff Conner! 🔥

I play at 3.5 consistently with inconsistent 4.0 play. I tend to do everything you talk about except I have been doing backspin/sidespin and a lofted deep return. When playing 3.5, this generally works well, even if it's sometimes shorter than I like. I am struggling consistently in a deep return and sometimes hit it out. I need to focus on the split step when returning, I do get to the line quickly, but sometimes I forget to split step. When playing skilled bangers, a short serve return is a bad thing, so I sometimes overcompensate on hitting it deep, and it goes out. I mostly get it right, but I certainly need more consistency to get better and be a more 4.0 player than 3.5. Everyone says the 3rd shot drop is the hardest shot to master. Ironically, I find the return to be far more frustrating as I play higher level players. I'll follow these tips and see if I can't improve my return some. thanks

I'm having a difficult time returning hard serves with topspin. Should I quick hop it or stay further back and move through it? Any suggestions?

Great video....such good information..thanks and keep up the good work!

Always a great video! Topspin, chip, or sidespin return? I say let the incoming ball make the decision for you!

I would have bought into to this, I too watched Zane's video, and then at the PPA noticed Ben Johns and other top players that place at the top are still using back spins and slices.

Top spin can be used for a majority of shots! Mixing up spin is key, flat spin is old school! Top, side, slice it’s all good! Top spin drops and resets are very effective but hard to master!

Are you using an eastern grip or continental grip for the return?

Will the paddle make and model dictate the quality of the topspin ? Great videos !! Current tennis coach The surface of the paddle for example. In tennis a 16x19 string pattern improves topspin rather than a 18x20 but your technique will also dictate the quality of the topspin.

Nice video! But don't most people put topspin on their serve?

Chip and charge in tennis was design to keep the ball low, especially in grass court when the ball naturally don't bounce high. I see that as time goes by, a lot of the techniques of pickleball are blending in with tennis. Maybe that is because more ex tennis players are playing?

First. When I try to hit the ball while moving forward, it seems like I hit a lot into the net. Could that be because I am taking too big of a swing and not using the compact motion you describe?

Awesome video. Best one I've seen from this channel

If you had to choose the power air or the power control which one would you use at a tournament?

I find it easier to return such that I retain the same spins direction I received.

I'll try more top spin tomorrow, but 90% of my returns are slices. I'm a 3.75. I could prob use more coaching on top spin.

I am at a self-proclaimed 3.5 skill level. I have been using the Top-Spin Return for a few weeks now already, btw. What I found helpful in this video is, that it's all right to run through the stroke to the kitchen, which was always a no-no in past videos. Thanks for boldly going where few have gone before!

I try to hit mostly top spin returns at the baseline.

Excellent tips, thank you.

After watching Zane’s video, I am begging people to hit me underspin and it’s automatic bang city or a top spin drop that dives quickly into the kitchen and gives people headaches

Do you have tips and rules for the kitchen.

I understand your point about slice but it still throws off several of my opponents.

My two cents - he argues that a topspin dink makes it harder to topspin return dink and creates it to go higher but in the same token a backspin dink causes the topspin return dink to go lower and hit into the net as it does in table tennis, different sport but science is science so you can argue both sides.

Can we see you play some games Connor?

Dude, when u slice a ball. Once it lands it changes ball rotation. It doesn’t continue to have slice on it. The only sliced ball that continues to have slice on it, is a ball that starts going backwards. Look close.

It all depends on who you're playing against. it's not one way is better than the other. It's situational.

Thanks for sharing! But when you were receiving services they don’t like very hard services like I get when I’m playing

the only tip you need is HIT the ball back as hard as you can at their backhand DONE!!

You are not supposed to be moving while hitting. You should be set.

Meh, a slice return will give you more control to place that ball as deep as possible and give you more time to walk up to the kitchen

Wrong