Pickleball is a game of variety and unpredictability — no two points are ever the same. As players, we often think about what shot to make and where to place the ball on the court. But a question gaining traction on Reddit asks how closely we really watch the ball all the way through contact. An intriguing observation came from a user who watched slow-motion footage of tennis legends Alcaraz and Federer. They noted that these pros keep their eyes locked on the contact point even after the ball leaves their racquet.
Inspired, they tried this technique in their pickleball game and experienced remarkable results: shanks and mishits dropped by 80-90%, and shots found the sweet spot more consistently. This raises an important question for pickleball players — how actively do you watch your shots?
At Carolina Pickleball Club (cpbccarolinapickleball.net), we believe the age-old advice to “keep your eye on the ball” is just as vital in pickleball as it is in tennis. Watching high-level pros like Anna Leigh, Ben, Gabe, Hayden, Anna, Catherine, and Federico show us that locking eye contact with the ball through every shot is standard practice, not just a tip.
So, next time you step on the court, treat every shot as if it’s the most important one of the entire match. Focus intently as the ball approaches your paddle, watch it meet the sweet spot, and don’t shift your gaze until the ball leaves your paddle face. It might feel intense at first, but this focus can drastically improve your shot precision.
Want more proof? Check out slow-motion videos of pro matches, like those shared by paddle reviewer John Kew, and see this technique in action. Embrace the pros’ mindset, keep your eye on the ball, and watch your pickleball game elevate!