Paddle Power Slides Paddle Power
Lesson 1: Grip & Stance Basics
Physical Education
The Edge Challenge
Grab your paddle and a ball. Can you balance the ball on the thin edge of your paddle for 10 seconds?
Pro Tip:
Keep your eyes locked on the ball, not the paddle!
🎾
Master the Grip
The Continental
The "Shake Hands" grip
V-shape points to your shoulder
Best for volleys and serves
The Eastern
Palm flat against the paddle face
V-shape points slightly right
Best for groundstrokes
The Ready Stance
Always Reset
Feet Wide
Slightly wider than shoulders
Knees Bent
Lower your center of gravity
Paddle Up
In front of chest, head up
On Your Toes
Ready to move instantly
READY?
React 2x faster by staying in position!
Active Workshop: Control
1
Ups: Bounce the ball continuously on the paddle face. Keep it at eye level!
2
Downs: Bounce the ball against the floor with control. Use soft wrist movements.
3
Flip-Flops: Hit ball up, flip paddle, hit with other side. Go!
Grip Master Worksheet Grip Master
Lesson 1: Foundations & Control
Name:
Date:
The "Shake Hands" Check
Match the grip to its best use and characteristic. Draw a line from the circle to the correct box.
CONTINENTAL
EASTERN
Palm is flat against the paddle face. Perfect for baseline shots.
The "V" of your thumb and index finger points straight up the handle edge.
Ready Position Check
Draw a stick figure in the Ready Position
Check off the components as you practice with your partner:
Feet wider than shoulders
Knees bent (Athletic Stance)
Weight on the balls of your feet
Paddle in front (at chest height)
Control Workshop Log
Activity Practice 1 (Score) Practice 2 (Score) Personal Best Ups (Eye Level) Downs (Floor Control) Flip-Flops (Alternating Sides)
Reflection: Which drill was the hardest for you? Why?
Starter Station Guide Starter Station Guide
Lesson 1 Facilitation • Grip & Ready Position
Duration 45 MIN
Learning Objectives
Students will differentiate between Continental and Eastern grips.
Students will demonstrate an athletic ready position.
Students will execute 10 consecutive "Ups" with controlled paddle movement.
Equipment
Pickleball Paddles
Plastic Indoor Balls
Cones (for boundaries)
Grip Master Worksheets
Lesson Phases
0-5m
Hook: The Edge Challenge
Gather students. Challenge them to balance the ball on the paddle edge. This highlights the importance of "soft hands" and visual focus.
5-15m
Grip & Ready Tech
Demo the Continental (V-shape) and Eastern (Palm-flat) grips. Explain that Continental is for versatility, Eastern for power. Demonstrate the wide base and "paddle up" ready position.
15-40m
Control Workshop Stations
Rotate students through three skill stations (10 mins each). Students should record scores on their worksheets.
Station A
The Elevator (Ups)
Focus on keeping paddle face level and ball at eye height.
Station B
The Dribbler (Downs)
Practice controlled bounces against the floor using wrist hinge.
Station C
The Pancake (Flips)
Alternate sides of the paddle. This builds paddle orientation awareness.
Coaching Cues & Troubleshooting
Problem: Ball flying away during Ups.
Fix: Encourage smaller movements. "Imagine the ball is an egg; don't break it!"
Problem: Students holding the paddle "frying pan" style.
Fix: Check the "V" between thumb and forefinger. Ensure it's on the edge, not the face.
Key Cue: "Shake Hands"
Used to find the Continental grip instantly.
Key Cue: "Nose to Toes"
Remind students to keep their head up but stay low in their stance.
Forehand Forge Slides Forehand Forge
Lesson 2: Mastering the Swing
The Safe Zone
Can you hit the Safe Zone?
The Safe Zone is the 3-foot area above the net. Too low? It hits the net. Too high? It goes out.
The Secret:
Low to High Swing!
Target Area
The Perfect Forehand
01
Turn & Prep
Shoulders turn to the side. Paddle back early. Non-paddle hand points at the ball.
02
Contact Point
Strike the ball in front of your body. Step with your opposite foot!
03
Follow Through
Swing through the ball. End with your paddle pointing toward your target.
Swing Path Science
1
Low Start: Paddle starts below the ball.
2
Level Contact: Flat paddle face.
3
High Finish: Finish near your shoulder.
This creates LIFT and SPIN!
Drop-Feed Drills
The Feeder
Hold ball at shoulder height
Let it drop (no throwing!)
Give your partner 10 consistent drops
The Striker
Stand in Ready Position
Step with opposite foot
Low-to-High swing through the target
Swing Path Practice Swing Path Practice
Lesson 2: Forehand Mechanics
Name:
Partner:
Sequence the Swing
Number the following steps 1-3 to show the correct order of a forehand groundstroke.
Follow Through
Finish high near your shoulder with your paddle pointing to target.
Contact Point
Strike the ball in front of your body with a flat paddle face.
Preparation
Turn shoulders sideways and take the paddle back early.
Visualizing Lift
Draw the Path:
Draw an arrow showing the swing path from Start to Finish to create lift.
Start (Low)
Finish (High)
Drop-Feed Tracker
Round Hits in "Safe Zone" 1 (10 drops) 2 (10 drops) Total / 20
Coach's Checklist (Partner observes you):
Did you step with the opposite foot?
Did the paddle start below the ball?
Did you finish at shoulder height?
Reflect & Analyze:
If your hits were consistently hitting the net, what adjustment would you make to your swing path?
Coach Corner Guide Coach Corner Guide
Lesson 2 Facilitation • Forehand Mechanics
Lesson 2 OF 5
Court Setup: The Safe Zone
Visual targets are essential for 6th graders to understand trajectory.
Wall Targets: Tape a 3ft wide strip of colorful tape 1ft above the "net line" on the gym wall.Court Targets: Use floor markers 3ft past the kitchen line to encourage depth.Stations: Pairs should be spaced 10ft apart to ensure safety during the backswing.
The Drop-Feed Protocol
Crucial for consistent practice!
1 Stand 5 feet apart (Striker vs. Feeder)
2 Feeder holds ball at arm's length (Shoulder Height)
3 "Drop... Bounce... Hit!" (The rhythm of the drill)
Instructional Focus
1. Early Prep
Ensure students aren't "reacting" to the ball too late. Cues: "Shoulders to the fence" or "Paddle back early."
2. Opposition
Weight transfer is key. Ensure they step with the foot opposite their paddle hand. Cue: "Step to the ball."
3. Low-to-High
The most common error is a "slapping" motion. Cue: "Start at the knees, finish at the ears."
Differentiated Feedback
Student Observation The Fix / Progression Hitting the ball too far (Out) Close the paddle face slightly. Remind them to aim for the "Safe Zone" tape, not the ceiling. Hitting the net consistently Check the start of the swing. It's likely too high. Cue: "Get lower than the ball." Success with every drop Challenge: Feeder takes 2 steps back and tosses the ball with a slight bounce (moving target).
Debrief Question:
"Why does the ball lift when we swing low to high? What happens if we swing high to low?"
Backhand Boss Slides Backhand Boss
Lesson 3: Rotation & Stability
Partner Mirroring
Face your partner. One of you is the leader, the other is the mirror.
Slowly rotate your shoulders for a backhand. Does your mirror match your exact angle?
Watch for:
Shoulders turning before the feet move.
The Two-Handed Backhand
Grip
Dominant Hand
Stays at the bottom (Continental)
Help
Non-Dominant Hand
Sits right on top for stability
"Use your non-dominant hand to steer the paddle like a steering wheel."
Built for Stability
Backhand Checklist
Shoulder Turn
Turn until your dominant shoulder is pointing at the net.
Contact Point
Hit the ball out in front. If you wait, you'll hit it late!
"Step, Turn, Strike, Reset!"
Backhand Barrier Challenge
Your goal is to sustain a rally using ONLY BACKHANDS.
Level 1
5 controlled hits with a partner drop-feed.
Level 2
3 consecutive backhand rallies across the net.
Rotation Record Sheet Rotation Record
Lesson 3: Backhand Stability
Athlete Name:
Rotation Partner:
FH vs BH Mechanics
Forehand (Lesson 2)
One-handed power
Step with opposite foot
Open shoulder position
Backhand (Lesson 3)
Two-handed stabilityFull shoulder rotationContact even further in front
The Stability Grip
In the box below, sketch where your non-dominant hand goes on the paddle handle for a backhand.
Paddle Handle
Dominant hand at bottom
Helping hand sits above
Backhand Consistency Log
Level The Goal Attempt 1 Attempt 2 Status 1 5 Controlled hits (Partner drop-feed) 🏆 / ❌ 2 3 Hits over net (Backhand only) 🏆 / ❌ 3 2 Successive rallies (Backhand only) 🏆 / ❌
Stability Reflection:
"Why does adding a second hand make the backhand stroke more consistent for you? Describe the feeling of the paddle during contact."
Mirror Drill Guide Mirror Drill Guide
Lesson 3 Facilitation • Backhand Mechanics
Focus STABILITY
Drill 1: The Human Mirror (Shadow Practice)
Instructions:
Pairs face each other without balls. One student (Leader) slowly performs a backhand shadow swing. The other student (Mirror) must match the movement exactly in reverse.
Focus on the Shoulder Turn (shoulders perpendicular to net).
Focus on the Follow Through (extending through the target).
Rotate roles every 2 minutes.
Teacher Cue: "Shoulder to the Chin"
"If you don't turn your shoulders, you can't reach the ball comfortably. Your dominant shoulder should almost touch your chin when you prep."
Concept: The Steering Wheel
Why Two Hands?
Most 6th graders lack the wrist strength to stabilize a one-handed backhand. A second hand provides "steering" and prevents the paddle from twisting at contact.
The Grip Check
Hand 1: Dominant (Bottom) - Continental.Hand 2: Non-dominant (Top) - Eastern Forehand.The Result: A solid wall for the ball to hit.
Managing the "Backhand Barrier"
A
Drop-Feed Precision
Feeders should drop the ball slightly to the side of the striker, not directly in front. This forces the rotation.
B
Contact Zone
If balls are going into the net, the contact is likely too late. Encourage them to strike 12 inches further in front of their body.
Common Errors & Fixes
Error: Swinging with only arms.
Fix: "Let your belly button turn to the wall."
Error: Ball flying up too high.
Fix: "Check your helping hand. Don't let it pull the paddle back."
Kitchen Kings Slides Kitchen Kings
Lesson 4: Net Play & Volleys
The Floor is Lava
In the Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone), the rules change!
You cannot hit the ball out of the air while standing inside the line.
Challenge:
Can you and a partner keep the ball in the air for 10 hits without stepping in the lava?
The Kitchen
The Volley Punch
NO SWING!
Volleys are not big swings. They are short, compact punches .
V-Position
Keep the paddle in front of your face. Your arm should form a "V" shape.
Block the Ball
"Imagine the ball is a balloon you don't want to pop."
Touch and Control
The Dink
A soft, low shot that drops just over the net. Uses feather-light touch.
The Block
A firm, steady paddle that uses the opponent's speed to send the ball back.
Kitchen Command
1
The Statue: Stand at the line. Volley with a partner without moving your feet.
2
The Elevator Dink: Softly dink the ball over the net 5 times in a row.
Short motion = BIG control!
Volley Venture Worksheet Volley Venture
Lesson 4: Kitchen Command
Name:
Partner:
The Kitchen Rule
Circle the correct answer:
Can you hit a ball out of the air (a volley) while your feet are standing inside the non-volley zone line?
YES
NO
Swing vs. Punch
The Groundstroke (Lesson 2)
"Long, low-to-high motion."
The Volley (Lesson 4)
"Short, compact, block/punch motion."
Why do we use a shorter motion at the net?
Touch Workshop Log
Skill Practice Focus Hits (Round 1) Hits (Round 2) Forehand Volley Blocked at chest height Backhand Volley Lead with the knuckles Soft Dinks Lands inside the Kitchen
Self-Rating:
Reaction Speed:
"One thing I will focus on to improve my net play next time is..."
Dink Duel Guide Dink Duel Guide
Lesson 4 Facilitation • Net Play Control
Theme THE KITCHEN
The Golden Rule
"If your feet are in the Kitchen, you cannot volley. If you volley, you cannot be in the Kitchen."
No "Smashing" while standing in the NVZ.
You CAN step in if the ball bounces first.
Drill 1: The Statue Volley
Setup:
Pairs stand 5 feet apart across the net. Feet are "glued" to the ground just behind the Kitchen line.
Activity:
Cooperative volleying. Keep the ball in the air as long as possible. If they move their feet, the score resets to zero.
Teaching Cue: "V to V"
Paddle arm should form a "V" (bent at elbow). The movement should be small—just extending the "V" slightly to punch the ball.
Drill 2: The Floor is Lava (Dinking)
Focus: Touch & Placement
Balls must bounce inside the Kitchen on the other side.
If the ball hits the floor outside the Kitchen, it's "lava" and the point ends.
Encourage a soft "pushing" motion rather than a hit.
Challenge Variation:
"Silent Dinks": The ball must make almost no sound when it hits the paddle. This forces students to loosen their grip (Grip Tension 3/10).
Troubleshooting Common Faults
Popping the ball up too high
"Fix: Check grip tension. Loosen the hand."
Stepping into the kitchen early
"Fix: Place cones on the line as physical barriers."
Big swings at the net
"Fix: 'Short and sweet' cue. Paddle stays in front."
Rally Ready Slides Rally Ready
Lesson 5: Consistency & Footwork
The 20-Touch Challenge
Can you and a partner keep a single rally going for 20 distinct hits?
No "winners," no "points." Just 100% teamwork to keep the ball alive.
The Class Record:
00
Focus on:
Control over Power
Targeting the Middle
The Split Step
The Hop
A tiny hop right as your opponent strikes the ball. It loads your "springs" (muscles) to explode in any direction.
!
"If you stand still, you're always late. If you split-step, you're always ready."
Ready... Hop... React!
Try it now! (No ball)
Recovery Patterns
The Baseline
After a groundstroke, shuffle back to the center of the baseline. Don't admire your shot!
The Transition
When you hit a deep shot, move forward together! Pressure the net but be ready to split-step.
MOVE
HIT
RESET
Paddle Power Finale
Demonstrate Your Mastery
During today's gameplay, show me everything you've learned:
Grip
Correct grip for every shot.
Form
Low-to-High swing path.
Ready
Split-step before every hit.
Touch Tracker Log Touch Tracker
Lesson 5: Rally Sustainability
Name:
Partner:
The 20-Touch Challenge
Work with your partner to sustain the longest rally possible. Record your highest consecutive hits in each round.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Personal Best
Footwork Master
During your rallies, how often did you split-step?
Rarely
Sometimes
Every Time!
"The split-step helped me react faster to balls that were..."
Recovery Path
Describe your movement after you hit a shot from the baseline.
Unit Goal Achieved?
"I can sustain a rally using correct form and footwork."
Not Yet
Working on it
Yes!
Skill Finale Rubric Skill Finale Rubric
Paddle Power • Grade 6 PE
Unit ASSESSMENT
Skill Category Beginning (1) Developing (2) Proficient (3) Master (4) Grip & Ready Inconsistent grip; stance is upright and static. Occasional "Frying Pan" grip; stance lacks wide base. Consistently uses correct grip; resets to ready position. Instinctive grip changes; maintains active ready stance throughout. Swing Path Slapping or high-to-low motion; limited weight transfer. Level swing path; inconsistent follow-through at shoulder. Clear "Low-to-High" motion; steps with opposite foot. Generates lift and control via consistent low-to-high path. Net Play Swings at volleys; frequently steps in NVZ on air shots. Identifies NVZ line; volley motion is still slightly large. Uses "Punch" motion; respects NVZ rules during play. Excellent touch on dinks; compact, firm blocks at the net. Consistency Difficulty sustaining rally beyond 2 hits. Can sustain 3-5 hit rallies with frequent errors. Sustains rallies of 6-10 hits with controlled depth. Sustains long rallies (10+); recovers to center after shots.
Scoring Legend
Master (A): 15-16 Points
Proficient (B): 11-14 Points
Developing (C): 7-10 Points
Beginning (D): 4-6 Points
Assessment Tips
"Observe students during the '20-Touch Challenge' and final games. Focus on process over results (e.g., did they use the right swing, even if it went out?)."
Teacher Observation Notes
