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The COOLEST Shot In Pickleball | The Forehand vs. Backhand ERNE

Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich from Delray Beach, Fl. Today, we’re going to about when to go for a forehand Erne and when to go for a backhand Erne, and also the pros and cons of a forehand Erne versus a backhand Erne.

What is an Erne? Guide here.

Forehead Erne vs Backhand Erne: When to Use Each

I feel pretty comfortable with both of them. I think for me, I can get more power with a forehand Erne. In general, you’re going to be moving to your left, so you can really slap with a forehand Erne, and you can also reach more. So if I were to use a backhand Erne, it would be difficult to reach the right side of my right shoulder. But if I’m using a forehand Erne, I can use way more reach.

And that’s not because I’m tall—I mean, you’ve seen there’s a lot of players that can use a forehand Erne with a lot of success.

So I think the biggest pro of a forehand Erne is you can reach farther and you can cut off more court.

With a backhand Erne, though, the advantage there is I think you can actually meet it a little earlier. And if the ball is in the corner near the post—maybe a foot or two feet from the sideline—it’s easier to hit a backhand Erne there. Otherwise, you might get jammed up, especially if you try to take a big swing.

So when I’m on that side of the court, or if I see that it’s more of a reactionary Erne that’s very much close to the sideline, I’ll usually take it with a backhand. And then if I see that the ball is coming from the middle and I’m trying to Erne it, then I’ll use a forehand to get more reach.

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Photo of author

James Ignatowich is a top 10 professional pickleball player originally from Connecticut, now residing in Delray Beach, Florida. A former Division 1 tennis player at Vanderbilt University, James made a transition to pickleball, quickly rising to prominence in the sport and often playing doubles with Tyson McGuffin and Anna Bright. In addition to his athletic achievements, he runs his own podcast, where he shares insights into the game and interviews other professionals. jamesignatowichnewsletter | PPA | MLP | My paddle

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