The Segmented Swing: A Simple Way to Fix Almost Every Pickleball Stroke
By Jorge Capestany, RSPA Master Professional & PTR International Master Professional
If you’ve ever told a player:
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“Don’t swing so big.”
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“Swing faster.”
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“Shorten your swing.”
…and they stare back at you…
You’re not alone. The problem isn’t the advice.
👉 The problem is that it’s too vague.
Players don’t know what they’re actually supposed to change.
That’s where this concept comes in:
👉 The Segmented Swing
Why Most Swing Coaching Falls Short
A lot of coaching cues sound like this:
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“Swing bigger.”
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“Swing smaller”
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“Hit softer.”
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“Hit harder”
But compared to what?
Without a clear reference point, players are just guessing.
And guessing leads to inconsistency.
The Segmented Swing (A Simple System That Works)
Let’s break the swing into something measurable.
Every swing has two parts:
1. Backswing
2. Follow-through
Now we assign simple numbers to each.
The 3 Levels of Swing Size
Think of your swing in three levels:
1 = Small
2 = Medium
3 = Large
So now instead of saying:
👉 “Don’t swing so big.”
You can say:
👉 “That should be a 1–1 swing.”
That’s clear. That’s actionable.
Examples:
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1–1 Swing → Short backswing, short follow-through
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2–3 Swing → Medium backswing, full follow-through
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3–3 Swing → Full swing (baseline drives, serves, overheads)
This gives players a language they can actually use.
The Second Piece: Swing Speed
Here’s where it gets really powerful.
Two players can both have a 3–3 swing…
…but hit completely different shots.
Why?
👉 Swing speed
The 3 Levels of Swing Speed
Just like swing size, we simplify this too:
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Speed 1 = Soft / absorbing pace
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Speed 2 = Moderate / controlled pace
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Speed 3 = Fast / aggressive swing
Now you’ve got a complete system:
👉 Swing Size + Swing Speed
Why This Changes Everything
Instead of vague coaching…
You can now say things like:
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“That should be a 1–1 with speed 1” (soft dink)
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“Use a 2–3 with speed 2” (controlled drive)
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“Go 3–3 with speed 3” (full attack)
Now players know exactly what to do.
How It Applies to the Court
This system also connects perfectly to the court position.
At the Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)
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Short, controlled swings
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Typically 1–1 with Speed 1
👉 Dinks, resets, soft volleys
Mid-Court / Transition Zone
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Slightly bigger swings
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Often 2–3 with Speed 2
👉 Controlled drives and resets
At the Baseline
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Full swings
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Typically 3–3 with Speed 2 or 3
👉 Groundstrokes, serves, aggressive shots
Why Coaches Love This System
This isn’t just for beginners.
Even experienced coaches use this because:
👉 It simplifies communication
Instead of long explanations… You can fix a swing in seconds.
Why Players Improve Faster
When players understand:
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How big their swing should be
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How fast it should move