Chicken Wing (Pickleball)
Also known as: pickleball chicken wing, chicken wing volley, ball at my paddle shoulder, ball hit at my dominant shoulder, jammed backhand volley, attacking the chicken wing
A chicken wing is the awkward backhand you hit when a ball comes at your paddle-side shoulder or hip and you lift your elbow high to reach it. It is weak and hard to control, so opponents aim there on speed-ups. Fix it by holding the paddle more neutral at the kitchen line, then turning or sliding so you can take that ball with a forehand.
The ball comes at your forehand side, close to your body. Instead of turning to a forehand, you raise your elbow high and block with a backhand. That gets the paddle on the ball, but the shot is usually weak and hard to aim. Once an opponent sees it, they have a spot to attack for the rest of the game. A common cause is sitting with the paddle on the backhand side at the kitchen line.
The Dink's coaching gives two fixes. First, hold the paddle more neutral, or only slightly toward the backhand, so turning to the forehand is easier. Second, make room for the forehand. Either slide a step toward your non-paddle side as the attack comes, or keep your feet still, turn your hips and shift your weight to the forehand side. Do not pull the paddle far behind you. Keep the swing short and meet the ball in front.
If you are jammed anyway, a soft block back into the kitchen is safer than a counterattack. In practice, play fast hands battles with your feet planted, so you learn to turn your hips and switch to the forehand. When you attack, the other team's paddle-side shoulder is a good target too.
Tips by skill level
At the kitchen line, hold the paddle in front of your chest, pointing only slightly to the backhand side. Practice switching to a forehand block on balls at your paddle shoulder.
Drill fast hands battles with your feet planted, turning your hips and shifting weight to the forehand side. When you attack, aim at your opponent's paddle-side shoulder to draw their chicken wing.
Example
An opponent keeps speeding up at a right-hander's right shoulder, and she keeps lifting her elbow into a backhand. She starts holding the paddle more neutral and sliding a half step left. Now she meets those balls with a compact forehand block.
Why it matters
Opponents look for the spot you defend worst, and the paddle-side shoulder is often it. Fixing the chicken wing takes away an easy target in hands battles.
Common mistakes
- Sitting with the paddle fully on the backhand side at the kitchen line
- Lifting the elbow to reach a ball at the paddle shoulder with a backhand
- Pulling the paddle far back instead of blocking in front
- Counterattacking from a jammed position instead of blocking soft
Frequently asked questions
What is a chicken wing in pickleball?
It is a jammed backhand volley hit with the elbow raised, used when a ball comes at your paddle-side shoulder or hip. It is usually weak and hard to control.
How do I block a ball hit at my right shoulder?
If you are right-handed, take it with a forehand. Hold the paddle more neutral, then slide a little to the left or turn your hips, so there is room for a short forehand block.
How do I stop hitting chicken wings in pickleball?
Hold the paddle more neutral at the kitchen line instead of sitting on the backhand. Practice switching to the forehand on balls at your paddle shoulder, and keep the swing short and in front.
Why do players aim at the shoulder in pickleball?
A ball at the paddle-side shoulder or hip is awkward for both a forehand and a backhand. It often draws a chicken wing, which tends to come back weak.
Sources
Related terms
- Hands BattleA hands battle is a rapid-fire exchange of speed-ups and counters at the kitchen line. Reaction speed, paddle readiness, and placement under pressure win it.
- Blocking a Speed-UpBlocking a speed-up is a defensive volley technique. It absorbs an attacking shot's pace with a firm, still paddle face instead of swinging back.
- Paddle Ready PositionPaddle ready position is the neutral, out-in-front paddle hold used between shots. The paddle face stays up and centered, so you can react equally fast to either side.
- Speed-UpA speed-up is an offensive attack launched from the kitchen line during a soft dink exchange. It is a sudden hard drive at the opponent's body or shoulder, meant to force a reflex error before they can reset.
- Body Shot AttackA body shot attack is a speed-up or drive aimed at the opponent's torso or dominant hip. It forces an awkward, compact swing with little room to attack back.
- Punch VolleyA punch volley is a compact, firm volley at the kitchen line that redirects pace back at the opponent with a short, controlled forward thrust of the paddle.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into practice
Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question about this, or keep reading the related terms above.