Spin is a big part of pickleball and continues to be explored and used in many different ways. Especially in the serve nowadays. Learning how to see, read, and utilize spin comes naturally if you have a racket sport history. But, if you don’t, then its a skill that needs to be developed if you want to keep improving your pickleball game.
Gamma Pickleball recently released the first ever two-toned outdoor and indoor balls for this purpose. To learn how to read and use spin. The idea behind the two-tones is to make it easy to visualize how the ball is rotating so you can react accordingly.
I got my hands on some to try them out because I really liked the idea of them. Plus, they only cost $10 for a bag of six so it doesn’t break the bank.
My Play Test
I drilled and played with them for a few hours and immediately noticed a few things. I was generating way more slice with my backhand dinks than my forehand. My drives weren’t generating as much topspin as I thought I was. Spin had a bigger effect when it bounced off the concrete than it did off my paddle. And that’s just to name a few.
To get more specific, I want to highlight what I learned about the return of serve. I most commonly use a slice return, as do a lot of other players. Because of the two-tone balls, I was able to read the spin a lot better off my opponents serve so that I could add more of the same rotation and compound the spin that was already on the ball. This was when my slice returns were the most effective. I think the return of serve is a very important part of the game and the two-toned balls helped me see the type of spin coming in on the serve and use it to my advantage.
Most importantly, these balls enabled me to experiment with spin and better react to it. I originally thought these balls would be best for beginner players but I now think there is value in this ball for every level of player. I compete at a 4.5 level and understand how spin works, but I still learned things while playing with this ball.
If you are newer to the game and don’t have a racket sport background, then these balls are a must. If you are an experienced player, you can still experiment and learn while playing with them.
Player Comments and Thoughts About the Two-Toned Balls From Different Skill Levels
3.5 Players
- “For the first time I can actually see the different spins on the ball!
- “I love how the ball catches my eye and makes me focus better.”
- “Can I get some of these to play with my grandson?”
4.0 Players
- “Wow! This ball is fascinating! I would love to see it in more vibrant and contrasting colors. Is that even possible?”
- “This ball really helps me see how the swing pattern of my opponent’s paddle affects the ball!”
4.5- 5.0 Tournament Players
- “What a great ‘warm-up’ ball. It helps me zero in on the spins and get focused immediately.”
- “Can I take a ball for my next tournament? Think it is a really good perceptual trainer.”
- “Wow! I wish I had this ball when I was first learning about spins.”
- “I like how with greater distance (baseline to baseline rallies) I can actually see the ball spinning off and slowing down.”
Certified Pickleball Instructors
- “I need this ball!” Can I borrow it for my clinics tomorrow?”
- “Fantastic! Wow! What an ideal instructional tool!” Where can I buy this?
- “How soon can I get this ball?” This is clearly a game -changer with awesome ‘Show and Tell’ capabilities. I need this ball now! Who makes it?
- “Are there other balls out there like this? I know tennis has them for kids. Great innovation for pickleball. Now that I see the many applications of this teaching aide I can’t wait to get a dozen or so in my hands!”
Final Thoughts
I drilled and played with them for a few hours and immediately noticed a few things. I was generating way more slice with my backhand dinks than my forehand. My drives weren’t generating as much topspin as I thought I was. Spin had a bigger effect when it bounced off the concrete than it did off my paddle. And that’s just to name a few.
To get more specific, I want to highlight what I learned about the return of serve. I most commonly use a slice return, as do a lot of other players. Because of the two-tone balls, I was able to read the spin a lot better off my opponents serve so that I could add more of the same rotation and compound the spin that was already on the ball. This was when my slice returns were the most effective. I think the return of serve is a very important part of the game and the two-toned balls helped me see the type of spin coming in on the serve and use it to my advantage.
Most importantly, these balls enabled me to experiment with spin and better react to it. I originally thought these balls would be best for beginner players but I now think there is value in this ball for every level of player. I compete at a 4.5 level and understand how spin works, but I still learned things while playing with this ball.
If you are newer to the game and don’t have a racket sport background, then these balls are a must. If you are an experienced player, you can still experiment and learn while playing with them.
