How Handy Are You?

Because pickleball is a gripping sport that requires you to swing a paddle, it is an activity that also requires you to have a strong grip. We stretch our hamstrings, our back muscles and our neck muscles, but do we stretch our hand and forearm muscles? If not, we should!

Weight bearing wrist exercises are easy to do. Do pushups against the wall or on the floor to promote wrist impact. Do your wrist circles slowly in both directions.

Place your arms out in front of you with palms up then turn your palms down without moving your elbows or upper arms. If you cannot do this exercise correctly hold your upper arm with the opposite hand then try the exercise again.

Hold your hands out front of you, palms facing away; then slowly make a fist, squeezing hard. Then open your fingers and stretch them wide. Place your arms out front with palms down; make a fist then do wrist curls downward. Reverse this movement. Starting with palms up, make a fist then do wrist curls upward.

Finally, squeeze a tennis ball and watch the muscles in your forearm react. If you cannot see the muscles jump you need much more strength.

Do these exercises using both hands, doing more on the weaker side, and it won’t be long before your handiness improves.