Backhand ATP: Tips for Two-Handed & One-Handed

(Top 5 Pro Player James Ignatowich)

Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich, and today I want to cover the backhand ATP. ATP stands for “Around The Post,” a shot in pickleball where the ball is hit around the net post instead of over the net. There are two ways to hit the backhand ATP: the two-handed backhand ATP and the one-handed sliced backhand ATP.

For me, I’ve had much more success with the two-handed backhand ATP because I can use my left hand to get around the ball, giving me a lot more power and allowing me to keep the shot low. If you use a sliced backhand ATP, which I would only recommend if you feel comfortable with one hand and not with two, the slice will bring the ball up.

If you have the capacity to use two hands on the paddle, I highly recommend learning this shot. The most important thing about an ATP, in general, is to keep it low, ideally 6 inches from the ground since there’s no net in play. Those are the ATPs that are the hardest to return.

With a two-hander, you can either get some topspin or at least hit it flat. A slice has to be sliced, and because it’s flat and you have topspin with a two-hander, it’s much easier to hit a linear low ATP. Those are the shots that come back, not the ones that you hit as hard as you can.

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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. My paddle | PPA | MLP | jamesignatowichnewsletter |