The Chariot Whip: The Pro Pickleball Technique Taking Over Courts

The Chariot Whip isn't just about spin. It's about disguise and efficiency. Your opponent can't tell what you're doing until the ball is already past them.

The Chariot Whip is taking over pickleball courts everywhere, and for good reason.

Made famous by top pros like Ben Johns and Tyson McGuffin, this deceptively simple technique generates massive spin and disguise on dinks, drops, and attacks. If you're tired of hitting flat shots and want to add a pro-level weapon to your game, it's time to master the whip.

PlayPickleball.com breaks down exactly where and how to use this technique across different court situations.

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What Exactly Is the Chariot Whip?

The Chariot Whip starts with one simple move: drop your paddle tip below the ball. If you imagine the ball cut in half with an equator, you're aiming to contact the southern hemisphere. From there, you "answer the phone" on the same side of your body where you started.

That's it. No crossing your body. No fancy footwork. Just a compact motion that creates insane topspin and disguise.

Why This Matters

Most players generate topspin by coming across their body. It works, but it telegraphs your shot and limits your options. The Chariot Whip keeps your opponent guessing because your finish looks the same whether you're attacking or defending.

The Chariot Whip Dink

This is where most players start. Keep your grip light, let the ball fall into your paddle, and answer the phone on the same side. Your stroke stays compact and controlled.

The beauty here is consistency. You can dink straight ahead or crosscourt, and the motion stays the same. Your opponent can't read whether you're going down the line or cross.

The Chariot Whip Drop

Dropping from the baseline requires a bigger follow-through than dinking. You still prep early with the paddle tip down, but this time you let the ball fall and then come all the way up, finishing with your elbow raised.

The key is spacing. You can't hit a Chariot Whip drop off the short hop. You need to let the ball reach its apex and descend into your paddle face. That timing creates the spin without forcing the shot.

The Offensive Weapon: Fourth Shot Attack

Here's where the Chariot Whip gets dangerous. When your opponent leaves a ball sitting up in that awkward middle zone (not quite an overhead, not quite a regular attack), this is your moment.

Close your paddle face slightly and accelerate through the ball, staying on the same side of your body. The result is a shot loaded with topspin that keeps your opponent pinned to the baseline. This move was made famous by Tyson McGuffin and later adopted by other pros.

How to Practice It

Start with the dink. Get comfortable with the motion and the timing before moving to drops or attacks. Here's what to focus on:

• Keep your grip pressure light so the paddle can whip through the ball
• Let the ball fall into your paddle rather than reaching up to meet it
• Finish on the same side of your body every time
• Practice both straight and crosscourt patterns to build consistency

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