It’s actually pretty simple and very effective.
Popularized by Colin Johns, it allows you to cover your chicken wing aka jam spot from a speed-up.
If you are a taller player, you have a larger jam spot, and a scorpion really helps cover that weakness.
Very versatile and like a tomahawk, it can cover both sides fast and easily.
Similar to the Erne, if you show it a few times, opponent will have to be wary of it and know they can’t just speed-up to your jam spot for free.
It’s weakness is that if opponent can hit down with a speed-up downwards, you’ll be late to flip your paddle in time to cover the ball at your feet.
Priority Checklist:
- Situation: When opponent is reaching in and speeding up from low below the net out-of-the-air.
- Turn your paddle face forward to a semi-western grip.
Note: I have done the backhand scorpion which is doing it with the backhand side. It’s more awkward and requires a lot more wrist flexibility backwards, but is doable.