Feb 2

Feb 2 3 Mistakes to Avoid when Volleying: Pickleball Tips and Strategies

Being able to successfully volley the ball is an essential part of a pickleball game. While mastering volleys takes time, practice, determination, and commitment, it is well worth running drills and learning about the different types of volleys.

Many pickleball players make common mistakes when learning the fundamentals of volleying and this can cause lost matches and frustration. If that sounds like you, we’ve outlined the three biggest volleying mistakes and how to correct them to help you improve your gameplay.

What is a Volley in Pickleball?

A volley is when you hit the ball out of the air without letting it bounce first. Volleying usually occurs close to the kitchen line at the net. However, it can also happen deeper in the court towards the baseline.

If the ball bounces before you hit it, this is called a groundstroke.

Why are Volleys Important in Pickleball?

By volleying the ball, you increase the speed of your shots while giving your opponent less time to react. When you allow the ball to bounce first, your opponent has more time and will have a better idea of where you are hitting the ball based on your position and footwork.

Volleys allow you to angle the ball and add the desired spin more easily. Volleys also mean you can hit shots more forcefully, making them more difficult to return.

Top 3 Volley Mistakes Pickleball Players Make

Mistake #1: Hitting the Pickleball Too Hard

One of the biggest mistakes beginner players make is hitting the ball too hard. This can cause the ball to go into the net, out of bounds, or driving it right into your opponent's strike zone.

Volleying usually involves trading soft shots and waiting for a strategic opening to hit a harder shot away from your opponent’s reach.

Mistake #2: Allowing the Ball to Get Too Close to Your Body

It is important to keep your arms loose and to anticipate where a ball will be hit. Keep yourself in a ready position when not directly hitting the ball so you don’t find yourself caged and unable to properly return a hit.

If you allow the ball to get too close to your body, you lose out on the chance to hit quality forehand volleys and may be forced to use a defensive block volley instead. While it is okay to play pickleball defensively, don’t allow yourself to get into a position where you don’t have the option to take the pickleball shot you want to.

Mistake #3: Allowing Yourself to Get Pushed Off of the Kitchen Line

Your position on the pickleball court is everything. The optimal position is as close to the kitchen line as possible. If you allow your opponent to drive you into the backcourt, they gain the advantage. This gives your opponents more time to react to your strikes and more space at your feet to return the pickleball.

What Types of Volleys Are There in Pickleball?

There are four main types of pickleball volleys that beginners should know how to perform.

Punch Volley

A punch volley is the most commonly used type of volley. This type of volley is hit with your paddle face oriented perpendicular to the net and performed with an open stance and forward movement. Punch volleys are best performed when the ball is near the height of the net, and the best place to aim for is your opponent’s feet.

Roll Volley

Roll volleys are considered a half-swinging volley with topspin and are sometimes referred to as topspin volleys. These are usually performed when the ball has fallen below the net line, and your opponent is in the transition zone or close to their baseline. The opportunity for a roll volley usually presents itself after your opponent hits a drop shot.

The roll volley is performed with a forehand and with a low-to-high swing trajectory. It is hit deep to keep your opponent away from the NVZ and force them to retreat to the back of their side of the court.

Dink Volley

A dink volley is a dink shot into the opponent’s kitchen when you are standing at your non-volley zone line. Dink volleys are best used to hold your own position and to not retreat from your NVZ while forcing your opponent to move quickly to return the ball.

Drop Volley

Drop volleys are used as a defensive strategy when your opponent is a banger or hitting hard drives directly at you. They are used to “reset” the rally and change the pace of play. Drop volleys are feather-soft shots aimed just over the net that drop quickly and force your opponent to lunge forward to reach them. They often result in pop-ups that can easily be hit with an overhead smash.

What Stance is Best for Volleying in Pickleball?

The best ready position for volleying is standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and leaning forward on the balls of your feet. Your pickleball paddle should be held in front of your body at a 12 o’clock position if you’re at the baseline or with the backhand side of your paddle facing the net at either a 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. position if you’re at the kitchen line.

Pickleball Tips to Improve Volleying

Aim at your opponent’s feet. This will make it more difficult for them to return the ball or get the shots that they want to take.
Aim volleys at your opponent’s shoulders or hips. Forcing your opponent to pivot or move away from the ready position can force them to make awkward backhand volleys.
Find and focus on hitting the ball towards gaps. If you see an opening because a player has moved out of position, hit the ball into the gap to force them to chase after the ball. If they return it, hit it away from them again to force them to move into a favorable position for you to win the point.
Keep your opponents moving toward the baseline. If you can force your opponent to abandon the kitchen line, it gives you more opportunities to win easy points on drop shots. Do this by hitting deep volleys to pin them to their backcourt.
Use a continental grip and keep your wrist loose.
Use your legs to generate power instead of your shoulders.

For more volley tips, check out 11 Ways to Improve Your Pickleball Volley and watch this full video from Pickleball Channel: