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Pickleball volley

Pickleball / Popular

Punch clean volleys at the net with a stable paddle face.

What coaches agree on

  • Use a Continental grip on your volleys, so you can switch between forehand and backhand instantly without changing your hand position.
  • Aim your volleys at your opponent's feet or into open space instead of just swinging for power, since placement wins the point more often than pace does.
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Common mistakes

  • Letting the paddle drop or drift back toward the body between shots leaves you late and off balance and popping the ball up; keep the paddle up and out in front, and get back to that position right after every volley.
  • Taking a big backswing to add power backfires, causing mishits off the sweet spot and weak, inconsistent contact; the stroke should be short, moving the paddle forward from where it starts instead of pulling it back first.
  • Snapping or curling the wrist to generate power causes mishits and inconsistent contact; the paddle face should stay stable, with the motion driven from the arm instead.