What are the different shots in pickleball – and when should you use them? Whether you're a beginner or have been playing for a while, understanding different pickleball shots is a crucial part of developing as a player.
Pickleball isn't just about hitting the ball hard. On the contrary, much of the game is built on control, placement, variation, and choosing the right shot at the right time. A good player needs to be able to switch between hard drives, soft dinks, volleys, drops, and other shots depending on the situation.
In this guide, we'll go through the most important shots in pickleball, how they are used, and common mistakes you should avoid. If you're relatively new to the sport, you can also start with our complete guide to pickleball for beginners.
What are the different shots in pickleball?
There are many different shots and variations in pickleball. Some of the most important are:
- Forehand
- Backhand
- Serve
- Volley
- Drive
- Dink
- Third Shot Drop
- Smash
- Lob
- Speed-up
As a beginner, you don't need to master all of them immediately. Start with a reliable serve, forehand, and backhand, and then learn the volley and the soft game at the kitchen line. Once the basics are in place, shots like the dink and Third Shot Drop become increasingly important.
Forehand
The forehand is for many the most natural basic shot and is used when the ball comes to the side of the body where you hold the paddle. This shot can be used both offensively and defensively and occurs all over the court.
When is the forehand used?
- For groundstrokes from the baseline.
- For offensive drives.
- For controlled placements.
- In many serving situations.
Common forehand mistakes
- Too large a swing.
- Too much focus on power.
- Poor footwork and late contact point.
- Trying to win the point from a bad position.
Above all, try to find a controlled and repeatable motion. In pickleball, a well-placed ball is often more effective than maximum power.
Backhand
The backhand is used when the ball comes to the opposite side of the body. Many beginners feel less comfortable with the backhand than the forehand, which also makes it an area that opponents often try to exploit.
A stable backhand therefore makes a big difference. It is used, among other things, for returns, dinks, volleys, and defensive situations where you don't have time to position yourself for a forehand.
Tips for a stable backhand
Keep the motion relatively short and controlled. Especially near the kitchen line, there's rarely a need for a large swing. Instead, focus on balance, contact point, and placement.
Serve
Every rally begins with a serve. Unlike in tennis, for example, the goal doesn't have to be to hit the hardest serve possible. A reliable and well-placed serve can provide a significantly better starting position.
A deep serve, for example, can keep the receiver further from the kitchen line and give the serving team more time before the next shot.
If you want to delve deeper into the technique, you can read our complete guide on how to serve in pickleball. For the full rules regarding serving and the rest of the game, there is also our guide to pickleball rules.
Volley
A volley means you hit the ball in the air before it bounces. Volley play is particularly important when you are at the kitchen line and want to take time away from your opponents.
Volleys can be used, for example, to block hard drives, place the ball in a gap, or attack a ball that the opponent has left too high.
However, there is a crucial limitation: you are not allowed to hit a volley while you are in the non-volley zone, which is commonly called the kitchen. Read more in our guide on what the kitchen in pickleball is and how the rule works.
Drive
A drive is a fast and relatively hard shot used to put pressure on the opponent. Drives are often played from further back on the court and can be particularly effective when you get a ball that can be attacked with good control.
When is a drive suitable?
- When you get a suitable ball to attack.
- When you want to put pressure on the opponents' volley game.
- To increase the pace and create a weak return.
- As an alternative to a softer drop shot.
A common mistake is to use the drive as a standard solution for almost every ball. High speed is only an advantage when you can also maintain control.
Dink
The dink is one of the most characteristic shots in pickleball. It is a soft and controlled shot normally played from the area around the kitchen line and should land in the opponent's kitchen.
The goal is rarely to win the point directly. Instead, you try to make it difficult for the opponent to attack and wait for a better opportunity to arise.
When is a dink used?
- When players are at the kitchen line.
- When you want to slow down the pace.
- When you want to make it difficult for the opponent to attack.
- To create a return that is too high or poorly placed.
How to hit a better dink
- Use a short and controlled motion.
- Keep the paddle in front of your body.
- Try to hit the ball in front of you.
- Play with sufficient margin over the net.
- Vary the placement to move your opponents.
Perhaps the most important thing is patience. Don't try to turn every dink into a winning shot. Often, the purpose is instead to wait until the opponent leaves a ball that can actually be attacked.
Third Shot Drop
The Third Shot Drop is a central tactical shot in pickleball. The name comes from the fact that the shot is often used as the third shot of the rally: serve, return, and then the serving team's third shot.
The purpose is to play a soft ball that lands in the opponents' kitchen and is difficult to attack. This can allow the serving team to leave the baseline and work their way up to the kitchen line.
When is the Third Shot Drop used?
- After the opponents' serve return.
- When the opponents have established themselves at the kitchen line.
- When you want to neutralize their offensive position.
- When you and your partner need an opportunity to advance.
Focus on control and ball trajectory rather than speed. A good Third Shot Drop should primarily be difficult for the opponent to attack.
Smash
A smash is an offensive shot where you attack a high ball and try to hit it downwards with speed and control.
The opportunity arises, for example, after a lob that is too short or when the opponent happens to lift a ball too high.
Common smash mistakes
- Trying to hit as hard as possible instead of prioritizing placement.
- Attacking despite poor balance.
- Believing that the point is over after the first smash.
Be prepared for the opponent to defend even a good smash. Therefore, maintain your balance and prepare immediately for the next shot.
Lob
A lob is a high shot played over the opponents and can be used both offensively and defensively. When opponents are standing far forward, a well-placed lob can force them to leave the kitchen line and move backward.
When can a lob be effective?
- When opponents are standing close to the kitchen line.
- When you need to create time to regain position.
- To vary the game and break the opponents' rhythm.
The problem with a lob that is too short is that it can instead give the opponent a perfect smash opportunity. Placement and height are therefore crucial.
Speed-up
A speed-up means suddenly increasing the pace, often in the middle of a calm dink rally. The idea is to surprise the opponent and create an offensive advantage.
When does a speed-up work best?
- When you get a ball that can be attacked.
- When the opponent expects another dink.
- When the opponent is out of position or off balance.
Timing is crucial. Attacking a ball that is too low can instead give the opponent an easy opportunity to counter.
Which pickleball shots should a beginner learn first?
As a beginner, you don't need to try to learn all the shots at once. A good order is to first become comfortable with the serve, serve return, forehand, and backhand. After that, you can spend more time on volley, dink, and the soft game at the kitchen line.
When you start to feel comfortable with these parts, the Third Shot Drop, drives, speed-ups, and more advanced variations become natural next steps.
You can find more step-by-step guides on our page about pickleball techniques.
How to choose the right shot in pickleball?
An important part of getting better at pickleball is to stop thinking only about how you should hit the ball and also start thinking about which shot the situation requires.
Ask yourself:
- How high is the ball when I hit it?
- Where are the opponents standing?
- Am I in balance myself?
- Can the ball be attacked, or should I neutralize the game?
- Where is the largest open space?
The more you play, the more automatic these decisions become. This is also where the tactical side of pickleball truly begins to show.
If you want to develop this part of the game further, we recommend our guide to pickleball tactics.
Practice one pickleball shot at a time
It's easy to want to improve everything at once. A more effective way is often to choose one or two shots and practice them with a clear goal.
For example, if you have trouble moving from the baseline to the kitchen line, you can focus extra on the Third Shot Drop. If you lose many rallies at the net, volley, dink, and paddle position might be more important.
By combining better shot technique with an understanding of pickleball rules and the right tactics, you will have significantly better conditions to develop your game.
The right equipment for your pickleball game
Technique and training are the foundation for developing in pickleball, but the right equipment makes it both easier and more fun to play. In SwePickleball's shop, you will find equipment and products for both new and more experienced pickleball players.
If you're looking for a new paddle, you can start with our pickleball paddle shop. If you want to complete your equipment, you'll also find pickleball clothing for both women and men adapted for life on and around the court.
See SwePickleball's entire shop and find equipment for your pickleball game →
0 comments