Pickleball Volley Techniques: Forehand vs. Backhand

Pickleball Volley: Forehand vs Backhand

You just started pickleball not a long time ago, and finally graduated from the basic lessons. Well, now what? If you’re lost and don’t know what to learn next, how about diving into the next step: learning how to volley next? In this blog, we’ll walk you through the must-know techniques for both forehand and backhand volleys to help you level up your game.


What’s a Volley In Pickleball?

So, what’s a volley in pickleball? It’s a shot you hit out of the air before the ball bounces on the ground. This shot must be hit when players are out of the NVZ, AKA non-volley zone or kitchen.

If the players step into the kitchen while volleying, or the momentum causes any part of the players to extend into the kitchen, it will become a fault.


Why Volleys?

Volleying allows players to control the pace and play more offensively, keeping the opponent guessing what their next move will be. When used at the right moment, a volley can cut down your opponent’s reaction time and pressure them into making a mistake. But it’s not just about attack—volleys can also be used defensively to keep the ball in play and neutralize fast shots.


How to Properly Grip a Paddle for a Volley

The way you grip your paddle plays an important role in volleying, as it empowers and allows you to aim with more precision. So what’s the best way to grip your paddle when volleying? Let’s break it down:

  • The Continental Grip – Allows players to switch between forehand and backhand seamlessly.
The Continental Grip
  • The Eastern Grip – Players can have solid control over a forehand shot and can also switch between forehand and backhand easily.
The Eastern Grip

The tip is to focus on what feels right and works best for your style when you play. Having a comfy and steady grip is super important for hitting your shots accurately.

If you want more information about ways to grip your paddle, please feel free to check out this article: Pickleball Grips 101: How To Grip A Pickleball Paddle!


Forehand Volley and Backhand Volley

While forehand volley is suitable for a quick exchange over the net and offensive play, its importance is not any less than backhand volley. A good player must master both forehand volley and backhand volley so they can adapt to the situation

Forehand Volley

A forehand volley is performed when you hit the ball out of the air on your dominant side before it bounces. This shot is essential for quick exchanges at the net, as it puts pressure on your opponents and helps you maintain control during volleys and dinks.

Techniques:

  1. Grip
    1. The Continental Grip provides a versatile volley and shots—this grip is also good for controlling your volley.
  2. Position
    1. Feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Keep your knees slightly bending.
    3. Holding the paddle up and in front of your chest.
    4. Lean forward slightly for fast reaction.
  3. Execution
    1. Use your non-dominant foot to step forward.
    2. Keep your paddle face open.
    3. Guide the ball over the net using a short, controlled swing. Remember that a powerful shot can be achieved by using your shoulder and forearm, not a long swing.
  4. The Punch Technique
    1. With a firm wrist, try punching the ball forward with controlled movement instead of swinging.
  5. Follow-through
    1. The contact should be in front of your body, not beside.
    2. After the contact, make a short and controlled follow-through, keeping the ball low.

Common Mistakes

  • Too much backswing can cause you to lose control of the ball.
  • Using the wrist too much leads to inconsistent shots.
  • Hitting too hard may send the ball out of bounds.
  • Keeping the paddle face down causes the reaction time to be slow.


Backhand Volley

A backhand volley is executed when the ball is on your non-dominant side. This technique is vital for quick reactions at the net, for defensive volleys, and for redirecting play.

Techniques:

  1. Grip
    1. The Continental Grip is still the ideal grip as it allows easy switching between forehand and backhand.
  2. Position
    1. Same with the forehand volley.
    2. The body should be balanced and ready to react.
  3. Execution
    1. Use your dominant foot to step forward.
    2. Keep your paddle face slightly open.
    3. Guide the ball over the net with a short swing.
  4. The Punch Technique
    1. Same with the forehand volley.
  5. Follow-through
    1. Balancing your swing using your shoulder rotation, which gives you stability.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the paddle will slow down the reaction time.
  • Over-swinging makes controlling the ball harder.
  • Improperly angling the paddle can cause the ball to hit the net or fly too high.


Can't picture how to do forehand and backhand volley with only words? No worries. Here's a clip for visual learners:

 

Type of Pickleball Volleys

Using just one type of volley won’t get you far; you need to adapt your shot and strategy to what’s happening on the court. Let’s take a closer look at the main types of volleys in pickleball and how each one can help you respond more effectively during real-game situations.

Punch Volleys

A punch volley is one of the most commonly used volley techniques in pickleball. It’s typically executed with the paddle face held perpendicular, or slightly open, to the court, using a forward punching motion. The movement comes mainly from the elbow, acting like a hinge as you extend your arm forward. Like with all volleys, it’s important to keep your wrist stable and maintain a steady, composed body throughout the shot.

The punch volley works especially well when you’re aiming for your opponent’s feet or targeting an open space on the court, particularly when the incoming ball is at a medium height (not too low or above your shoulders).


Block Volleys

Some may call it ‘Drop Volley’ or ‘Reset Volley’. It’s one of the popular volleys used for defense. Start in an athletic stance with your paddle up and ready. To absorb the force of a drive, keep your grip light, around 30–40% tension. Avoid swinging too hard; instead, let the ball come to your paddle and focus on control rather than power.

This type of volley is used defensively to keep the rally going and stay on the point. The aim is to absorb your opponent’s power and take the pace off the ball, making it a smart choice when you need to reset the rally and regain control.


Roll Volleys

This is a topspin volley, effective for keeping opponents in the backcourt. Begin with your paddle positioned just below the ball. As you make contact, think of brushing up the back of the ball to generate topspin. Keep your grip at about 50%—firm enough to stay in control, but relaxed enough to allow that smooth topspin motion.

Topspin causes the ball to drop quickly, and a roll volley can give opponents trouble, especially when they're racing to the NVZ (non-volley zone) and now have to jump to reach the ball.


Dink Volleys

It’s as simple as it sounds, you dink a volley over the net into the opponent’s NVZ. Keep your grip light and use a smooth, controlled motion to guide the ball, almost like a gentle toss. Focus on keeping the ball low and placing it in different areas of the kitchen to keep your opponents off balance. With a dink volley, precision matters more than power.

This volley is used when you’re at the non-volley line and want to prevent your opponent’s dink shot from pushing you back from the non-volley line.


Practice Makes Perfect: Volley Drills to Level Up Your Game

Now that you’ve learned the techniques for both forehand and backhand volleys, it’s time to put them into practice. Let’s look at some beginner-friendly drills to help you improve.

Wall Volleys

  • Find a wall and stand 5-7 feet away from the wall.
  • Gently volley a ball against the wall and try to maintain the height and consistency.
  • Switching between forehand and backhand from time to time.

Partner Volleys

  • Pair up with your partner at the kitchen line.
  • Take turns volleying the ball back and forth. Start slow until you feel more comfortable, then you can increase the pace.

Target Practice

  • Set up targets on the court using cones, marking tape, or even water bottles work too.
  • Practice hitting volleys at targets using both forehand and backhand; this drill enhances placement and accuracy.

Dink to Volleys

  • Start by exchanging dinks with your partner before transitioning to volleys.
  • This drill helps you smoothly shift from soft shots to aggressive volleys.

Reaction Volleys

  • Have your partner feed the ball from different angles and speeds.
  • Focus on a quick reaction to each shot.
  • This drill will improve your reflexes and reduce your reaction time.


Heels, Nails, Paddle, Mascara: Jump into the court like a diva

Now that you’ve mastered the volley basics, it’s time to practice in style. Find fun paddles and perfect gifts for fellow players at PickleballGoats.com—because great pickleball deserves great vibes.


References

Rockstar Academy. (2024). Pickleball Volley Basics: Understanding the Key Strategies. https://www.rockstaracademy.com/blog/pickleball-volley-basics

PICKLEBACKCLUB. (2025). Volley Like a Pro. https://www.picklebackclub.com/p/volley-like-a-pro

Pickleheads. (2025). What is a pickleball volley?. https://www.pickleheads.com/guides/what-is-a-pickleball-volley

PB5star. (2024). What Is A Volley In Pickleball?. https://www.pb5star.com/a/blog/what-is-a-volley-in-pickleball?srsltid=AfmBOoqw_gc74vDOekSeYzIv8ytTA7DcYK_NtPuzGVGaSMvgFl1s5Uuq

PickleballMAX. (n.d.). Pickleball Volleys. https://www.pickleballmax.com/2020/04/pickleball-volleys/

 

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