The 30-second version
- A volley is hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces — the shot you’ll hit most at the kitchen line.
- The three types: block (still paddle, absorb pace), punch (short, firm push), and roll (brush up for topspin offense).
- No backswing. Volleys are compact — paddle up, out front, and meet the ball early.
- Remember the one restriction: you can’t volley while touching the kitchen.
Part of our guide to improving your pickleball game.
Once you’re at the kitchen line — where most of pickleball is played — the volley becomes your most-used shot. It’s one of the sport’s seven fundamental shots, and the difference between flailing at fast balls and calmly controlling them comes down to a few simple mechanics.
What is a volley?
A volley is any shot you hit out of the air, before the ball bounces. Most volleys happen at the kitchen line during fast exchanges or when opponents try to drive the ball past you. One critical rule: you cannot volley while any part of you touches the non-volley zone — that’s the whole point of the kitchen. (Full details in our kitchen rules guide, including the fine print in can you volley in the kitchen?)
The volley ready position
Good volleys start before the ball is hit:
- Paddle up and out front — at chest height, in front of your body, not down at your side. You can drop a paddle faster than you can raise it.
- Slight backhand bias — most fast balls come at your body, and the backhand covers more of it. Many pros hold a backhand-leaning ready position at the line.
- Knees bent, weight forward — athletic and balanced, ready to move.
- Relaxed grip — around 3–4 of 10, firming only at contact. See how to hold the paddle.
The three volleys (and when to use each)
1. The block volley (defense)
When a ball is driven hard at you, don’t swing — block. Hold the paddle firm and still, let the ball hit it, and redirect the pace back low. The harder they hit, the less you do. This is your survival shot in hands battles and the cousin of the reset.
2. The punch volley (neutral/offense)
For balls at a comfortable height, use a short, firm push from the elbow — like a jab, not a swing. No backswing, compact follow-through, aimed at the opponent’s feet or the gap between them. This is your bread-and-butter putaway on medium balls.
3. The roll volley (offense)
On softer, lower balls — often off a weak dink — brush up the back of the ball to add topspin. The topspin lets you attack a lower ball and still bring it down into the court, often aimed at the opponent’s feet. This is the 4.0+ weapon covered more in our spin guide.
Where to aim your volleys
- At the feet — the hardest ball to return; forces a pop-up.
- The middle — splits partners and takes away angles.
- The open court — when they’ve been pulled wide.
Volley drills
- Wall volleys: stand 7 feet from a wall and volley continuously — the fastest way to build compact hands. Count your streak.
- Partner rapid-fire: both at the kitchen, volley back and forth increasing pace; focus on blocks staying low.
- Block-only games: one player drives, the other may only block — trains the still paddle.
Common volley mistakes
- Taking a backswing — there’s no time; volleys are compact.
- Paddle too low at the ready — you’ll be late on everything.
- Swinging at hard drives instead of blocking.
- Standing tall — bend your knees for low volleys instead of dropping the paddle head.
Which levels this skill helps
This skill shows up on these rungs of the skill ladder:
Choosing the right volley in real time
The decision tree is simpler than it feels at speed, because the incoming ball chooses for you. Ball driven hard at or below your chest → block: still paddle, absorb, send it back low. Ball arriving at a comfortable height between waist and chest with medium pace → punch: short jab from the elbow at their feet or the gap. Soft, low ball creeping over the net (a weak dink or dying drop) → roll: brush up and place it at the shoelaces. When you catch yourself hitting the wrong volley, it’s almost never technique — it’s that your paddle started from the wrong place or you decided late. Paddle at chest height, decision made by the time the ball crosses the net.
Volleying from the “danger heights”
Two heights cause most volley errors. The shoulder-high floater looks like a gift and gets over-hit into the net or long — treat it as a placement ball: punch it at 70% pace to the open floor or feet; the point is won with the second putaway if the first comes back. The below-net-tape ball is a trap: any aggressive volley from there must travel up, handing the counter to them. Soften the hand and drop it back into the kitchen (a volley-reset) instead. If you remember nothing else at the net: above the tape, be assertive; below the tape, be soft.
A 10-minute volley practice block
Three drills, three minutes each, and they compound weekly: (1) Wall blocks — 7 feet from a wall, continuous volleys, focus on a quiet paddle and counting your streak (beat last week’s number). (2) Punch targets — partner feeds medium balls; you punch alternately at a cone on their backhand hip and a cone in the middle gap. (3) Low-ball resets — partner feeds soft balls below the tape; every reply must land in the kitchen. Finish with two minutes of live hands battle. This block, twice a week, moves your net game a full level in a couple of months.
Frequently asked questions
What is a volley in pickleball?
A volley is hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces, most often at the kitchen line. It’s one of pickleball’s seven fundamental shots — with one restriction: you can’t volley while touching the non-volley zone (the kitchen).
What are the types of volleys in pickleball?
Three main types: the block volley (a still paddle absorbing a hard drive), the punch volley (a short, firm push for putaways), and the roll volley (brushing up for topspin to attack lower balls). Each suits a different incoming ball.
How do I get better at volleys?
Keep your paddle up and out front in a ready position, use compact motions with no backswing, and block (don’t swing at) hard drives. Wall volleys and partner rapid-fire drills build fast hands quicker than games alone.
Where should I aim my volleys?
At the opponent’s feet (hardest to return), down the middle between partners (fewer angles, causes hesitation), or into the open court when they’re pulled wide. Avoid volleying to a ready paddle at chest height.
Can you volley in the kitchen?
No — volleying while any part of you touches the kitchen or its line is a fault. You can stand in the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced, but you must be fully outside it (both feet re-established) to volley.
Want a coach to fast-track it?
Reading is one thing — grooving it under pressure is another. I run private lessons and clinics in Central Mass that drill exactly these fundamentals. Your first session is half off.