PickleFitter

The half-volley in pickleball: playing the ball at your feet, with drills

How to play a half-volley, the ball you meet just after it bounces at your feet, when to use it, and drills from self-feeds to live transition play, for 3.0 to 4.5+.

For players rated 3.0+

When to use it

A half-volley is a ball you play just after it bounces, low and close to your feet. It comes up most in the transition zone: a ball lands at your feet as you move in, too low to volley and too close to let it rise.

Keep it simple. Get low with your legs, not your back, keep the paddle out in front with the face slightly open, and lift the ball with almost no swing. The bounce gives the pace; you only give it direction and height.

The half-volley toolbox

One short stroke, aimed two ways depending on where the other team is.

Half-volleys

Soft half-volley

Push

Paddle low and out in front, face slightly open, almost no backswing: lift it just over the net into the kitchen. The answer when they're at the net.

Deep half-volley

Push

The same stroke with a little more push, sent deep. Use it when the other team is back, to buy time to move in.

Backhand half-volley

Push

A ball straight at your feet is often easier on the backhand: the paddle is already in front of your body. Keep the wrist firm.

Drills, stage by stage

Your level
Practising

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Stage 1 · Solo

Feel the bounce

Self-fed balls at your feet, to learn the stroke without anyone to react to.

  • Bend your knees to get the paddle low; don't bend at the waist.
  • Paddle out in front of your feet, not beside them.
  • Almost no swing: a short lift with the face slightly open.
  • Forehand and backhand.

  1. 1.Self-fed half-volleys

    Solo2.5–3.0

    Grooves the short, low half-volley stroke.

    FROM ABOVEKITCHENKITCHENAFROM THE SIDEKITCHENKITCHENnet height34 inA
    A meets the ball just after it bounces at the feet and lifts it into the kitchen.
    1. Stand at mid-court with a few balls. Drop one so it bounces just in front of your feet.
    2. Meet it just after the bounce and lift it softly over the net into the kitchen.
    3. Do 20 forehands, then 20 backhands.

    Reps: 2 rounds of 20 on each side

Stage 2 · With a partner

Balls at your feet

A partner sends balls at your feet as you move in, so you read the bounce and choose soft or deep.

  • Split before your partner hits, then step to the ball.
  • Soft into the kitchen when they're at the line; deep when they're back.
  • Play it, take a step or two in, and split again.
  • Take it out of the air instead when it comes in higher.
  • Skinny singles: straight ahead on one half.

  1. 2.Feet feeds

    With a partner2.5–3.0

    Trains the soft half-volley off a partner's ball.

    FROM ABOVEKITCHENKITCHENABFROM THE SIDEKITCHENKITCHENnet height34 inAB
    B feeds at A's feet…
    1. Stand in the transition zone, a few feet behind the kitchen line; your partner feeds from the kitchen line.
    2. Your partner sends firm balls that bounce at your feet.
    3. Half-volley each one softly into the kitchen.

    Reps: 3 rounds of 15

  2. 3.Half-volley and move in

    With a partner3.5

    Trains half-volleying while moving forward, one step and one split per ball.

    FROM ABOVEKITCHENKITCHENABFROM THE SIDEKITCHENKITCHENnet height34 inAB
    B feeds at A's feet; A half-volleys soft…
    1. Start well behind the kitchen line; your partner is at the line.
    2. Your partner keeps every ball at your feet; half-volley it soft, take a step or two in, and split as they hit again.
    3. Reach the line in three or four balls, then start again.

    Reps: 8 rounds, then switch

  3. 4.Half-volley or volley

    With a partner4.0

    Trains choosing between a half-volley and a volley, and volleying whenever you can.

    FROM ABOVEKITCHENKITCHENABFROM THE SIDEKITCHENKITCHENnet height34 inAB
    A ball at A's feet: half-volley…
    1. Stand a step behind the kitchen line; your partner mixes balls at your feet with higher ones.
    2. At your feet, half-volley it soft. Anything higher, volley it before it bounces instead of letting it drop.
    3. Your partner calls 'late' when you let a ball fall to your feet that you could have volleyed.

    Reps: 3 rounds of 20

Stage 3 · Three players

Two at the net

Two players at the net keep the ball at your feet; you half-volley your way to the line.

  • Aim away from the player who hit it: the other one has to move.
  • One step in per ball, never a run.

  1. 5.Two at your feet

    Three players4.0

    Trains half-volleying to the line against two players who keep the ball low.

    FROM ABOVEKITCHENKITCHENACDFROM THE SIDEKITCHENKITCHENnet height34 inCAD
    C and D keep the ball at A's feet; A half-volleys away from the hitter…
    1. You start behind the transition zone; two players stand at the kitchen line across the net.
    2. They keep every ball at your feet; half-volley each one into the kitchen, away from whoever hit it.
    3. Take a step in after each ball and split; the round ends when you reach the line.

    Reps: 6 rounds

Stage 4 · Four players

Live transition

Real points where the other team attacks your feet as your team comes in.

  • Move in together and split together.
  • A half-volley into the kitchen beats a hard swing every time.

  1. 6.Feet under fire

    Four players4.5+

    Trains half-volleying an attack at your feet into the kitchen, and still reaching the line together.

    FROM ABOVEKITCHENKITCHENABCDFROM THE SIDEKITCHENKITCHENnet height34 inACBDYOUR VIEWfeet
    C attacks A's feet as the team moves in…
    1. One team starts at the kitchen line; the other starts in the transition zone.
    2. The team at the line attacks the feet; the team moving in half-volleys into the kitchen and moves up together.
    3. The point is live once both players reach the line; swap after 5 points.

    Reps: 4 rounds of 5 points

Common mistakes

  • Swinging. The bounce gives the pace; a swing sends it long or into the net.
  • Bending at the waist instead of the knees, so the paddle face points down.
  • Meeting it beside you or behind you. Keep the paddle out in front of your feet.
  • Hitting it while still moving forward. Split, then play it.
  • Half-volleying a ball you could have volleyed. Take it out of the air when you can.

What to work on at your level

2.5–3.0Get low with your knees and lift the ball at your feet softly over the net.
3.5Half-volley into the kitchen while moving in, and split before every ball.
4.0Choose soft or deep by where the other team is, and volley the ball before it drops when you can.
4.5+Half-volley an attacked ball at your feet into the kitchen, away from the attacker, and keep moving to the line.

Paddles that help

A half-volley is all touch off a fast bounce, and a control paddle takes the pace off it.

Best Pickleball Paddles for Control

Common questions

What is a half-volley in pickleball?
A shot played just after the ball bounces, while it's still low, usually at your feet. It sits between a groundstroke and a volley.
Is a half-volley the same as a reset?
A reset is any soft shot that slows the rally down; a half-volley is one way to hit one, when the ball has just bounced at your feet. Many resets in the transition zone are half-volleys.
Forehand or backhand for a ball at my feet?
Whichever keeps the paddle in front of your body. A ball straight at your feet is often easier on the backhand.
Why does my half-volley go into the net?
Usually the paddle face is closed or you aren't low enough. Bend your knees, open the face a little and lift.

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