Pickleball volleys and hand battles, with drills
How to volley in pickleball and win fast exchanges at the net (hand battles), with three volley drills, from beginner to 4.0+.
For players rated 3.0+
When to use it
A volley is any shot hit before the ball bounces. At the net, volleys let you take time away from your opponents and finish points. A hand battle (or firefight) is a quick exchange of volleys at close range.
Volley when you're outside the kitchen and the ball is coming at you above net height. Punch it rather than swing, and keep your paddle up in front of your chest between shots.
1.Volley-to-volley
With a partner2.5–3.0Builds a compact punch volley with the paddle up.
- Both players stand a step behind the kitchen line.
- Volley the ball back and forth at a controlled pace without letting it bounce.
- Keep the paddle in front, block with a short punch, and recover to the ready position.
Reps: 3 rounds of 30 in a row
2.Speed-up and counter
With a partner3.5Trains reacting to a sudden attack and countering it.
- Dink with your partner. Either player may speed up a ball at the other's body.
- The defender blocks or counters; play out the exchange.
- Score points for whoever wins the exchange.
Reps: Games to 11
3.Two-on-one hands
Four players4.0+Builds quick hands against more pace than one opponent can give.
- One player at the kitchen line faces two players across the net.
- The two hit volleys at the single player, at a pace they can just handle.
- Rotate every 60 seconds.
Reps: 3 rotations each
Watch it
Common mistakes
- Big swings. A volley is a punch or a block; a swing is late on fast balls.
- Dropping the paddle between shots. Keep it up and in front.
- Volleying balls that would land out. Let high balls above your shoulders go if they're heading long.
- Using the forehand for everything. A backhand block covers most of your body.
What to work on at your level
| 2.5–3.0 | Get the paddle up and block the ball back over. |
|---|---|
| 3.5 | Keep volleys low and at the feet; don't speed up balls below the net. |
| 4.0+ | Counter speed-ups, aim at the shoulder on the paddle side and reset when you're stretched. |
Paddles that help
Hand battles reward speed, and a lighter paddle with a lower swing weight is quicker to move into position.
Best Lightweight Pickleball PaddlesCommon questions
- Can you volley in the kitchen?
- No. You can't volley while touching the kitchen or its line, including from momentum after the shot.
- What is a hand battle?
- A fast exchange of volleys at close range, usually after someone speeds up a ball from a dink rally.
- Forehand or backhand for body shots?
- Backhand. A backhand block covers more of your body and is quicker than turning for a forehand.
Work on next
Find the paddle that fits your game
Answer a few questions about how you play and we rank all 812 paddles for you.