Complete Guide to Pickleball Shots

Whether you are a pickleball beginner learning the basics or a more advanced player who wants to add more shots to your repertoire so you can gain a competitive edge, understanding the full range of pickleball shots is essential.

When you move the ball around the court with specific shots, you create scoring opportunities and respond to your opponents. You can control the pace of a rally, gain court position, and create offensive opportunities. Each shot has a specific purpose and is most effective in certain situations. While there are many shots and variations in pickleball, not all shots are equally important.

This guide covers everything from primary shots that beginners should focus on first, such as serves, volleys, and dinks, to more advanced shots, such as topspin drives, backhands, and misdirection volleys. By mastering when and how to use each shot, you can keep your opponents on their toes and develop into a more accomplished player.

Pickleball Fundamentals

As a beginning pickleball player, there are a few fundamentals that you should initially develop. Before learning the “ins and outs” of various shot techniques, it is paramount to first have a “proper” grip and “ready” position. The grip and “ready position” represent the foundation from which to build. These core skills will provide a foundation for consistency, control, and efficient movement on the court.

The following are core fundamentals to master before diving into shot selection:

Grip

How you hold your paddle with an appropriate grip is important because it influences the angle of your paddle face – and, consequently, the flight and pace of the pickleball. A correct grip allows you to transition smoothly between forehand and backhand shots. Most shots in pickleball require the Continental grip. In addition, grip pressure matters, such as with the dink. It requires a loose grip.

Ready Position

One of the overarching keys to successful execution of any of your shots on the pickleball court is to be in an “appropriate” ready position. From this balanced, ready position, you want to be able to move quickly to the ball – in any direction.

Footwork

Having solid footwork puts you in the best position to get to the ball, successfully hit the ball, and recover after hitting it. Good footwork also allows you to do this efficiently – without unnecessary movement or an unnecessary expenditure of energy.

Why Shot Selection Matters

Shot selection is an important skill to perfect. Determining which shot to use in a game can result in winning a point or losing a rally. Choosing the right shot at the right time helps you stay in control and place your opponent in difficult situations.

Successful players don’t just drive every shot. They choose their shots strategically. They might slow the pace of the game with soft shots or play more aggressively.

Good shot selection improves your overall game by adapting to different opponents and situations.

Shot Selection Scenarios

Choosing the correct shot can give you a competitive advantage. If you need time to make your way to the Non Volley Zone, hitting a drive is not your best option, as it will reach your opponent quickly and not allow you enough time to move forward. Knowing which shot to use in certain situations can make or break a game.

Below are some situations that dictate what shot you should hit to give yourself the best advantage:

Situation	Best Shot to Hit	Why
Serving	Deep Serve	Keeps Opponent Back
Returning Serve	Deep Return	Keeps Opponents Back
In Transition Area	Drop Shot	Gives You Time to Get to the Non Volley Zone
High Ball	Overhead Smash	Offensive Opportunity
Under Pressure	Reset	Neutralizes Attack
Rally at the Non Volley Zone	Dink	Patient Shop to Create an Opening
Opponent Out of Position	Speed Up	Initiates Attack
Opponent at the Non Volley Zone	Lob	Forces Opponent Back

Pickleball Shot Hierarchy

Pickleball Shot Library

Below are the different shots you will want to use on the court. They are divided into Fundamental, Advanced, and Specialty shots.

Fundamental shots are the ones that every player should know and master, from beginner and up. To increase your rating, you will need to learn more advanced shots. 3.5 players begin experimenting with Advanced shots to varying degrees of success. Players who are rated 4.0 or above typically use many advanced shots.

Specialty shots are adrenaline-producing. They are the ones that Intermediate and Advanced players may add to their repertoire to gain an advantage.

Fundamental Shots

Dink and drop might sound like slang for bad players, but they are actually some of the essential shots that are fundamental for every player to know. These are the shots every beginner needs to master in order to advance.

Shot	Hit From
Serve	Baseline
Return of Serve	Baseline
Dink	Non Volley Line
Drive	Baseline or Transition Zone
Drop	Baseline or Transition Zone
Volley	Non Volley Line or Transition Zone

Shots Beginners Should Learn First

Serve

A serve starts every rally. The serve is the only shot in pickleball in which you has complete control. The serve sets the tone for the rally. There are two types of serves – a volley serve and a drop serve.

Return of Serve

This is the second shot in pickleball. It is a shot that is hit once you receive a ball that has been served. Hitting an effective return of serve is critical to your team’s ability to earn side-outs.

How to Hit It?

You can drive a return, slice a return, or hit a soft return.

Dink

A dink is a shot executed from around your own kitchen line that lands in your opponent’s non-volley zone (kitchen).

Why It Works?

A well-executed dink will force your opponent to let the ball bounce. They will be forced to hit their next shot “up” to clear the net, making it very challenging for them to hit the ball hard and still keep it in the court.

How to Hit It?

Position yourself just 1-2 inches behind the kitchen line. Bend your knees and make contact with the ball comfortably in front of your body. Make sure your “swing” isn’t really a swing at all. Lift the ball with your shoulder. A dink has a short follow-through.

Drop Shot

A drop shot is a soft, delicate shot executed from essentially anywhere on the court that goes over the net and lands “harmlessly” in your opponent’s kitchen (non-volley zone) where they cannot “attack.”

When to Use It?

A drop shot is a great, strategic option anytime you and your partner are not at the non-volley line, but your opponents are.

Why It Works?

It gives you and your partner time to advance to your own non-volley line. It also forces your opponents to hit their next shot “up” to clear the net.

Third-Shot Drop vs Third-Shot Drive

	Drop	Drive
Beginner Friendly	No	Yes
Difficulty	Yes	No
Creates Immediate Pressure	Sometimes	Yes
Allows you to Get to the Kitchen	Yes	Not Always
Preferred at Advanced Level	Yes	Sometimes

Drive

A drive is a hard, flat groundstroke that is hit with pace. Drive shots are usually hit from the baseline or transition zone.

When to Use It?

Use a drive shot when you want to put pressure on your opponent.

Volley

A volley is simply defined as hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces. It frequently leads to rapid-fire exchanges from the non-volley line.

How to Hit It?

Keep your feet shoulder-width apart (perhaps slightly more). Square your shoulders with the net. Bend your knees slightly. Keep your bodyweight on the balls of your feet and the paddle positioned up and in front of your body.

Advanced Shots

Mastering dinks, drops, volleys, and drives is foundational in your journey to becoming a better pickleball player before adding more advanced shots to your repertoire.

Shown below are advanced pickleball shots to add to your arsenal. They are divided into offensive, defensive, and specialty shots.

Although some are frequently called upon during a match, others are simply intended to surprise your opponents – and, as such, are infrequently used. But all have a purpose.

Offensive vs Defensive Shots

Shots	Offensive	Defensive	Specialty
Around the Post	yes	no	yes
Backhand Punch Volley	yes	no
Backhand Slice Return of Serve	no	yes
Block Volley	no	yes
Cross Court Dink Volley	no	no
Cross Court Inside Out Forehand Drop	yes	no
Dink Escape	no	yes
Dink Shove Surprise Attack	yes	no
Erne	yes	no	yes
Flamingo	yes	no
Half Volley	no	yes
Lob	yes	yes
Lob Return Drop	no	yes
Misdirection Forehand Volley	yes	no
Overhead Smash	yes	no
Short Angled Serve	yes	no
Scorpion	yes	no
Topspin Roll Volley	yes	no
Two Handed Backhand	yes	no

Offensive Shots

Backhand Punch Volley

When to Use It?

Perhaps the most frequently executed shot during a match, the backhand punch volley is a great option for hitting volleys at your opponent’s feet or into a gap when the ball is approximately chest-high.

Why It Works?

With no backswing and full extension from the elbow, this shot is nasty.

Cross-Court “Inside Out” Forehand Drop Shot

This drop shot is hit from the odd side when your opponents are at the non-volley line, and you are near the baseline.

Why It Works?

With a little top spin that lands cross-court at the opponents feet on their backhand side, this shot will result in a shot that is generally un-attackable.

Dink Shove Surprise Attack

The dink shove relies on a bit of deception. When your opponent is straight across from you at the non-volley line, set up like you’re going to hit a dink shot, and then, at the last second, quickly “shove” the ball forward with your paddle straight at your unsuspecting opponent.

Why It Works?

The surprise shot jams your opponent, therefore, creating an easy put-away opportunity for your next shot.

Flamingo

The Flamingo shot attacks neutral balls out of the air. It helps you reach into the non-volley zone and take balls out of the air – all while staying balanced!

How to Hit It?

Pose like a flamingo – Balancing on the left foot, getting full extension forward, and using the back leg as a counter-balance. Hit down on the ball as hard as you can.

Why It Works?

This shot gives your opponent less time to react to your shot as the ball has a shorter distance to travel.

Misdirection Forehand Volley

When to Use It?

This is a very effective shot to hit when dinking cross-court, forehand-to-forehand, and your opponent hits their dink a little too far and about chest-high.

How to Hit It?

To execute this misdirection shot, open the paddle face, lay back your wrist and push the ball straight at your unsuspecting opponent straight across the net from you.

Why It Works?

You catch your opponent off guard by thinking the shot is going to their partner, all while it actually goes to them.

Overhead Smash

An overhead smash is a hard – and frequently angled – overhead shot executed off an opponent’s lob.

When to Use It?

This shot is intended to end the rally, if executed properly.

Short-Angled Serve

Why It Works?

If struck well, the short, angled serve that lands just beyond the non-volley line and will likely create a big gap in the opponent’s court if returned. You will then be able to hit a hard drive in the vacated space for an easy winner.

Scorpion

The scorpion is a counter-attack shot that is hit when you squat low to the court.

How to Hit It?

Squat low to the court, raise your paddle above your head, and smash the ball at your opponent’s feet or into the open court.

When to Use It?

The scorpion is a great counter-attack option when you are positioned at the non-volley line and your opponent speeds up the ball right at you – particularly when they speed up a ball that is low.

Topspin Roll Volley

When to Use It?

This is a great shot for its effectiveness and its relative “conservativeness.” When your opponents attempt drop shots or third shot drops, reach in when you can and hit a topspin volley that drives your opponent back and prevents them from advancing to the non-volley line.

Why It Works?

Your topspin roll volley will hit the court and “jump” at your opponent (because of the topspin) making their next attempt at a drop shot extraordinarily difficult.

Two-Handed Backhand

When to Use?

The two-handed backhand can be effectively used at any time – but particularly on those occasions in which you need or want additional power and/or stability – and you have adequate time in which to execute the shot.

How to Hit It?

The dominant hand should be placed on the bottom of the paddle – preferably in the continental grip. As you swing, your non-dominant hand should be doing most of the “work,” while your dominant hand is simply guiding the paddle.

Defensive Shots

Backhand Slice Return-of-Serve

The backhand slice return-of-serve is a fairly conservative, yet extraordinarily effective, shot.

Why It Works?

With the imparted backspin, the ball will stay very low to the ground, making the 3rd shot for the serving team difficult.

Block Volley

Squaring up your paddle to absorb an oncoming blast from your opponent. The block drops the ball harmlessly over the net and out of your opponent’s reach.

Why It Works?

It frustrates a banger and typically puts the ball out of their reach.

Dink Escape Shot

When to Use It?

For those instances in which your opponents have pulled you wide with a dink – and an around-the-post shot is not available – the best pickleball shot to get yourself back into the rally is a short, lofted dink into the middle of your opponent’s non-volley zone.

Why It Works?

This shot minimizes the angles for your opponent and gives you time to get back into position.

Half-Volley

Half-volleys are basically short-hop shots from the transition zone.

How to Hit It?

Loosen your grip and volley the ball softly into your opponent’s non-volley zone, then continue your advance to the non-volley line.

Lob

The lob shot can be both offensive and defensive. It is a shot that is hit over your opponent’s into the backcourt.

When to Use It?

If executed from the non-volley line – off either a dink or volley – when your opponents are leaning forward at their own non-volley line.

How to Hit It?

Hit the ball over your opponent’s non-dominate paddle shoulder. This makes an overhead smash much more difficult.

Lob Return Drop Shot

How to Hit It?

When returning a lob, pivot, turn, and chase the ball moving forward. Then come from behind-and-around the side of the ball to execute a drop shot that lands in your opponent’s non-volley zone.

Neutral Shot

Cross-court Dink Volley

The cross-court dink volley is when you take a dink shot hit by your opponent out of the air and softly volley it back cross-court so the ball lands harmlessly in your opponent’s non-volley zone so that it cannot be easily attacked.

Why It Works?

Taking the ball out of the air takes time away from your opponent. It also prevents you from backing up and retreating from the non-volley line.

Specialty Shots

Around the Post (ATP) Shot

How to Hit It?

Admittedly, this is a shot I under-utilize. When your opponent hits a severe angle and pulls you wide – frequently after a dink – blast the ball low and around the post into the open court. The ball does not have to travel over the net. The ATP shot will be an adrenaline rush and a rally-winner for your team!

Erne

An Erne shot in pickleball is a legal, “surprise-tactic” volley executed from outside the non-volley zone – in the out-of-bounds area to the right or left of the respective sideline – and close to the net that typically results in a downward strike of the ball and winning shot.

When Is It Used?

The Erne is typically executed in response to an opponent’s dink to the sideline that is made by the player straight in front of them.

FAQs

What is the difference between a dink and drop shot?

A dink and drop shot are both soft shots hit into their opponent’s kitchen area. However, a dink is hit from the kitchen line, while a drop can be hit from anywhere on the court.

What shots should beginners learn first in Pickleball?

Beginners should learn how to serve.

What shots does a player need to master to become a 4.0 in pickleball?

Players should master the drop shot to become a 4.0.

What are some advanced shots in pickleball?

The ATP, Erne, and Topspin Roll are some advanced pickleball shots.

What is a reset shot?

A block volley is a shot used to reset the ball.

The following posts are not only intended to help you execute a successful dink, drive, drop, and serve from a technical perspective, but are also intended to give you a better understanding and context of when, why, and under what circumstances each shot should be hit.

For a complete overview of the Shots mentioned in this guide, check out the articles below:

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this guide helped clear up any confusion you may have as it relates to shots. Master the primary shots, then start adding some advanced shots to your arsenal. Your shot selection will enhance your game for the better. Which shot has worked best for you in your pickleball journey? Please let us know in the comments below.

See you on the courts.