One tip when you are drilling is to consider slowing down your shot in order to really focus and work on your technique. With that in mind, a few drills to master your volley skills include:

1. Partner Toss – Have your partner stand across from you at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line on the opposite side of the pickleball court. Then, have your partner toss you volleys at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line. Stay stationary to begin with. As you get better, have your partner lead you back and forth across the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line, sideline to sideline, moving about three feet left or right in between each volley. Remember to work on both your forehand and backhand volleys.

2. Partner Volley – Have your partner stand across from you at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line on the opposite side of the pickleball court. Work on hitting volleys back and forth to each other using your paddles. Similar to the Partner Toss drill, start stationary. Then, when you are ready, lead your partner with a volley so that you both are shuffling together across the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line, sideline to sideline, moving about three feet left or right in between each volley.

3. Alternating Volleys – Stand on the middle line at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line with your partner directly across the net from you. Have your partner hit or toss a pickleball a few feet to your forehand side. Strike the pickleball with a forehand volley of your choice. Then, reset to the middle line. As you approach the middle line, have your partner hit or toss another pickleball a few feet to your backhand side. Strike the pickleball with a backhand volley of your choice, and then reset to the middle line. Continue this pattern alternating both forehand and backhand volleys. Try picking up the tempo if you want to increase your cardio! Once you feel that you have the hang of this, have your partner keep you guessing and hit forehand and backhand volleys in a random sequence. However, make sure that your partner gives you time to get reset at the middle line in between each shot.

4. Cone Volleys – Stand at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line with your partner directly across from you. Place a cone between your feet. Have your partner hit or toss you volleys that travel directly over the cone. Alternate striking the volleys with your forehand or backhand, while working on striking the volleys in a downward direction. To do this drill successfully, you will need to move your feet to either side of the cone to properly position your body for a backhand or forehand volley. In other words, if you are a right-handed player, you will need to move your feet to the right side of the cone for a backhand volley, and the left side of the cone for a forehand volley. Remember to strike the pickleball out in front of your body and out in front of the cone on each shot.

5. Rapid Fire – Stand at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line with your partner directly across from you in front of the baseline. Have your partner drive pickleballs at your body. Heighten your senses, drop your body a fraction lower to the ground, and be ready on every drive from your partner. Try to block volley every drive. Focus on your hand speed and eye-hand or eye-paddle coordination. If you have time, consider even trying to punch volley or even swing volley a few of your partner’s drives. To make the drill more challenging, have your partner take a few steps closer to you in the Transition Area. This drill is important because it allows you to practice and improve on how to handle pace on the pickleball from your opponents.

6. Volley Triangle – Have your partner stand across from you at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line on the opposite side of the pickleball court. Grab a bucket of pickleballs and have your partner hit a series of three shots at you—(a) a drive to your backhand side, which you will block volley; (b) a drive to your forehand side, which you will block volley; and (c) an easy lob, which you will hit with your overhead (to note, to be discussed in a later lesson). Do this series as many times in a row as possible to really get your cardio going!

Remember to start these drills slow. Find your mechanics and then work on speeding things up.

Key Takeaway:

1. Drill, drill, drill and volley, volley, volley to master your volley skills.