When preparing for a basic forehand block volley, you generally should start in the Pickleball Ready position. You will use your basic forehand block volley when the pickleball is hit hard at you on your paddle side of your body. This could be a body shot or a pickleball that sits relatively low above the net to your paddle side of your body. To note, if the pickleball sits low, the pickleball will generally not have enough height to take a full paddle swing and go on the offensive against your opponents. Rather, you will want to absorb the volley and direct the pickleball toward your opponents’ feet.

To hit a basic forehand block volley:

1. Freeze Your Elbow – Keep your elbow in the same place as it is in the Pickleball Ready position. Avoid moving you elbow out like a “chicken wing” or tucking your elbow into your side. Your elbow should stay frozen in the same place as it is in the Pickleball Ready position. To work on this skill, practice your basic forehand block volley while using your non-paddle hand to hold your elbow in place for support. Once you feel comfortable holding your elbow in place, remove your non-paddle hand.

2. Flip Your Paddle Out Front – While keeping your elbow in place, rotate the paddle from the semi-backhand position (i.e. 10 o’clock position for a righty and 2 o’clock position for a lefty) to the forehand position. Keep your paddle face flat and out in front of you.

3. Transfer Your Weight to the Paddle Side – Prior to striking the pickleball, shift your weight from a neutral position to your paddle-side hip and knee.

4. Touch the Pickleball and Hold – Touch the pickleball with the middle of your paddle. Hold the paddle to soften the pickleball towards your opponents’ feet. Since this is a block volley, you should not have much arm swing or wrist action. Rather, hit the pickleball from your shoulder with a very short three- to six-inch paddle swing. Your paddle should move very little for a block volley.

5. Revert to Pickleball Ready – After you strike the pickleball, revert to Pickleball Ready so that you are prepared for the next shot.

To work on the basic forehand block volley, start in the Pickleball Ready position and have your partner toss pickleballs to your paddle side of your body. First, try catching these pickleballs with your bare hand and without using your paddle. Work on keeping your elbow in the frozen position (in other words, the same position as in Pickleball Ready). Then, add your paddle. Once you have mastered the feel of freezing your elbow, flipping your paddle face, and striking the pickleball, have your partner alternate between basic forehand and basic backhand block volleys. Remember to revert back to Pickleball Ready immediately after every block volley.

Key Takeaways:

1. Use your basic forehand block volley when the pickleball is hit hard at you on your paddle side of your body. To hit a basic forehand block volley:

a. Freeze your elbow;

b. Flip your paddle from a semi-backhand position to a forehand position;

c. Touch the pickleball and hold your paddle, using, at most, a three- to six-inch paddle swing; and

d. Revert to Pickleball Ready.