A top spin forehand or backhand volley is an advanced shot that allows you to attack a pickleball that is otherwise unattackable. In other words, a top spin forehand or backhand volley allows you to hit a pickleball that is below the top of the net, or otherwise in the “red zone.” This shot generates top spin on the ball—in other words, forward rotation toward your opponent—that allows you to attack your opponents’ feet or the ground by their feet, and makes it more difficult for your opponents to return your shot.

To hit a top spin volley, you should:

1. Stay compressed in Pickleball Ready (in particular, bend your knees and keep your paddle out in front of you);

2. Keep your paddle-side elbow facing downward and drop your paddle head below the pickleball;

3. Strike the pickleball out in front of your body;

4. At contact, roll the paddle up the back side of the pickleball by pivoting your forearm at your elbow (keeping your elbow still);

a. For a forehand, your forearm will originally face off to your paddle side (e.g. to your right if you are a righty, and to your left if you are a lefty), and you will pivot your forearm toward your non-paddle side; and

b. For a backhand, your forearm will originally face up toward the sun, and you will pivot your forearm toward your paddle side.

To learn the top spin volley shot, try the two-handed top spin backhand volley drill. Place the paddle out in front of your body, as if you are about to strike a flat backhand volley. Then, place your non-paddle hand on the top outside corner of the paddle so that you are now holding the paddle with two hands. Have your drill partner toss you pickleballs to your chest (to start, keep the pickleballs high above the net; once you get the hang of it, try working on lowering the pickleball and hitting pickleballs in the “red zone”). Using two hands, practice the steps described above—(1) keep your elbows down, paddle out in front of you, and drop your paddle below the pickleball; (2) strike the pickleball out in front of your body; and (3) at contact, roll the paddle up the backside of the pickleball. For this two-handed top spin backhand volley drill, you will not have much pivoting in your elbow because you will be using two hands. However, this drill should give you a feel for what generating top spin on the pickleball feels like. Once you have the feel, take your non-paddle hand off of the paddle and keep drilling!

Key Takeaways:

1. A top spin forehand or backhand volley generates top spin on the pickleball (i.e. forward spin toward your opponents) and allows you to hit a pickleball that is below the top of the net.

2. To hit a top spin forehand or backhand volley:

a. Start in Pickleball Ready;

b. Drop your paddle head below the pickleball;

c. Strike the pickleball out in front of your body, and, at contact, roll the paddle up the back side of the pickleball by pivoting your forearm at your elbow (keeping your elbow still); and

d. Revert to Pickleball Ready.

3. Try the two-handed top spin backhand volley drill to master this skill.