The general rule is that you want to work your way to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line with your partner as soon as possible during the point. However, you must earn the right to be at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line by hitting quality shots and hustling your feet. Sometimes, it may take more than one shot to work your way to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line, which is okay. If you find yourself caught in the Transition Area, be sure to complete your split step as your opponents strike the pickleball and be on the lookout for an opportunity to hit a driving volley on a pickleball that is floating in the air, which can be a very effective offensive and unexpected shot.

To hit a driving volley:

1. Start from a Point of Power – In other words, make sure you have performed your split step before your opponents strike the pickleball.

2. Raise Your Paddle – Pull your paddle up to the point of contact where you will strike the floating pickleball with the driving volley.

3. Short, Compact Backswing – Timing is everything on a driving volley, as you will not have much time to react to the pickleball. So, keep your backswing short so you can quickly react to and drive the pickleball.

4. Strike the Pickleball Out in Front with a Short Follow Through – Remember your backswing will be very short. As such, the paddle will still be out in front of your body, as will the contact point for your driving volley. Strike the pickleball out in front of your body and finish your swing forward and through the pickleball. Similar to your backswing, keep your follow through short and compact. To note, you may have an opportunity to put a little bit of top spin on your driving volley, which would result in a different trajectory of the pickleball (the pickleball will drop more due to the top spin, rather than be a straight line with a flat driving volley). If you hit the pickleball with top spin, your finish will be slightly up through the pickleball in order to generate the correct spin (for more on top spin, see later lessons on the Basics of the Top Spin Forehand Drive and the Basics of the Top Spin Forehand and Backhand Volley).

5. Move to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line – Once you hit your driving volley, continue to move forward to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line. Do not stay in the Transition Area.

Remember, timing is everything with the driving volley. So, keep your driving volley very compact—short backswing and short follow through forward and through the pickleball.

Key Takeaways:

1. Driving volleys on floating pickleballs can be effective offensive shots. To hit a driving volley:

a. Start from a point of power by doing your split step;

b. Raise your paddle to the point of contact;

c. Take a short, compact backswing;

d. Strike the pickleball out in front of your body and finish your paddle swing with a short, compact follow through; and

e. Continue to move to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line.