As a reminder, when you are at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line, be in Pickleball Ready with your paddle facing forward or facing 10 or 11 o’clock (or, for a lefty, the 2 or 1 o’clock position). In other words, you should generally be in a backhand paddle position. This is because a backhand shot is your shot of choice given that you will not have much reaction time when playing at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line.

If a pickleball is hit to your paddle side, you will need to quickly switch from your backhand position to a forehand position. To switch to a forehand position, imagine that your paddle-side elbow is on a pivot point. Keep your elbow in place and pivot your forearm and paddle from the 10 or 11 o’clock (or, for a lefty, the 2 or 1 o’clock position) backhand position to a forehand position. The mistake many players make is to pull their elbow up and out—almost like a chicken wing. This movement is a mistake because it takes too much time and keeps you in a backhand position, rather than changing from a backhand to a forehand position, which gives you more reach on the pickleball court.

One drill to work on this switch from a backhand to a forehand block volley is to get in to the Pickleball Ready position, and then place a pickleball underneath your paddle-side armpit. Work on switching from a backhand block volley to a forehand block volley. If you complete the switch properly without moving your elbow, the pickleball will remain tucked underneath your paddle-side armpit. If the pickleball falls, then you had too much movement with your elbow. Or, you could have had too much extension and swing upon contact with the pickleball. Remember, you are working on block volleys, which have very little to follow through after striking the pickleball.

So, in summary, to switch from a backhand to a forehand block volley, imagine that your paddle-side elbow is on a pivot point. Keep your elbow still and quickly flip the paddle from a backhand to a forehand, and vice versa.

Key Takeaways:

1. To switch from a backhand to a forehand block volley, imagine that your paddle-side elbow is on a pivot point. Keep your elbow still and quickly flip the paddle from a backhand to a forehand, and vice versa.

2. To practice this skill, place a pickleball underneath your paddle-side armpit. If the pickleball falls, then you had too much movement with your elbow or too much extension with your follow through on your block volley.