Master the Moves That Earn Victories
Learn crucial pickleball strokes from forehands to drop shots and increase your game with every strike.
Your Pickleball Technique Toolkit
The shot on your non-dominant side
A soft shot with a big impact
Repetition with intention
A fast-paced, offensive shot
A soft landing that sets you up for success
A sudden, aggressive shot from a neutral position
Your go-to shot for control and power
High shot to move opponents backward
Powerful smash to finish the point
A quick, compact volley that redirects pace
Soft shot to slow play and regain control
Deep shot to push opponents back
A topspin-heavy shot designed to dip quickly and kick high
The first shot that sets the tone
Control the ball’s bounce, flight, and direction
The space between defense and offense
Frequently Asked Questions
The core strokes include the serve, forehand, backhand, volley, dink, drive, lob, and drop shot. Mastering these gives you versatility and control on the court.
A dink is a soft shot played near the net in the non-volley zone, while a drop shot is hit from farther back and designed to land softly in the opponent’s kitchen, neutralizing aggressive play.
Focus on consistency, placement, and spin. Practice underhand serves that land deep in the opponent’s service box, and experiment with topspin or slice for added challenge.
Use proper grip and body rotation. For forehands, lead with your hips and shoulders. For backhands, keep your paddle face stable and follow through across your body.
Stay alert at the net, keep your paddle up, and use short, controlled movements. Avoid swinging, volleying is about quick reaction and placement, not power.
Use a split step before each shot to stay balanced, and shuffle rather than cross your feet. Good footwork keeps you in position and prevents unnecessary errors.
Brush the ball with your paddle at an angle during contact. Topspin requires an upward motion, while slice or backspin involves a downward or side motion.
Communicate constantly, stack positions when needed, and control the kitchen line. Use third-shot drops and coordinated movement to dominate the net.
Use a wall or rebounder to drill strokes, watch pro matches to study form, and do footwork drills or shadow swings to build muscle memory.
Play regularly with varied opponents, focus on one skill per session, take lessons or clinics, and review your matches to identify areas for growth.
