5 of the Best Pickleball Shots Every Player Needs to Know
To become a well-rounded pickleball player, you must know a variety of pickleball shots,(more than just forehands and backhands.) Pickleball has many shots that aren’t found in other sports, including the 3rd shot drop and the dink shot.
It’s important to note that you can’t play pickleball the same way a tennis player plays tennis - you can’t win just by hitting the ball as hard as you can for every shot. A pickleball ball doesn’t have the same bounce, and it’s too easy to hit balls out of bounds on a smaller pickleball court.
Sometimes, you must add a little finesse and force your opponent into difficult positions. With these five strategic shots in your arsenal, you’ll be sure to keep your opponent guessing and improve your overall game.
1. The Dink
A dink is a pretty straightforward shot. When you’re at the net, the dink is a soft shot that lands in the opponent’s kitchen. The goal is to hit the ball slightly over the net and have the ball bounce in the opposing kitchen. As you get more advanced, you can start placing it strategically, adding topspin or backspin on the ball, and forcing your opponent to make mistakes.
The dink is essential for anyone looking to improve their pickleball game. With most points being won at the net, especially in doubles, being able to place a dink in the kitchen will keep your opponent from spiking the ball back at you.
2. The Drop Shot
A drop shot is a great shot to reset the pace of play and allow you to move through the transition zone and get to the net. It’s similar to the dink but from further away. A well-placed drop shot will allow you to run up to the net and set the tone of the point.
Like the dink, the goal of a drop shot is to have the ball fall in the opponent’s kitchen and prevent the opponent from hitting a fast-paced shot back at you. While the drop shot is often hit as a return of serve, it’s still helpful to think of it as a long-range dink.
Watch Jay Devilliers (a top 10 pickleball pro) hit the perfect PPA drop shot here:
3. The Overhead Smash
The overhead smash is the perfect way to punish your opponent’s mistakes. If they leave a ball hanging in the air, slam it back to their side of the court. Performing an overhead smash is pretty straightforward; just hit the ball with power behind it and aim the ball toward the ground. Remember not to let your momentum take you past the kitchen line into the non-volley zone, or else it’s a fault.
If you regularly perform the overhead smash, you may be referred to as a banger. Your opponents may hit shots to your partner instead of you (if their playstyle is different), and you will need to be prepared for crosscourt dinks and deep returns as these are strategies to overcome the overhead smash.
4. The Drive
This is a great shot to switch things up and one of the most important shots to catch your opponent off guard. A drive is just a low and powerful shot that causes your opponent to react quickly.
If done right, you can force your opponent to make a bad return and smash it back at them in the next shot. Just use caution when performing a drive shot because if your opponent can return it, you can get stuck at the back of the court and lose the point.
5. The Lob Shot
The lob shot is a fundamental shot players should master to catch opponents off guard or to reset the pace. The goal of the lob shot is to lob the ball over your opponent’s head and have the ball land close to the baseline, causing them to retreat to get it. Be careful when performing a lob shot because if you hit it too low or short, you risk getting the ball smashed right back at you, and groundstrokes hit back at you can be difficult to return.
This video from PrimeTime Pickleball helps you learn how to disguise and get the most out of your lobs:
Final Thoughts
The best pickleball shots are the ones that you will use often. Getting used to these five different shots can help you improve your game and keep opponents on their toes. Most of these are essential to be a well-rounded player and compete with the best. Keep practicing these shots to improve your play and impress your friends.
