Pickleball Strokes Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Every Shot
If you’re new to pickleball, you’ll quickly hear players talking about drives, dinks, drops, volleys, lobs, and plenty of other terms that can sound confusing at first.
The good news is that pickleball doesn’t require you to master every shot immediately. Most beginners improve much faster by simply understanding what each stroke is designed to do and when to use it.
In this guide, we’ll explain the most common pickleball strokes in simple terms, what each shot is used for, and how they fit into an actual rally.
Why Different Strokes Matter
Unlike sports where hitting harder is usually better, pickleball rewards players who can change pace and choose the right shot for the situation.
Sometimes you’ll want to hit aggressively.
Other times, slowing the game down gives you a much better chance of winning the point.
Learning the purpose of each stroke is more important than learning how to hit with maximum power.
The Main Pickleball Strokes
1. Serve
The serve starts every rally.
Unlike tennis, pickleball serves are always hit underhand, with contact made below the waist. The goal isn’t necessarily to hit an ace but to begin the point with a deep, controlled shot that pushes your opponent back.
Best used for
- Starting the rally
- Putting early pressure on opponent
- Setting up the next shot
2. Return of Serve
After receiving the serve, your goal is usually to return the ball deep into your opponent’s court.
A deep return gives you extra time to move toward the kitchen line while forcing your opponents to hit from farther back.
Best used for
- Gaining court position
- Keeping opponents deep
- Starting the rally on the front foot
3. Drive
A drive is one of the first offensive shots beginners learn.
It’s a relatively fast, low shot hit with forward momentum. Drives can be played off either the forehand or backhand side and are commonly used from the baseline.
Many beginners rely heavily on drives because they feel natural, especially for players coming from tennis.
Best used for
- Applying pressure
- Forcing weak returns
- Creating opportunities to move forward
4. Drop Shot
The drop shot is one of pickleball’s signature strokes.
Instead of hitting hard, you intentionally hit softly so the ball lands just over the net inside your opponent’s kitchen.
A good drop allows you to safely move from the baseline toward the kitchen.
Best used for
- Transitioning to the kitchen
- Slowing down fast rallies
- Neutralising hard hitters
5. Dink
The dink is a soft shot exchanged between players standing near the kitchen line.
Rather than trying to win immediately, dinks are used to create mistakes or force opponents into uncomfortable positions.
Many advanced rallies involve long dink exchanges before anyone attacks.
Best used for
- Maintaining control
- Creating openings
- Forcing errors
6. Volley
A volley is any shot hit before the ball bounces.
Most volleys happen near the kitchen line, although players must avoid stepping into the kitchen when volleying.
Volleys can be aggressive or simply used to keep the ball in play.
Best used for
- Quick reactions
- Blocking fast shots
- Counterattacking
7. Overhead Smash
When your opponent hits a high ball, you may have the opportunity to finish the point with an overhead smash.
This is the closest pickleball comes to a tennis smash.
Because the ball is struck from above your head, it’s usually one of the hardest shots on the court.
Best used for
- Punishing lobs
- Finishing points
- Capitalising on weak returns
8. Lob
A lob is a high shot hit over your opponents.
It can be used offensively to force opponents backwards or defensively to buy yourself extra time.
Although effective when used sparingly, predictable lobs are often punished by experienced players.
Best used for
- Resetting rallies
- Moving opponents backwards
- Escaping pressure
9. Slice Shot
A slice creates backspin by brushing underneath the ball.
The result is a shot that stays lower after bouncing and can be difficult to attack.
Slices are commonly used on serves, returns, drives, drops, and defensive shots.
Best used for
- Keeping the ball low
- Mixing pace
- Making returns more difficult
10. Topspin Shot
Topspin is created by brushing upward on the back of the ball.
The ball dips more quickly after crossing the net, allowing players to hit with greater speed while still keeping the ball in play.
As players improve, topspin becomes increasingly important on serves, drives, and third-shot drops.
Best used for
- Adding power with control
- Creating difficult bounces
- Improving consistency
Forehand vs Backhand
Almost every stroke in pickleball can be hit using either your forehand or your backhand.
Generally:
| Forehand | Backhand |
|---|---|
| More natural for most players | Useful when reaching across the body |
| Usually generates more power | Often offers better control |
| Common attacking shot | Frequently used for blocks and resets |
Strong players become comfortable using both depending on the situation.
Which Strokes Should Beginners Learn First?
Trying to master every stroke at once can be overwhelming.
Instead, focus on these in order:
- Serve
- Return of serve
- Forehand drive
- Backhand drive
- Volley
- Third-shot drop
- Dink
- Basic topspin
- Slice
- Lob
This progression builds a solid foundation before moving into more advanced techniques.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Trying to hit every ball as hard as possible
- Ignoring soft shots like drops and dinks
- Standing too far from the kitchen line
- Using only forehands
- Rushing into advanced spin techniques before mastering control
- Swinging too big instead of using compact strokes
Final Thoughts
Every pickleball stroke has a purpose. Some help you attack, while others are designed to slow the game down, regain control, or move into a stronger court position.
As a beginner, don’t worry about mastering every shot immediately. Focus on building consistency with the basics first, then gradually add more advanced strokes like drops, dinks, slices, and topspin. Over time, you’ll learn not just how to hit each shot, but when to use it—often the biggest difference between beginners and experienced players.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest pickleball stroke to learn?
The forehand drive is usually the easiest because it feels natural and is similar to groundstrokes in other racket sports.
What is the hardest pickleball shot to master?
Many players consider the third-shot drop the most challenging because it requires excellent touch and consistency.
Should beginners use topspin?
Yes, but only after developing consistent contact. Control is more important than spin when you’re starting out.
Is a dink a volley?
Not always. A dink can be hit after the ball bounces or as a volley, as long as the volley is made outside the kitchen.
Which stroke wins the most points?
There isn’t one single winning stroke. Players who combine drives, drops, dinks, volleys, and good positioning usually perform better than those who rely on power alone.