The seven essential pickleball shots are: the serve (starts the rally), the return of serve (keeps you in the point), the drive (attacks with speed), the drop (neutralises with touch), the dink (controls the kitchen line), the volley (takes the ball out of the air), and the overhead (finishes high balls). Every rally in pickleball is built from combinations of these shots. In UK club doubles, the dink and the third shot drop are the most important shots to learn because they control the tempo and win the majority of points at the kitchen line.
Pickleball looks simple. Two people on each side of a net, hitting a plastic ball back and forth. But underneath that simplicity is a game built on seven distinct shots, each with its own technique, timing and purpose. Learn all seven and you have the tools to compete at any level. Neglect any one of them and you will hit a ceiling that no amount of fitness or enthusiasm can break through.
This guide covers every shot you need, in the order you should learn them. It is written for players at UK clubs who want to move from hitting the ball to placing it deliberately. If you are completely new and want to understand the rules first, start with our pickleball rules guide.
1. The Serve
What it does
The serve starts every rally. In pickleball, the serve must be hit underhand with the paddle contacting the ball below your waist. It must travel diagonally into the opposite service box and clear the kitchen zone, including the kitchen line. Unlike tennis, you get only one serve attempt. If it is a fault, you lose the serve.
How to hit it
Stand behind the baseline with at least one foot on the ground. Hold the ball in your non paddle hand at waist height or below. Swing the paddle in a smooth upward arc, contacting the ball below your waist. Aim diagonally at the opposite service box. Follow through toward your target.
Most UK club players use a simple, consistent serve aimed deep into the service box. A deep serve pushes the receiver backward, which makes their return harder and gives you more time. Fancy spin serves exist, but a reliable deep serve wins more points than a flashy one that misses half the time.
The drop serve alternative
The drop serve lets you release the ball from any natural height, let it bounce, and then hit it after the bounce. This removes the waist height and upward arc restrictions, which many beginners find easier to time. The drop serve is completely legal under current rules and is a good option if you struggle with the volley serve.
For a detailed technique breakdown including advanced serves, read our pickleball serving techniques guide.
2. The Return of Serve
What it does
The return of serve is your first shot as the receiving team. Its purpose is twofold: keep the ball deep in the serving team's court, and give yourself time to move forward toward the kitchen line. A good return puts pressure on the serving team before they have even played their third shot.
How to hit it
Position yourself a step or two behind the baseline. Watch the ball from the server's paddle all the way to yours. Hit a controlled groundstroke aimed deep into the serving team's court. As soon as you have hit the return, move forward immediately toward the kitchen line. Your partner should already be there.
The most common mistake on the return is hitting it short. A short return lets the serving team move forward easily, which takes away your positional advantage. Aim deep, then advance.
3. The Drive
What it does
The drive is a hard, flat shot aimed low over the net and deep into the opponent's court. It is an attacking shot designed to create pressure through speed. Drives force your opponents to react quickly, and they often produce weak returns that you can put away on the next ball.
How to hit it
Position yourself with your paddle back and your body sideways to the net. Contact the ball in front of your body at waist height or below. Swing through the ball with a firm wrist, keeping the paddle face flat. Aim low over the net and toward the opponent's feet or backhand hip.
In UK club doubles, drives work best when used selectively. Driving every ball leads to errors because the court is small and your opponents are close. Use the drive when you get a high ball, when your opponents are out of position, or when you want to change the tempo after a long dinking exchange.
4. The Drop and the Third Shot Drop
What it does
The drop is a soft shot that arcs gently over the net and lands in the opponent's kitchen. It is the opposite of a drive. Where a drive attacks with speed, a drop neutralises with touch. The purpose of a drop is to take pace off the ball and force your opponents to hit upward from a low position, which makes it extremely difficult for them to attack.
The third shot drop is the most famous version. After the serve (shot one) and the return (shot two), the serving team plays a soft drop into the kitchen as their third shot. This is the single most important tactical pattern in pickleball because it allows the serving team to move forward to the kitchen line and compete on equal terms.
How to hit it
Open the paddle face slightly so it angles upward. Use a gentle pushing motion from your shoulder, not your wrist. Contact the ball in front of your body and below the net height. The ball should arc upward just enough to clear the net and then drop softly into the kitchen. Think of it as a lob in miniature.
The third shot drop is the hardest fundamental shot in pickleball to learn. It requires touch, feel and repetition. Do not expect to master it quickly. Practise it in isolation before bringing it into games. For a full technique guide, read our article on the third shot drop.
5. The Dink
What it does
The dink is a soft, low shot hit from the kitchen line that lands in the opponent's kitchen. It clears the net by just a few centimetres and forces the opponent to hit the ball upward because it arrives at such a low height. Dinking is the foundation of the soft game in pickleball and the shot that wins the most points in UK club doubles.
Dinking is not about power. It is about patience, placement and precision. Two teams trading dinks at the kitchen line are playing a chess match with paddles. The team that stays patient, varies placement and waits for an opening will win the point. The team that tries to speed up too early will make the error.
How to hit it
Stand with your toes just behind the kitchen line. Feet shoulder width apart. Knees bent. Weight forward on the balls of your feet. Hold the paddle in front of your body at waist height with a continental grip. Keep your wrist locked and firm.
Push the paddle forward using your shoulder joint. Do not flick your wrist. The motion is a gentle push, not a swing. Contact the ball below the net height and direct it softly over the net into the opponent's kitchen. Cross court dinks are safer than straight ahead dinks because you have more court to work with and the net is lower in the centre.
For a complete technique and strategy guide, read our article on how to dink in pickleball.
6. The Volley
What it does
A volley is any shot hit out of the air before the ball bounces. Volleys are played at the kitchen line during fast exchanges and are your primary tool for blocking incoming drives and putting away high balls. In pickleball, you cannot volley inside the kitchen or its line, which means your positioning and timing must be precise.
How to hit it
Stand in your ready position just behind the kitchen line. Paddle up in front of your chest. When the ball comes toward you, move the paddle toward the ball with a short, compact motion. Do not swing. The ball does the work. You are redirecting its energy, not generating your own.
For blocking hard drives, keep your paddle face firm and angled slightly downward. Let the ball bounce off the paddle and drop over the net. For putting away high balls at the kitchen line, punch through the ball with a short, decisive motion aimed at your opponent's feet.
The most common volley mistake is swinging too hard. Fast exchanges at the kitchen line happen in fractions of a second. A big swing takes too long and usually sends the ball out. Small, controlled paddle movements win volley battles.
7. The Overhead
What it does
The overhead (sometimes called a smash) is an attacking shot used to finish a point when the opponent hits a high lob or a ball that floats above your head. It is the closest thing pickleball has to a tennis serve motion, and it is the most powerful shot in the game.
How to hit it
Move your feet so the ball is above and slightly in front of your hitting shoulder. Point your non paddle hand at the ball to track it. Swing the paddle upward and forward, contacting the ball at the highest point you can reach. Aim downward toward your opponent's feet or an open area of the court. Follow through naturally.
In UK indoor play, be aware of ceiling height. Many leisure centres and sports halls have ceilings that are lower than outdoor environments. Adjust your overhead trajectory accordingly. A ball that hits the ceiling is your fault, and the point goes to your opponent.
The Order to Learn These Shots
If you are working your way through these shots at your local UK club, here is the progression that makes the most sense.
First: serve and return. You need these to start and sustain rallies. Without a consistent serve and return, you cannot practise anything else.
Second: dink and volley. These are the shots you will use most often in UK club doubles, where most points are decided at the kitchen line.
Third: drive and drop. Once you can rally at the kitchen, learn how to get there. The third shot drop gets you to the net safely. The drive keeps opponents honest.
Last: overhead. You will face fewer lob opportunities than the other shots, and the overhead is the most intuitive to learn because many players have experience with similar motions from tennis or badminton.
How Your Paddle Affects Your Shots
The paddle you use directly affects how each shot feels and performs. A thicker core (16mm) absorbs energy and gives you more control on dinks, drops and resets. A thinner core (14mm) returns energy faster and gives you more speed on drives and serves. A textured carbon fibre face generates more spin on all shots. A forgiving fibreglass or Kevlar face provides a larger sweet spot for consistent contact.
If your game is built around the soft shots, particularly dinks and drops, a control paddle with a thick core will make those shots easier and more consistent. If you prefer to drive and attack, a power paddle with a thinner core will amplify your aggression. For a full breakdown, read our control vs power vs spin paddles guide.
Not sure which Rallyn paddle matches the shots you play most? Take the paddle quiz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the basic shots in pickleball?
The seven fundamental shots are the serve, return of serve, drive, drop (including the third shot drop), dink, volley and overhead. Every rally is built from combinations of these seven shots.
Q: What is a dink in pickleball?
A dink is a soft, arcing shot from the kitchen line that lands in the opponent's non-volley zone. It clears the net by centimetres and forces the opponent to hit upward. Dinking is the foundation of the soft game and the most important shot in UK club doubles.
Q: What is a third shot drop?
The third shot drop is a soft shot by the serving team on the third ball of the rally. Instead of driving hard, they drop the ball gently into the kitchen, neutralising the receiving team's advantage and allowing the serving team to advance to the kitchen line.
Q: What is the most important shot in pickleball?
The dink is widely considered the most important shot, especially in doubles. It controls the tempo, creates openings, and forces errors. Players who dink consistently and accurately win more points than those who rely on power alone.
Q: Which shot should a beginner learn first?
Learn the serve first, then the return. Once you can start and sustain rallies, learn the dink and volley for kitchen play. The third shot drop and drive come next. The overhead is the last fundamental to develop.
Q: What is the difference between a drive and a drop?
A drive is hard and flat, aimed deep to create pressure through speed. A drop is soft and arcing, designed to land gently in the kitchen. Drives attack. Drops neutralise. Knowing when to use each separates intermediate players from beginners.
Q: How do I improve my pickleball shots?
Practise each shot in isolation. Spend dedicated time dinking with a partner. Use a wall for volleys. Film yourself to check paddle angle. Play regularly at your UK club and focus on one shot per session rather than trying to improve everything at once.
Q: Does my paddle affect my shots?
Yes. A 16mm core provides more control for dinks and drops. A 13mm core provides more power for drives and serves. A textured carbon fibre face generates more spin. Choosing a paddle that matches the shots you play most improves consistency.
Every Shot Starts with the Right Paddle
Rallyn GEN 4 paddles are engineered to match your playing style. Control for dinks and drops. Power for drives and serves. Spin for everything in between.