Master Pickleball Drop Volleys: Slow the Ball, Beat the Bangers

Adam Forziati

Team The Kitchen

Last Edited

Sep 20 2024

What is the Drop Volley?

The drop volley is a soft-touch shot where you take pace off the ball, absorbing your opponent’s speed and landing the ball gently into the kitchen(preferably with minimal bounce, making it unattackable).

It works particularly well against aggressive opponents who expect you to hit back with power.

By slowing things down, you force them out of their comfort zone and invite mistakes.

A word of caution: DON'T use the drop volley when your opponent is way back near the baseline unless you're at least 90% confident they won't get to it in time.

This is a common strategic misconception that underestimates how fast your opponent can run. USUALLY, it's a safer bet to keep your opponents back with drives. We have an entire blog dedicated to this.

Soft Hands, Softer Shot

Unlike regular volleys, where you might punch or block the ball with force, the drop volley requires minimal effort from your paddle.

The goal is to absorb the incoming power from the banger and gently place the ball into the kitchen, forcing them to lean forward. Your paddle does the work for you—simply meet the ball and let the impact dissipate.

Different paddles do have a significant impact in how this shot feels. Thicker, control-focused paddles may require you to use slightly more force than thinner, power-focused paddles with more pop.

Mastering this shot requires you to also learn your paddle's ins and outs and may be the first thing you consider practicing when you buy a new paddle.

Here’s a drill: Practice holding your paddle with just your thumb and forefinger, taking the other three fingers off the grip. This helps you feel how little pressure is needed to execute a soft shot.

Keys to Better Drop Volleys:

Slicing Motion – Open the paddle face by about 45 degrees; then chop the paddle in a high to low pattern to slow the ball down even more
Soft Hands, Defined – You need a loose yet deft grip on the paddle; picture something around a 3/10 in terms of grip tightness
Angle – By angling your drop volley away from your opponent, you force them to stay on their toes and take control of the point's momentum

Perfecting Placement

Ideally, you want the ball to land close to the net, forcing your opponent to dash forward to return.

Keep in mind:

Net clearance: Use the extra 2 inches of net height in the middle to ensure your shot makes it over but doesn’t fly long.

Opponent’s movement: If they’re leaning to one side or moving backward, drop the ball in the opposite direction.

Opponent’s speed: Be mindful of who you’re playing. If your opponent is fast and loves to chase balls, a poorly placed drop volley might backfire, giving them an easy shot at the net.

The Dink Master Pro from Enhance has a dual-sided design, with one side dedicated to fire-fight training & another to practicing the soft game.

Dropping from Mid-Court: The Transition Zone

One of the toughest spots to hit a drop volley is from the dreaded "no man’s land"—the mid-court. Here, it’s easy to get caught in between: too far to dink and too close to drive.

But hitting a drop volley from this position can help you transition to the kitchen line effectively.

When you’re caught mid-court, your goal is to hit a drop volley that lands softly at your opponent’s feet:

Focus on absorbing the ball’s pace and keeping your center of gravity low.
Like before, soft hands are key, but in this case, you also want to make sure you’re moving forward as you hit the shot to keep the momentum flowing toward the net.

Practice Tip: Place a towel or a target near your opponent’s feet when practicing this shot. Aim for this spot to ensure you’re hitting drop volleys that are unattackable and make it difficult for the banger to respond with a powerful shot.

The drop volley is your secret weapon for dealing with the relentless pace of bangers.

By softening your hands, controlling the ball, and playing with placement, you can slow the game down, frustrate your opponent, and open up the court for your next move.

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