Pickleball Shots Explained: A Complete Guide for Women

At first glance, pickleball looks simple—just hit the ball over the net and keep it in play.

But once your game improves, you realize that there are many different pickleball shots, each with a specific purpose. Some control the rally, while others help you stay in points when you’re on defense.  

Understanding the different types of pickleball shots can help players:

• Improve consistency
• Choose the right shot in the right situation
• Develop a more complete game

Here’s a guide to the most common pickleball shots you’ll see on the court.

Foundational Pickleball Shots

These are the first shots every player learns when starting the game.

Serve
The shot that starts every rally. The serve must be hit underhand and land diagonally in the opponent’s service court.

Return of Serve
The receiving team’s first shot after the serve. The goal is to return the ball in the back third of the court, so the serving team stays near the baseline.

Groundstroke
A shot hit after the ball bounces, usually from the baseline.

Volley
A shot hit out of the air before the ball bounces, most often at the kitchen line. 

Soft Control Shots

These shots help players slow down the rally and gain control of the point.

Dink
A soft shot that lands in the opponent’s kitchen. Dinking is one of the most important skills in pickleball.

Third Shot Drop
A soft shot played by the serving team that lands in the opponent’s kitchen, allowing them to move forward to the net.

Reset Shot
A soft shot used to neutralize a fast rally and regain control.

Drop Shot
A controlled shot that lands softly near the opponent’s kitchen.

Power Shots

These shots are designed to apply pressure and create offensive opportunities.

Drive
A fast shot hit with pace, usually from the baseline.

Speed-Up
An aggressive shot used to accelerate a dink rally and initiate a faster exchange.

Putaway
A hard finishing shot used when the opponent hits a ball that sits high above the net.

Overhead Smash
A powerful shot hit above the head, often used against a lob.

Specialty Pickleball Shots

These shots require more advanced timing, positioning, and technique.

Lob
A high shot hit over an opponent’s head, forcing them to move backward.

ATP (Around the Post)
A shot hit around the net post instead of over the net.

Erne
An aggressive volley taken from outside the sideline near the kitchen.

Bert
A variation of the Erne where a player crosses behind their partner to execute the shot.

Tweener
A shot hit between a player’s legs, often used when chasing down a lob.

Defensive Pickleball Shots

These shots help players stay in rallies when under pressure.

Block
A defensive shot that absorbs the pace of a fast drive and redirects the ball softly.

Counterattack
An offensive response to an opponent’s attack.

Defensive Lob
A high shot used to slow down a fast rally and give players time to recover.

Why Shot Selection Matters in Pickleball

Winning points in pickleball isn’t just about hitting harder—it’s about choosing the right shot at the right time. Pickleball is a Thinking Game, not a Power Game.

For example:

• Use a third shot drop to progress to the kitchen line.
• Use dinks to control the rally. They are a non-attackable shot.
• Use speed-ups or putaways to finish points.

Understanding pickleball shot selection is one of the fastest ways to improve your game.

Pickleball Shot Index (A–Z)

ATP — Around the Post shot
Bert — Cross-court Erne variation
Block — Defensive shot absorbing pace, not pushing the ball
Counterattack — Turning defense into an offensive attack
Defensive Lob — Lob used to slow the rally and send players off the NVZ
Dink — Not attackable shot landing in the kitchen, Drop In your Neighbors Kitchen
Drive — Hard shot with pace
Drop Shot — Soft shot near the kitchen
Erne — Volley taken outside the kitchen sideline, landing inside the court on the other side
Groundstroke — Shot hit after a bounce, similar to a Drive
Lob — Soft, lofty shot over opponent
Overhead Smash — Powerful overhead attack of a lob
Putaway — Finishing shot on a high ball
Reset Shot — Neutralizing shot during pressure, generally a drop into the kitchen
Return of Serve — First shot by the receiving team
Serve — Shot that starts the rally
Speed-Up — Offensive move accelerating a slow rally
Third Shot Drop — Drop shot on the third point in the rally (after the server and return of serve), allowing the serving team to advance toward the kitchen
Tweener — Shot hit between the legs
Volley — Shot hit without a bounce