PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTION WITH PPR
SWINGING
VOLLEY
BY SARAH ANSBOURY, EDUCATION CONSULTANT
AND LEAD CLINICIAN FOR PPR, HEAD PRO PLAYER
A
s more and more people play pickleball, the game and
strategies are changing. A great example of this is the
use of the swinging volley over the old-school punch
volley.
A punch volley is created using leverage mostly from the
elbow, by maneuvering the paddle to go over the ball with the
butt of the paddle finishing down and often below the net. This
type of swing causes tension in the body at the wrist, elbow
and shoulder. Since a punch volley is hit closer to the body,
issues like getting jammed and the inability to control the
contact point are inevitable. Players will often move the grip
around to suit the angle of the paddle to counteract errors.
However, the angle of the paddle on contact and follow-
through yields little control of the ball, resulting in unforced
errors.
Power on the punch volley is generated from the dominant
side of the body with the non-dominant hand next to the hip,
causing the paddle to finish down near the hip below the
net. This is the reason most punch volleys go into the net,
especially if hit from the transition area, and forces players
struggling in the transition zone to step back to let a ball
bounce. Also, if the ball does go over, players are not ready for
the next shot.
Simply put, for the majority of pickleballers, the odds of
winning a point on a successful punch volley are low and will
put players in a defensive position, and can cause injury to
elbow, shoulders and wrist.
A swinging volley, on the other hand, is an attacking shot that
can be utilized in both the transition area and at the non-volley
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zone. A swinging volley allows the player to take control of the
contact point, swinging out through the ball using the torso
and the natural kinetic energy of the body, and if hit in the
transition area will utilize the natural momentum of the player
to move forward to the line, therefore reducing the chance of
injury.
When hitting a swinging volley, the paddle usually comes
around the ball from the outside using power generated from
the kinetic chain of the hinge of the shoulder and rotation of
the shoulders and hips. Most commonly the elbow is extended,
which allows the tip of the paddle to come around the ball and
lead it toward the target. Leading with the tip of the paddle
creates more angles of contact and a wider variety of shots.
The ball tends to stay on the paddle longer, and swinging
through the ball instead of down will result in fewer balls hit
into the net as well as better preparation for the next shot.
The swinging volley can be hit from both the transition and the
non-volley zone, allowing the paddle to get under the ball from
most angles and carry it over the net. Many players fear hitting
balls in the transition zone, but a swinging volley would allow
a much greater consistency and offensiveness behind the
transition to the net.
Considering the simplicity of a swinging volley and the benefits
that come with it, more and more players will end up adding
this shot to their game if they haven’t already. From a coaching
standpoint, less likelihood of injuries comes with the swinging
volley over the punch volley. For players, it is a vital shot to
continue to elevate their game. •
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