Pickleball Volleys: When to Punch, When to Block, and How to Hit Both

November 3, 2026

Most volleys in doubles happen at the kitchen line, and once all four players are there, the volley takes over. You are close to your opponents, the ball arrives fast, and you rarely have time for a full swing. That is why the two volleys that matter most are compact ones: the punch volley, which attacks, and the block volley, which absorbs pace and resets the point.

This guide covers what each volley is, the simple rule for choosing between them, how to hit both, the common mistakes, and a few drills to build them into your game.

What is a volley in pickleball?

A volley is any shot you hit out of the air before the ball bounces. USA Pickleball notes that most volleys happen at the kitchen line, and it names two main types: the soft block and the punch volley.

Two rules shape when and where you can volley, so keep them in mind:

The two-bounce rule. The serve and the return of serve must each bounce before they are hit, so the first volley of a rally can only come on the third shot or later.
The kitchen. The USA Pickleball rulebook says all volleys must be started outside the non-volley zone, and momentum that carries you into the zone after a volley is still a fault, even after the ball is dead.

Our pickleball kitchen rules guide covers the details, including feet, momentum and what happens when your partner is involved.

Punch or block: the simple rule

USA Pickleball's coaching article on defensive vs offensive volleys at the kitchen boils the decision down to one line:

"Above the net + stable position = attack. Below the net or on the move = reset."

In practice that means:

Punch when the ball reaches you above net height and you are balanced at the line. You can hit down, so you can be firm.
Block when the ball is below the net, when it is coming at you fast, or when you are still moving. Hitting hard from below the net usually sends the ball up or long.

If you are not sure, block. A soft reset keeps you in the point; a rushed attack from a bad position often hands your opponents an easy put away.

How to hit a punch volley

USA Pickleball describes the punch volley as a "firm, controlled shot that mimics a punching motion." Its key points:

Be ready early. Hold the paddle up, above net height, with your elbows in front of your body. At the kitchen line you are only about 14 feet from your opponents, so there is no time to lift the paddle after the ball is struck.
Keep the paddle face flat to the target rather than tilted up.
Keep a slight bend in the elbow and extend toward your target.
Make contact in front of your body.
Use minimal motion. The punch is a short push, not a swing. No big backswing, no big follow through.

Where to aim? In our experience, feet, open space and the hip of the paddle side are good targets. Our post on when and where to speed up goes deeper on choosing targets once you have decided to attack.

USA Pickleball's skill level descriptions list "Developing a simple punch volley" at the 2.5 level, so this is a shot worth building early.

How to hit a block volley

The block volley is your defense against hard drives, speed ups and attacks at your body. USA Pickleball describes the aim as absorbing your opponents' pace to regain control, usually by resetting the ball softly into the kitchen. Its tips:

Use a loose, relaxed grip. A tight grip makes the ball jump off the paddle. A relaxed hand soaks up pace. Our grip tips for better control explain how light your grip can be.
Track the ball with the tip of the paddle to help your eyes and hands stay aligned.
Don't swing! Simply present the paddle face and let the ball rebound. Your opponent supplies the pace; your job is to take it off.

Our own tip: aim low and short. A good block lands in the kitchen and forces the opponent to hit up, which takes the attack away from them.

If your blocks keep floating high, the fixes in why am I popping the ball up apply here too: a more open face than you need, a grip that is too tight, or a paddle that drops below the ball.

Pickleball player reaching low with a black paddle on a blue outdoor court in late sun, net and palm trees in the background

Common volley mistakes

Swinging at everything. A full swing at the kitchen line is slow to recover from and hard to control. Keep both volleys compact.
Paddle down between shots. If the paddle drops to your knees after each shot, fast balls will beat you. Return to the ready position, paddle up and in front.
Attacking from below the net. That is the classic pop up. Reset first and wait for a ball you can hit down.
Strangling the grip on blocks. Tension turns a soft block into a pop up. Squeeze a little more for the punch, relax for the block.
Leaning into the kitchen. Reaching forward to volley can carry you into the zone. Stay balanced so you finish behind the line.

Drills to build both volleys

These are simple partner drills you can run in a few minutes during practice:

Volley to volley. Both players stand at the kitchen line and volley back and forth softly without letting the ball bounce. Focus on paddle up and short strokes. Count how many you can keep going.
Call it. One player feeds a mix of high and low balls. The volleyer calls "punch" or "block" before contact, then plays that shot. It trains the above the net or below the net decision.
Drive and block. One player stands at the baseline and drives at the player at the kitchen line, who blocks every ball back into the kitchen. Swap after ten balls.
Block to dink. Combine your block with the soft game from our dinking 101 guide: block the drive, then continue the rally with dinks.

For the soft shot that gets you to the kitchen line in the first place, see our third shot drop guide, and for how volleys fit into team play, read our doubles strategy guide. Once you are comfortable at the line, the Erne is a legal way to volley from beside the kitchen.

Paddle setup for quick hands

Volleys reward a paddle you can move quickly. Mint's Sigma Super uses a 16 mm core, and its listing describes a low swing weight that "whips through the air for rapid-fire volleys, fast resets, and counterattacks." It comes in blue and orange. You can compare it with the rest of the range in our pickleball paddles collection.

If you want to adjust how your current paddle feels, Mint's Racket Weight 3g Strips come 10 to a pack, and the listing notes that where you place them changes how the paddle feels on serves, drives, volleys and defensive shots. Start with one strip and test it on court. Our edge weights placement guide and twist weight vs swing weight explainer show what changes when you add weight in different places.

Mint Sigma Super pickleball paddle with a black face, teal blue edge guard and white handle with red stripes

For volley drills you need plenty of balls. A pack of Cannonballz outdoor pickleballs keeps the drill moving. For more on building touch, read our guide to improving pickleball control.

FAQ

Can you volley the return of serve? No. The two-bounce rule means the serve and the return must each bounce first. The first volley can come on the third shot or later.

Can you volley inside the kitchen? No. Volleys must be started outside the non-volley zone, and your momentum must not carry you into the zone after the volley. You can step into the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced.

Which is more important for beginners, punch or block? Both, but the block keeps you in more points. Learn to keep the paddle up and the grip relaxed first, then add the punch for balls above the net.

Should I punch or block a ball at my body? If it is fast and you are not set, block it. If it is high and you have time, punch it down at your opponent's feet.