A volley is any shot struck out of the air before the ball bounces. In pickleball, volleying is a normal and important part of play — except that you may not volley while standing in (or touching) the non-volley zone (the kitchen), and the two-bounce rule forbids volleying until after the serve and return have both bounced. Volleys are used aggressively at the net once a team has established position at the kitchen line, putting the ball away when an opponent pops one up. Managing when you can and cannot volley, given the kitchen rule, is fundamental to pickleball positioning.
Key points
- Hitting the ball before it bounces
- Not allowed from inside the kitchen
- Forbidden until after the two-bounce rule
- Used aggressively at the net
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