Pickleball Swinging Volley: Drive Volley Technique & When to Use It

A pickleball swinging volley—often called a drive volley—is an attacking volley hit with a larger, groundstroke-like swing before the ball bounces. It is most useful when a slower or floating ball gives you time to set up, create topspin and keep pressure on an opponent who is still deep.

This is different from the compact punch volley you use in fast hands exchanges. The swinging volley needs more preparation, more space and a cleaner contact window.

USA Pickleball’s current skill-level material treats the swinging volley as a higher-level volley skill. Its 4.5/5.0 descriptions specifically include players being comfortable with swinging volleys, and its 5.0 assessment adds the ability to initiate, attack back or neutralize with the shot.

What Is a Swinging Volley?

A swinging volley is a ball hit out of the air before it bounces using a controlled swing that resembles a drive.

Compared with a normal punch volley, it usually has:

• a larger backswing;
• more shoulder and torso rotation;
• a more pronounced low-to-high path;
• more topspin;
• more pace and depth;
• a longer recovery requirement.

An older but still useful Pickleball Tutor drill manual describes the same pattern: a swing volley uses a larger backswing than a punch volley, travels low-to-high to create topspin, and is often used on a slower ball contacted above the waist.

Swinging Volley vs Punch Volley vs Roll Volley

Shot	Typical contact	Swing size	Main goal
Swinging / drive volley	Slower, higher airborne ball	Larger	Attack early with pace and topspin
Punch volley	Medium/high ball in quicker exchange	Very compact	Redirect pace with control
Roll volley	Lower attackable ball near Kitchen	Compact low-to-high	Add topspin and dip
Block volley	Fast incoming attack	Minimal	Absorb pace
Drop volley	Comfortable airborne ball with opponent deep	Minimal / soft	Take pace off and land short

Our general volley guide owns the punch/block fundamentals, while the forehand roll volley covers the more compact topspin attack near the Kitchen.

When Should You Use a Swinging Volley?

1. The Ball Is Slow Enough to Set Up

The shot needs time. A floaty return, defensive lob that drops low enough, soft midcourt ball or weak transition shot can create the setup.

If the ball is already flying hard at you, a punch, block or counter is usually the cleaner choice.

2. Contact Is Above About Waist Height

You want enough height to swing forward and up without having to lift an extremely low ball over the net.

The older Pickleball Tutor drill guidance makes this exact distinction: the swing volley is commonly used when a slower ball arrives slightly high above the net and can be contacted above the waist.

3. You Are Balanced and Have Space

The larger swing requires room. If the ball jams your hip or your feet are still moving, reduce the swing and use a more compact volley.

4. The Opponent Is Still Deep

One of the best uses is keeping an opponent from advancing. A deep topspin drive volley can take away their recovery time and make them play another ball from the back half of the court.

A Pickleball.com analysis comparing pro singles patterns makes the same tactical point: a topspin drive volley can be the higher-percentage option when it keeps an opponent pinned deep instead of attempting a delicate drop volley.

When Should You Not Swing?

• the incoming ball is fast;
• you are jammed or reaching;
• contact is below a comfortable attack height;
• you are too close to the Kitchen line to create a safe larger swing;
• the opponent is already set and ready for pace;
• an overhead is clearly available on a high ball;
• a compact punch or roll keeps more control.

A swinging volley is not “the advanced version” of every volley. It is one answer for one contact window.

How to Hit a Swinging Volley

1. Read the Ball Early

Decide early that the ball is slow and high enough to attack out of the air. If you wait until the last moment, the larger swing becomes rushed.

2. Move Into Position Before You Swing

Create lateral space from the ball and get balanced. Do not chase the ball with your arm while the body stays out of position.

3. Use a Compact-Enough Unit Turn

The backswing is larger than a punch volley but still smaller than an uncontrolled full tennis swing.

Turn the shoulders and hips enough to create acceleration without sacrificing timing.

4. Get the Paddle Below the Ball

A slightly lower starting position gives you room to swing low-to-high and create topspin.

5. Contact in Front

Meet the ball forward of the body so you can swing through it rather than catching it beside you.

6. Swing Up and Through

The swing needs both upward shape and forward penetration.

• too much upward brush: ball loops and sits up;
• too much flat forward swing: ball can sail long;
• up + through: topspin gives you pace plus dip.

Topspin lets you accelerate without relying on a perfectly flat trajectory. USA Pickleball’s current high-level assessments explicitly include both topspin volleys and swinging volleys as advanced control skills.

7. Recover for the Next Ball

Do not assume the volley is a winner. Finish in balance and get the paddle back in front.

Forehand Swinging Volley

The forehand is the most common version because it gives you more room to rotate and accelerate.

• create enough spacing outside the hip;
• turn the shoulders early;
• keep the paddle under the contact;
• use the torso to support acceleration;
• contact in front;
• finish with controlled topspin.

The mechanics overlap with our forehand groundstroke guide, but the timing is different because the ball never bounces.

Backhand Swinging Volley

A backhand swing volley is possible one- or two-handed, but the setup is less forgiving because spacing and timing are tighter.

Keep the ball in front and avoid reaching across the body. If you prefer two hands on aggressive backhand contacts, use the mechanics from our two-handed backhand guide.

The older Tutor drill manual specifically recommends practicing both forehand and backhand swing volleys crosscourt and down the line.

Swinging Volley vs Overhead

Ball height usually decides this choice.

Contact	More natural option
Clearly above head	Overhead
Shoulder / upper-chest height	Depends on court position and balance
Waist to chest, slow enough to attack	Swinging volley
Low / fast / jammed	Punch, roll, block or reset

If the ball is high enough for a clean overhead, the overhead usually gives you a simpler downward attack. See our overhead smash guide.

Swinging Volley vs Roll Volley

These shots overlap because both can use topspin, but the size and contact window differ.

• Swinging volley: larger swing, more time, usually higher/slower ball, often deeper target.
• Roll volley: more compact, often closer to the Kitchen, useful on a lower attackable contact.

If you only have a short window and the ball is around net height, the roll volley is usually the better framework.

Swinging Volley vs Drop Volley

These are almost opposite tactical choices.

• Swinging volley: add pace/topspin and keep the opponent under pressure.
• Drop volley: remove pace and exploit an opponent who is too deep.

Our drop-volley guide explains when taking pace off is actually worth the risk.

Where Should You Aim?

Target	Why it works
Deep middle	Large margin and keeps opponents back
Backhand side	Tests a potentially weaker wing
Outside hip	Can jam preparation
Open court	Uses movement and space
Feet of a player moving forward	Forces a low contact while they transition

Do not automatically aim for the sideline. The shot is already aggressive because you are taking time away. A larger target often produces more useful pressure.

Why Deep Often Beats Short

If the opponent is still deep, keeping them there can be more valuable than trying to end the point with touch.

A Pickleball.com tactical analysis contrasts the two choices directly: it argues that a topspin drive volley can be the higher-percentage play because it keeps the opponent back and often sets up the next ball, while a drop volley may give a fast opponent time to close the court.

The decision is positional:

• opponent deep and moving forward slowly → drive volley is attractive;
• opponent extremely deep and unable to close → drop volley becomes possible;
• opponent already near Kitchen → neither “keep them back” nor “drop them short” creates much advantage; use the best contact available.

Common Swinging-Volley Mistakes

Swinging at a Fast Ball

You do not need to manufacture pace when the ball already has it. Compact the stroke.

Using a Full Groundstroke Backswing

The ball reaches you faster because it does not bounce. Use a larger swing than a punch volley, but keep it controlled enough to time cleanly.

Contacting Too Low

A very low contact forces you to lift aggressively and reduces the value of taking the ball out of the air. Letting it bounce may create a better drive or drop.

Hitting Too Flat

Without enough shape, the extra swing speed sends the ball long. Add controlled topspin rather than simply closing the paddle face harder.

Forgetting the NVZ Rule

A swinging volley is still a volley. You cannot contact the ball while touching the Kitchen or its line, and your momentum after the volley cannot carry you into the NVZ.

See our Kitchen rules guide for the full rule.

Why Does My Swinging Volley Go Long?

• the swing is too flat;
• the paddle face opens at contact;
• you use too much backswing;
• contact drifts late;
• you aim too close to the baseline;
• you swing at maximum pace instead of controlled acceleration.

Reduce swing size, add shape and move the landing target several feet inside the baseline.

Why Does My Swinging Volley Go Into the Net?

• the contact is too low;
• the paddle starts above the ball;
• the face is too closed;
• you swing forward without enough upward path;
• you are late and jammed.

Start with easier feeds around waist-to-chest height and rebuild the low-to-high path before attacking lower balls.

Four Swinging-Volley Drills

1. Drop-Feed Swing Volley

Have a partner toss or softly feed a high, slow ball. Take it out of the air and aim deep middle. Focus on timing before pace.

2. Crosscourt / Line Alternation

Alternate five swing volleys crosscourt and five down the line from the same setup. This separates direction from raw power.

3. Swing or Punch?

Your partner varies feed speed:

• slow/high enough → swinging volley;
• faster / less time → compact punch volley.

The goal is to train the choice, not just the mechanics.

4. Drive Volley → Next Ball

Hit the swing volley deep to a partner at the baseline. They reply with a drop, drive or lob. The repetition only counts if you recover well enough to make the correct next-shot choice.

This mirrors the multi-shot concept in traditional swing-volley ball-machine drills and prevents the shot from becoming an isolated winner attempt.

When Should You Learn the Swinging Volley?

Learn it after you can already:

• volley with compact control;
• recognize when a ball is attackable;
• hit a basic topspin drive;
• move into balance before contact;
• recover after an aggressive shot.

That sequence matches USA Pickleball’s skill progression: basic punch volleys appear earlier, while swinging volleys show up in higher-level descriptions.

Bottom Line

The swinging volley is a drive taken out of the air. Use it when the ball is slow enough, high enough and far enough from your body that you have time to create a controlled low-to-high swing.

Use topspin to keep pace inside the court, aim deep when keeping the opponent back is valuable, and recover immediately for the next ball. If the feed is faster, lower or closer to your body, shrink the swing and choose a punch, roll, block or reset instead.

Sources

• USA Pickleball: Skill Level Self-Assessment
• USA Pickleball: Skill Level Four
• USA Pickleball: Skill Level Five
• USA Pickleball: Volley Fundamentals
• Pickleball.com: Topspin Drive Volley vs Drop Volley
• Pickleball Tutor Drill Manual: Swing Volley Drill