Mastering The The Half Volley

Mental Aspect of "Sorry, My Bad!", When to Change Grips, When to Change Paddles, Ben Johns' Secret Weapon, PB World Record, and More!

Author

FIT PICKLER
April 17, 2025

Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

  • Mastering the Half Volley: Why This Shot Matters More Than You Realize

  • Fitness Expert Glenn Dawson: Greatest Stretch For Lower Back Pain

  • What Should You Say After A Pickleball Mistake?

  • Lab Tests To Determine How Long Pickleball Paddles Last

  • How Often Should You Re-Grip Your Pickleball Paddle?

  • 'The Pickleball Doctor': The Mind And Force Behind Ben Johns' Dominance

  • 19-Year-Old Pro Pickleball Player Helps Boost U.S. Troops' Morale

  • North Texas Picklers Set Guinness World Record For Longest Pickleball Marathon

  • Rally Rundown: Local Highlights

  • Cool Stuff: How Pickleball Balls Are Made (Video)

  • Coach Mary: Tips On Groundstrokes, Drills & Defending Attacks

šŸ„· SKILLS

Mastering the Half Volley: Why This Shot Matters More Than You Think

How Low Can You Go?

The Forgotten Shot ā€” Why Half-Volleys Matter More Than You Realize

In pickleball, some of the most important shots are the ones that donā€™t get much attention. One of those is the half-volley.

A half-volley is a shot you hit almost immediately after the ball bounces ā€” before it rises to a comfortable hitting height. Instead of letting the ball come up to waist or hip level for a full swing, you block or lightly push it right after it touches the ground. Itā€™s a short, controlled move, more like a firm catch than a powerful hit.

This is very different from a regular shot after a bounce. On a typical groundstroke, you wait for the ball to rise, set up your body, and swing through it with your usual mechanics. On a half-volley, you have no time to set up. Youā€™re reacting quickly, staying low, and using touch over strength to keep the ball alive.

Learning to control this small but essential move makes a huge difference, especially when you're caught in fast exchanges or moving through the transition zone.

 šŸ‹ļø STAYING FIT with GLENN

Greatest Stretch For Lower Back Pain

ā™Ÿļø STRATEGY

What You Should Say After
A Pickleball Mistake?

Love (in Pickleball) Means Never Having To Say You're Sorry

Mistakes are part of every pickleball gameā€”but how you react to them can make or break your next point. Whether you tend to apologize too much or beat yourself up after a bad shot, the words you choose matter more than you think.

Learn the simple phrases that top players use to stay confident, keep their partners connected, and turn mistakes into momentum, Click Hereā€¦

āš™ļø GEAR NEWS

How Long Do Pickleball Paddles Last?

Is Age Just A Number When It Comes To Paddles?

Your paddle might still look greatā€”but is it playing like it used to?

With paddle performance subtly changing over time, especially for players who play hard and often, the United Pickleball Association of America is taking action. A new lab-based testing standard will soon determine when a paddleā€™s power, spin, and pop start to fadeā€”so youā€™re not left wondering if itā€™s your swing or your gear.

Learn how this new ā€œshelf lifeā€ standard could reshape what players buy, how long they use it, and what pros might have to give up come September.

āš™ļø GEAR NEWS

How Often Should You Re-Grip
Your Pickleball Paddle?

Pickleball Helps Me Unwind!

A slippery handle can sneak up on youā€”but when it does, your game suffers. Grip wear happens gradually, and most players don't realize it's an issue until they start missing shots they normally make. This article breaks down exactly how often you should re-grip your paddle (and what type of grip to use) based on how often you play.

Get the timing right, and youā€™ll gain better control, more comfort, and the confidence to swing without second-guessing. Read the full guide to make sure your paddle stays match-ready, click hereā€¦

šŸ“šŸ’Ŗ PRO HEALTH NEWS

Ben Johnā€™s Pickleball Doctor

Deep Breath, Now Dink!

Behind every champion is someone helping them stay strong, sharp, and ready for the next match. For Ben Johns, that someone is Dr. Noe Saribanā€”better known as The Pickleball Doctor. From grueling tournament days to rapid recovery techniques, Saribanā€™s expertise is one of the secret weapons behind Johns' dominance on the court.

Get an inside look at how a former pro player turned physical therapist is helping shape the future of pickleballā€™s greatest star.

šŸ‘ COMMUNITY NEWS

19-Year-Old Pickleball Player
Helps Boost U.S. Troopsā€™ Morale

Thank You For Your Service!

What happens when one of pickleballā€™s rising stars trades the tournament spotlight for military base courts across the globe?

At just 19, Brooke Revuelta has become the youngest pro ever to join the Armed Forces Entertainment Goodwill Pickleball Tourā€”bringing skill, spirit, and serious heart to U.S. troops stationed overseas. From Turkey to Kosovo, sheā€™s been rallying with service members, leading clinics, and proving that this sport can build bridges far beyond the court.

Meet the teen player turning paddles into powerful gestures of gratitude.
Click Hereā€¦

šŸ‘ COMMUNITY NEWS

North Texas Picklers Set
Guinness World Record For
Longest Pickleball Marathon

Just One More Game!

Pickleball just made historyā€”and it wasnā€™t about titles or trophies. A determined group of players at Pickler Universe in Carrollton smashed the Guinness World Record for the longest pickleball marathon, all while raising money for a cause close to their hearts.

See how endurance, community, and a powerful mission turned a 36-hour challenge into something unforgettable, click hereā€¦

šŸ˜Ž  COOL STUFF

HOW IS A PICKLEBALL MADE?

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

HOLDING COURT with
COACH MARY

  šŸ’Ŗ Tips On Groundstrokes, Drills
& Defending Attacks

3 SHORT BUT SWEET VIDEOS

  1. Callie Smith: What a great visual lesson! Callie does not even speak! She wags her finger to let you know that the demo she just showed is wrong. Staying open when hitting a groundstroke from the baseline. Then, she demonstrates closing your stance, to engage your hips and core and shoulders. Then she gives you a thumbs up!

2.   Simone Jardim

Simone and her guest recommend that when drilling, you focus on just one skill, rather than trying to cover multiple shots in one session.  Great tip.  She uses the third shot drop as the one shot being emphasized in one drill session.
Ā·     Practice the shot crosscourt, then down the line on both sides (4 locations).
Ā·     Switch with your partner, so now the other one is feeding, and your partner is executing the third shot from all four areas.
Ā·     Put the drill into a game and play the point out.  The player who executes the third shot drop will follow it in and play out the point crosscourt and/or down the line.
Ā·     Note:  Always put your drill into a competitive situation!

3.  Tanner covers how to defend when you know you are going to be attacked.

Ā·     If you or your partner pops a ball up, instead of just holding your ground, where you might need to defend with a forehand or a backhand, slide to the outside of the court.

Ā·     Now, you will either have a forehand or a backhand, depending on which side of the court you are on.  This takes away having to choose and defend both sides.

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