Common Beginner Mistake: Volleying Too Early
Also known as: volleying before two bounces
New players frequently try to volley the serve or the return of serve before both have legally bounced once, which is a fault under the two-bounce rule.
The two-bounce rule requires the serve to bounce once before the receiving team can hit it, and the return of serve to bounce once before the serving team can hit it — only after both of those bounces have happened can either side legally volley the ball out of the air. New players eager to get to the net or excited by an aggressive style often try to volley the return before the serving team has let it bounce, which is an immediate fault regardless of how well the volley was executed.
This mistake usually comes from applying instincts learned in other net sports like tennis or badminton, where volleying early is often rewarded, without yet internalizing that pickleball specifically mandates those first two bounces. It also shows up when an eager net player crowds forward right after their team serves, then reflexively swats at the return before it has bounced.
The fix is almost entirely about patience and positioning during the first two shots of a rally — staying back through the serve and the return, letting both bounce as required, and only beginning to move toward the kitchen line and look for volley opportunities once the two-bounce requirement has been satisfied.
For your first several matches, make a personal rule to stay back and let both the serve and the return bounce every single time, until it becomes automatic.
Example
A new player, excited to close in on the net right after serving, reflexively swats at the return of serve out of the air before it bounces, resulting in an immediate fault.
Why it matters
Volleying before the two required bounces is one of the most common ways new players give away free points early in a rally, often without even realizing which rule they broke.
Common mistakes
- Rushing the net immediately after serving and volleying the return before it has bounced
- Applying instincts from tennis or badminton where early volleys are rewarded rather than penalized
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage can flag contact that occurs before a required bounce during the opening two shots of a rally, helping a new player see exactly when the habit shows up on video.
Frequently asked questions
Can I volley the return of serve if I get to it quickly?
No — the return of serve must bounce once before either side can legally volley it, regardless of how quickly a player reaches it.
Why do I keep making this mistake if I know the rule?
It is usually a habit carried over from other net sports, or simple eagerness to close toward the net right after serving — the fix is staying back and being patient through the first two required bounces.
Related terms
- Two-Bounce RuleThe two-bounce rule requires the ball to bounce once on each side before either team may volley: the serve must bounce on the return side, the return must bounce on the serving side, and only after those two bounces may either team hit a ball before it bounces.
- Beginner Rule Confusion: When You Can VolleyVolleys are illegal on the serve and the return of serve until each has bounced once under the two-bounce rule; after that, a volley is legal from anywhere outside the non-volley zone for the rest of the rally.
- VolleyA volley is any shot hit out of the air before the ball bounces. In pickleball it must be struck while standing outside the kitchen — the non-volley zone — making footwork and position as important as stroke mechanics.
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