Tweener (Between-the-Legs Shot)
Also known as: tweener in pickleball, pickleball tweener, how to hit a tweener, between the legs shot pickleball, hitting between your legs in pickleball
A tweener is a shot you hit between your legs, usually after a lob has gone over you. Run straight back along the ball's path, let it bounce and get just past it. Then swing the paddle down and back through your knees toward the net behind you.
In pickleball this rescue usually starts at the kitchen line. A player crowds the non-volley zone, and the other team floats the ball over her head. On such a short court there is rarely time to turn and get behind it.
Run back in line with the ball, with your back to the net. Let it bounce, then get your hips just past it. Swing the paddle down through your stance with a quick wrist snap. Aim high enough to clear the net, since you cannot see your target.
No rule bans it. You must still hold the paddle when you hit (Rule 12.B) and return the ball before a second bounce (Rule 10.B). Watch the fence or wall behind the court when you run back.
Tips by skill level
Practice with a partner feeding easy high balls. First learn to run in line with the ball and let it bounce in front of you.
A high, soft return is safer than a hard drive. The extra air gives you time to recover toward the kitchen.
Example
A ball sails over a player at the kitchen line. She sprints back, lets it bounce, gets just past it and flicks the shot through her stance. It loops back over the net and keeps the rally alive.
Why it matters
This shot is fun and can save a point. Knowing it is a last resort keeps you from trying it when a simpler reset or drop would work better.
Common mistakes
- Going between the knees when there was time to turn and play a normal shot
- Running past the ball, so it bounces behind you
- Swinging too flat, so the ball drives into the net
Frequently asked questions
How do you hit a tweener in pickleball?
Run back in line with the ball, let it bounce and get just past it. Then snap the paddle down and back through your stance, aiming high over the net.
Is a tweener legal in pickleball?
Yes. No rule bans it. You must hold the paddle when you hit, and return the ball before its second bounce.
When should I try a tweener?
Only when the ball has passed you and you cannot turn in time. If you can turn and get behind it, a reset or drop is the safer play.
Sources
- Pickleball.com — Pickleball Glossary: Complete A–Z Guide (tweener)
- Dictionary.com — What Is Pickleball? All About the Kitchen and Other Pickleball Terms (Apr 3, 2024: tweener)
- USA Pickleball 2026 Official Rulebook (copy published by Pickleball Canada) — Rules 10.B (return before a second bounce) and 12.B (paddle possession)
Related terms
- Lob Defense (Pickleball)To chase down a lob, turn and run back at an angle with crossover steps instead of backpedaling. Backpedaling is slow and risks a backward fall. Track the ball over your shoulder and let it bounce if you can't set up an overhead. Then reply with a lob or a drop.
- LobA lob is a high-arcing shot hit over the opponents' heads, forcing them off the kitchen line and back toward the baseline.
- Baseline PlayBaseline play refers to deliberately staying near the back of the court. This uses drives and drops rather than advancing to the kitchen, often as a defensive or reset strategy.
- OverheadAn overhead is a high-contact smash hit above the head, usually in response to an opponent's lob, aimed at ending the point with pace.
- Tweener (Between-the-Legs Shot)A tweener is a shot hit between your legs, usually while running back toward your own baseline to chase a lob. You swing down and back through your stance with your back to the net. It is legal, and it is often the only way to reach a ball that has gone past you.
Related guides & benchmarks
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