Can You Spike in Pickleball?

Damien Forseberg January 27, 2023 248

SaveSavedRemoved 0

One question you may ask before your first pickleball game is, “Can you spike in pickleball?” In most cases, the answer is yes, but there is an exception.

Let’s see when you can spike in pickleball and how to make the most of this shot.

Table of Contents

What Is a Pickleball Spike, and When Is It Legal?

Several terms for pickleball spikes include smashes, slams, and overheads. Most professionals use the term overhead due to the paddle’s position when it hits the ball. It’s one of the most entertaining shots, leaving your opponent(s) scrambling or running out of the way to avoid being hit by your projectiles.

Spiking is legal in pickleball in most cases. But unlike in tennis, ping pong, and volleyball, you can’t use this move whenever you want.

Due to the nature of this game, spiking in front of the net wouldn’t be very fun for the opposing player. They can’t cover much space, and you can’t smash the ball particularly high or hard compared to other sports. As a result, you could position yourself near the net the entire game and win points just by spiking.

Pickleball has an area named the kitchen to avoid this issue. Also known as the non-volley zone, this seven-foot deep box is directly in front of the net.

If your toes or any other body part are in this box or on the line, you can’t smash the bill while it’s airborne. For this reason, many moves are prohibited in the non-volley zone, including spiking.

So, can you spike in pickleball? Yes, but anywhere outside the box is a legal area.

Official Rules About Spiking in Pickleball

Here are a few official USA Pickleball association rules to help you get a better understanding of legal spiking:

You must initiate all volleys and smashes outside the non-volley zone.
Your hit should include a swing, follow-through, and momentum caused by the action.
If your paddle enters the non-volley area during the motion before or after hitting the ball, you’ll be faulted.
While volleying, your move mustn’t force your opponent to make contact in any part of the non-volley zone. Otherwise, you’ll also be called for a fault.
If you touch the non-volley region, you can’t spike until you make contact with the surface outside the area with both your feet. Maneuvers like standing in the non-volley zone, jumping, hitting a spike, and landing outside the area are a fault.

The rules are clear. When spiking a ball, you must restrict your momentum before you reach the non-volley area. If the momentum from jumping makes you land in the region, the referee will call you for a fault, whether or not you scored a sizzling winner with your smash.

How and When Should You Spike in Pickleball?

Spiking might seem simple when you watch other players, but it can be incredibly tricky. You’re often so excited about the opportunity to smash the ball in the air that you forget about technique and control. The ball might end up out of bounds, losing you a critical point. The best way to prevent this is to keep a few pointers in mind:

Position yourself properly – While the ball travels, your dominant hand should be on your back. Your body should also be twisted sideways with your feet planted on the court. Also, ensure you can make the shot by verifying the ball is high enough.
Align your feet and hips – Twist your torso to align your feet and hips while swinging the paddle in your dominant hand towards the ball. When making contact, decide whether you want the ball to fly down or up, directly impacting your performance.
Smash the ball – Spike it as hard as possible if you’re sure it won’t go out of bounds. If you wish to use less force and guide your ball in a particular direction, twist your arm and hips accordingly. Your wrist is critical in determining the ball’s trajectory, so swing and aim simultaneously.
Jump before swinging for extra-high balls – If your head is under the ball at the time of your shot, jump before swinging. You’ll be able to generate more force and control your shot.
Think of yourself as a spring – Your body should act as a spring during your spike. It’s compressed at the start and released as the ball approaches, allowing you to hit it harder.
Balance yourself – While you only need one hand to hit a spike, the other isn’t useless. Your non-paddle hand can balance your body, giving you more control in directing your ball.
Prepare for the next move – When your feet land on the ground after spiking, anticipate your opponent’s next move. They’ll quickly need to react because spikes are intimidating.

The above tips will help you produce effective overheads, but this doesn’t mean you should always try to hit them. Some situations are perfect for spiking, while others are less than ideal if you’re wondering if you can spike in pickleball.

For example, a perfect scenario for hitting a spike is when your opponent sends a high ball that arcs down on either side of the net. Smashing high balls on a downward trajectory is much easier than when the ball is on an upward trajectory.

However, don’t try overhand hits with low-bouncing balls. Spikes are at their best when you can hit balls from at least shoulder height. If it’s at the waist or lower, you may not be able to get down low enough. Instead, go for a low shot, such as an underhand dink that falls just over the net.

As for your tactics, consider using overhead shots to drive the other player back toward the baseline and prevent them from approaching the net.

How to Adapt to Pickleball Spike Rules

One of the easiest ways to avoid making a fault when spiking is to use Erne shots. Named after Erne Perry (a player who used this shot to dominate the competition in a 2010 USAPA tournament), it gives you leeway when hitting overheads.

You can use three kinds of Erne shots during your matches:

Jumping-Across-the-Kitchen Erne – This move requires you to begin your jump outside the no-volley area, go airborne, hit the ball mid-air, and make sure you land outside the no-volley zone. Ensure that no body part or paddle touches the area.
Through-the-Court Erne – Before making this shot, you must leave the no-volley zone and set your feet outside it.
Around-the-Kitchen Erne – Here, you move around the no-volley zone, outside your court lines, and set your feet before smashing.

If you want to incorporate Erne shots into your arsenal, bear in mind you can’t hit balls before they pass the plane of the net. In other words, you need to spike when the ball is on your side. After the strike, the paddle may be extended over the net; however, you won’t be called for a fault if the paddle contacts the ball on your side.

Can You Spike in Pickleball When Serving?

Spiking when serving in pickleball is illegal because it would make your serves too powerful to return. Therefore, you need to serve underhand. Your paddle must move upward, which makes overhead shots impossible. Moreover, you can’t hit the ball with your paddle if the ball is above your belly button.

These are the general rules about serving, but they may vary by tournament. Hence, familiarize yourself with the rules before your first match. You can also ask referees for clarification, as not all judges have the same interpretation of the rules.

Spiking in Pickleball Demystified

There’s no need to wonder if you can spike in pickleball any longer. The move is legal if you strike the ball outside the non-volley zone. But while you can hit overheads, you shouldn’t always resort to these shots. Use forehands, backhands, and other variations to keep your opponent from anticipating your tactics.