Tony Roig’s Pickleball Shots: Tony Roig, a well-known pickleball coach, explained two key shots that players at the 3.5 skill level should master. In a recent coaching session, Tony Roig said these shots are not just trendy or popular on video platforms but are based on their true impact in games. The two essential shots are the punch volley and the defensive dink. These help players control the game, reduce errors, and keep opponents from gaining an advantage.
The First Must-Have Shot: Effective Punch Volley
Tony Roig introduced the punch volley as a must-have shot for return-side players. It is usually hit on the fourth shot when a team has moved to the non-volley zone. The goal is to hit the ball deep to keep opponents near the baseline.
Tony Roig explained, “The purpose of the punch volley is to try and keep these opponents as far back as possible during the rally.”
By hitting a strong punch volley, the returning team can stay in control and avoid errors like hitting the ball into the net. Tony Roig said this shot helps reduce mistakes and makes it harder for opponents to score. It is better to make them hit from farther away.
He demonstrated this by showing game footage where he and his partner Tom made several strong punch volleys that kept opponents David and Brian pinned back. In earlier footage, he pointed out a mistake where he smashed a ball into the net.
“That’s what we don’t want to do with a punch volley,” he said.
Later, he showed better examples, saying, “Tom does a good one here, nice simple, keep him back.” He continued, “I hit a little more aggressive but still nice and deep.” This approach made it easier for their team to keep control of the rally.
Tony Roig added, “If you have that opportunity to put it away, you can, but we’re not trying to put balls away that are around here. We’re just punching those back, keeping them back.”
The Second Must-Have Shot: Effective Defensive Dink
The second shot Tony Roig recommended is the defensive dink. He explained it is used when a player is in trouble and needs to stay in the rally. A defensive dink is a soft shot that drops into the non-volley zone to stop an opponent’s attack.
Tony Roig described the shot as simple and focused on control. “I’m in trouble, so I’m going to use the non-volley zone which is the key to playing good pickleball and the net. That combination to implement a dink right defensively.”
This shot is helpful in preventing powerful returns and gives the player time to recover. “The purpose of the defensive dink is to extend the rally,” Tony Roig said.
He then showed match footage to support his point. In one clip, he used a third-shot drop, calling it “literally a defensive dink.” After a good serve return by Tom, Tony Roig hit a soft shot over the net.
He said, “All I want to do here is get the ball over the net… What can I do there that’s not going to be a popup, not going to be a disaster, is a defensive dink.”
Tom, the opponent, was not able to attack this shot. It gave Tony and his partner time to move to the net and stay in control of the game.
Advantages of Gaining These Two Shots
Tony Roig outlined three main benefits of learning both the punch volley and defensive dink.
First, it becomes harder for opponents to score points. Second, players who use these shots correctly can score more points by forcing errors. Lastly, players feel more comfortable during games because they know how to handle pressure situations.
“These advantages translate to just playing really good 3.5 pickleball,” Tony Roig said. He encouraged players to continue learning and offered a free guide to help with shot improvement.
Tony Roig also invited players to join the Better Pickleball Academy for further training and support.
News in Brief: Tony Roig’s Pickleball Shots
Coach Tony Roig shared two key shots every 3.5 pickleball player should learn: the punch volley and defensive dink. These shots improve control, reduce mistakes, and boost confidence on the court. Mastering them helps players win more points and stay in rallies longer, leading to smarter and stronger play.
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