A volley feint is a “fake-out” move. It is when you make your body look like it is going to hit the ball one way, but you actually hit it another way at the last second.
It is designed to trick your opponent into moving the wrong way so they can’t reach the real shot.
The Two Main Ways to Fake
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The Power Fake: You swing your paddle back fast like you are going to smash the ball hard. Instead of hitting it hard, you gently tap it so it drops short over the net.
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The Direction Fake: You point your chest and eyes toward one side of the court. Right as you hit the ball, you turn your wrist to send it to the opposite side.
Why It Works
In pickleball, players try to guess where the ball is going by watching their paddle. By “faking” your movement, you force them to commit to a guess. Once they start moving the wrong way, they usually can’t stop in time to get to your actual shot.
How to Do It
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Sell the lie: Use your whole body (shoulders and eyes) to show where you want them to think the ball is going.
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Be quick: Keep the change of direction small and fast.
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Don’t overdo it: If you do it every time, the other team will stop falling for it.
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