How to Win More 4th Shot Points in Pickleball With Better Counterattacks

Main Points

• Take balls out of the air whenever possible to save time and create a more offensive contact point.
• Use different attacks based on contact height, including swinging volleys, rolls, flicks, and controlled off-the-bounce counters.
• On the forehand, high balls can be attacked with a swinging volley, while lower balls are better handled with a roll or a disciplined bounce attack.
• On the backhand, high balls call for a full swinging volley, net-level balls can be flicked, and slightly lower balls can be rolled with top spin.
• Against drive-drop patterns, hit a deep, controlled counter first, then look to apply pressure on the next ball instead of overhitting.
• If your counter is weak or sits up, stay grounded and be ready for another drive instead of leaning in too early.
• When opponents crash in behind aggressive top spin drops, keep the ball low and away from the middle to limit poaching and angles.
• Smart options against aggressive transition pressure include a low angle dink, a short ball to the middle, or a controlled half-volley dink at higher levels.

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Summary

This video breaks down how to handle one of the most important transition moments in pickleball, the 4th shot. The focus is on taking control with offense, but doing it in a way that does not give away easy points. The key is to recognize ball height, choose the right contact point, and stay disciplined with your shot selection.

On both the forehand and backhand sides, the goal is to take the ball early whenever possible. High balls can be attacked with more aggressive swinging volleys, while balls around net height or slightly below can be handled with rolls, flicks, or other top spin-driven shots. If the ball is too low, the smarter play is to create space and attack off the bounce instead of forcing a bad contact.

The video also covers common transition patterns, especially the drive-drop exchange. When opponents drive, the best response is a deep, controlled counter that keeps the ball low and forces another difficult shot. After that, the player should look to continue pressing with a volley, flick, or roll into the feet of the opponents who are still moving in.

Against aggressive top spin drops, the emphasis shifts to control and placement. Keeping the ball low, avoiding the middle when needed, and choosing safer angles can reduce poaching and stop aggressive teams from taking over the point. The overall message is simple: apply pressure with purpose, but keep enough margin to stay in the rally and win the next ball.

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Tags: 4th Shot | Backhand | Briones Pickleball Academy | Counter | Defense | Dink | Drill