Main Points

• The fourth shot is one of the best opportunities to pressure opponents as they transition to the kitchen.
• The biggest improvement comes from recognizing whether the ball will be higher after it bounces than it is in the air.
• Avoid automatically taking every fourth shot out of the air.
• If a slow, floating ball will bounce higher than your current contact point, step back and attack it after the bounce.
• Attacking from a higher contact point allows for more aggressive shots with better control and margin.
• Fast, linear balls should usually be taken out of the air because they will bounce too deep before reaching their peak.
• Judge every fourth shot based on two factors:
  • Ball height
  • Ball pace
• General guidelines:
  • Fast and high: Attack out of the air.
  • Fast and low: Volley or concede with a controlled shot.
  • Slow and low: Usually take it out of the air and concede.
  • Slow and floating: Let it bounce if it will rise to a higher contact point.
• When opponents stay back after their third shot, reaching forward to volley can keep them pinned behind the baseline.
• Against opponents actively moving forward, letting a floating ball bounce higher often creates a more aggressive attack and forces them to hesitate.
• For high bounce attacks against opponents still in the midcourt, use a larger “around-the-ball” swing to generate heavy topspin and pace.
• When opponents are closing quickly, use a shorter snap swing to recover faster for the next shot.
• Choose between maximum power or faster recovery depending on your opponents’ position.

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Summary

This video explains how to improve fourth-shot decision-making by recognizing when it is better to let the ball bounce rather than automatically volleying it. While many players are taught to always take the ball out of the air, that advice becomes less effective as competition improves. Modern paddles generate more spin and higher bounces, making some fourth shots much more attackable after the bounce.

The key concept is comparing your potential contact point in the air with the height the ball will reach after bouncing. If a slow, floating third shot is going to rise higher after the bounce, backing up slightly and attacking from the higher contact point creates more offensive pressure. This allows you to drive the ball with greater pace, topspin, and consistency while making it much harder for opponents to complete their transition to the kitchen.

Not every ball should be allowed to bounce. Fast, linear third shots should generally be taken out of the air because they continue traveling deep before reaching their highest point. Likewise, low balls with significant pace often require a controlled volley or concession rather than an aggressive attack. The video emphasizes evaluating both the height and pace of every incoming ball before deciding whether to volley or let it bounce.

The video also covers two different attack techniques once the ball has bounced. If opponents are still in the midcourt or hanging back, a larger swing that wraps around the outside of the ball can generate exceptional topspin and pace. However, when opponents are closing quickly, a compact snapping motion is preferred because it allows for a faster recovery and prepares you to defend or attack the next shot.

By improving ball-height recognition and adjusting your swing based on your opponents’ positioning, you can create stronger fourth-shot attacks, disrupt your opponents’ transition, and gain control of more rallies against higher-level pickleball players.

Source: Richard Pickleball | YouTube

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Tags: 4th Shot | Forehand Attack | Hands Battle | pickleball fourth shot strategy | Pressure Pattern | Richard PIckleball | Strategy