Term
Putaway
Also called: Put-Away
An attacking shot hit to end the rally, aimed where the opponent cannot return it.
An attacking shot that the opponent cannot react to in time or return (Wikipedia). You hit it with control to where the opponents are not, meaning to end the rally (The Dink). When you hit a smash and win the rally, that one shot is a putaway.
When do you hit one?
Your chance comes when the opponent's ball floats up high and you can attack it (The Dink).
- A dink pops up: in an exchange at the net, the opponent's dink floats up high (The Dink)
- A return or other shot is short and high: a shallow ball floats back to you (The Dink)
- A lob is short: the opponent's lob is low and short. It is easy to hit down with an overhead smash (pickleball.com)
Common ways to hit it
- Overhead smash: hit a ball that is above your head downward from above (The Dink)
- A forehand volley hit high (The Dink)
- A volley with a full swing (a swing volley) (The Dink)
Aim for open space, sharp angles, or the opponent's feet or body (The Dink).
How to read the sources: numbers like (8.F.4) are rulebook sections, and links are outside sources. An "Author's note" is the author's personal experience, not an official rule.