Home › Guides › The volley: why it is not a swing, it is a block
Technique
The volley: why it is not a swing, it is a block
The most counterintuitive shot in tennis, the grip you must use, and the mistake 90% of club players make at net.
The volley is the shot where most people do exactly the opposite of what they should. Everything you learned from the baseline does not apply.
You do not swing at it: you block it
The most common error is taking the racquet back and hitting the volley like a forehand. At net there is no time for that, and no need: the ball already has pace, and your job is to direct it, not accelerate it.
A volley is a short movement, almost a firm push forward. Preparation is minimal: the racquet stays in front of the body.
Continental grip, no exceptions
With continental you can volley forehand and backhand without changing grip, and at net there is no time to change anything. If you volley with a forehand grip, the backhand volley becomes impossible. See tennis grips.
Racquet up and in front
The racquet head stays above the wrist and always in front of the body. The moment the head drops below the wrist, you lose control and the ball goes long or into the net.
The feet volley too
A volley is played stepping forward with the opposite leg, moving into the ball. Volleying flat-footed is what produces those soft volleys an opponent passes without effort.
The low volley is a different shot
If the ball is below net height you cannot attack it: bend the knees, open the racquet face slightly and play it deep or short, but without force. Trying to win the point from there is giving it away.