6. Volley

A tennis volley is returning the ball to your opponent without the ball bouncing on the ground. A volley is known as an offensive shot which is normally performed when the players are at or near the net. There are two types of volley: the forehand volley and the backhand volley.

To hit a forehand volley, the player:

• Faces the net in an athletic stance with both hands on the racket
• Approaches the ball with non-dominant foot and the racket to the right of the body
• “Punches” the ball (without swinging)
• Has no follow through and taps the ball over the net

Watch the instructional video on how to perform a forehand volley

To hit a backhand volley, the player:

• Faces the net in an athletic stance with both hands on the racket
• Approaches the ball with dominant foot and the racket to the left of the body
• “Punches” the ball (without swinging)
• Has no follow through and taps ball over the net

Watch the instructional video on how to perform a backhand volley

Half-Volley

A half-volley is a defensive shot and is known as one of the most challenging shots in tennis. Half-volleys are hit off the bounce as a short hop. Before the ball reaches knee-height, the player scoops it over the net. These can be hit from anywhere in the court.

To hit a half-volley, the player:

• Stays low to the ground with a deep knee bend
• Moves to meet the ball on the bounce with the front foot
• Contacts the ball with a very short swing
• Remains low after contact with a short follow through