Main Body
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