A volley is any ball hit out of the air. At the kitchen line, volleys are short, punchy motions with almost no backswing. Your paddle should sit out in front of your chest, ready, before the ball arrives.
The best volleyers are the ones who are ready first. Keep the paddle up, keep your knees bent, and let the opponent's pace do the work.
Key cues
- 1Paddle up, at chest height, before the ball is hit
- 2Punch through the ball, no backswing
- 3Keep the wrist firm
- 4Return to ready position immediately
Common mistakes
- Dropping the paddle below the waist between shots
- Big backswings that arrive late
- Volleying balls that should be let go out