A large backswing makes you late.
Shorten preparation and let footwork bring the face to the ball.
OPEN COURT SKILL STUDIO
Volley: compact action & stable face
Meet the ball before its bounce with a compact action and active footwork.
TENNIS · 10 minutes focused practice
1. Use a continental grip and hold the racket in front and to the side at a comfortable practice distance from the net.
Diagrams explain direction, not prescribed joint angles. Orange shows the ball or movement direction. Adapt your stance to the incoming ball.
Step-by-step technique
- 1
Use a continental grip and hold the racket in front and to the side at a comfortable practice distance from the net.
- 2
Turn toward the volley side with a short preparation, keeping the racket from dropping behind you.
- 3
Meet the ball in front and to the side with a stable face and a step toward it, without a wrist flick.
- 4
Reset immediately. Control low volleys instead of forcing a downward put-away.
Common mistakes & fixes
An overly open face floats the ball.
Use gentle feeds to check face control without lifting the wrist at contact.
Court drill
Alternate eight forehand and eight backhand gentle feeds, returning a controllable ball to your partner.
Self-check
Does the racket return in front before the next feed, without a large finish blocking your view?
Match application
Use placement to build the point at the net rather than trying to finish every first volley.
