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Volleys are an important ingredient of attacking play and one of the
most exciting shots to watch. However, some
players are reluctant to come to the net and so they never properly
develop their volleys. During warm-up sessions, it is advisable to spend
sufficient time practising volleys.
 Here are some points to remember when volleying
(both forehand and backhand): 1. Use the 'continental' ('hammer')
grip. This allows you to hit the ball on either side of your body
without changing your grip. When you're at the net, you won't have time
to be changing grips. 2. Stand at the net in the 'ready' position,
with knees slightly bent and your racket held a little higher than usual
(i.e. with the racket head at about shoulder height). This is a good
height from which to volley. You should be balanced. 3. As soon as the
ball leaves your opponent's racket, determine which side you will be
volley on and get into position. Don't take your racket back too far.
Use a short backswing, so that you can move the racket quickly and
accurately.
4. Watch the ball closely. Contact should be made when the ball is
out in front of your body and it should be a forward 'punching' motion.
5. The racket face should slide under the ball slightly to give more
control. The follow through should be short.
 Backhand Volley
For the backhand volley, it is better to use only one hand to hold the
racket. The other hand may initially be used to position the racket but
using only one hand for this volley will result in greater reach and
accuracy.
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