Train Like a Pro: Essential Tennis Volley Drills to Elevate Your Academy

Pratheeksha Mani
April 3, 2025
11 min read

The match is tied, the crowd is on edge, and your player charges the net, ready to put the point away. But instead of a clean, confident shot, he jabs at the ball, sends it sailing past the baseline, or freezes completely. Sounds familiar? 

Well, this split-second exchange at the net is called a tennis volley—a precise, controlled shot executed before the ball touches the ground, designed to take charge of the point and apply pressure on the opponent.

Tennis volley isn’t just about reaction—it’s about positioning, control, and smart decision-making. That’s why your academy needs a solid volley training plan that goes beyond basic techniques. In this blog, we will delve deeper into understanding essential tennis volley drills that could help your players sharpen their net skills, improve reaction time, and finish points with confidence. Let’s dive in! 

Why tennis volley skills matter

Tennis volley has several advantages. It helps players win points faster, take good control of the net, and improve overall court awareness. Below are some key reasons why the volley is an essential skill in tennis:

Benefits of Tennis Volley Skiils
  • Puts pressure on the opponent: Hitting the ball early at the net forces opponents to react quickly, leading to rushed shots, mistakes, or weak returns that players can easily finish.

  • Controls the pace: Volleying helps players dictate the play and keep rallies short. By cutting off angles and taking time away from their opponent, players can disrupt their rhythm and force them to adjust.

  • Creates winning opportunities: A strong tennis volley allows players to take advantage of openings and finish points at the net instead of relying only on baseline rallies.

  • Saves energy for longer matches: Since volleying leads to shorter rallies, it helps players conserve energy over long matches, making it an effective strategy.

  • Enhances doubles play: In doubles, net play is crucial. Strong tennis volley skills give the player and his partner control over the court, allowing them to dominate with aggressive positioning and quick reflexes. 

Essential tennis volley drills for beginners to master the net

When it comes to playing tennis, the net can be a player’s best friend or his biggest challenge. Acquiring essential tennis volley skills can help players master the net, but it all starts with the right practice drills. Whether you are introducing someone to tennis or fine-tuning their skills, these key volley drills will help build confidence and improve performance.

Tennis Volley Drills for Beginners

Drill 1: Forehand Open Stance

This drill focuses on footwork and weight transfer, starting with a semi-open stance, turning your hips, and then hitting the ball with a strong, balanced position.

How to practice:

  • Start in a semi-open stance, positioning your back foot slightly behind your front foot while facing the direction of your shot.
  • Practice moving towards the ball using a crossover step to cover the ground efficiently and get into position.
  • As you step into the shot, shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot, establishing a strong foundation for a controlled and powerful shot.

Drill 2: Backhand Open Stance

This drill focuses on engaging your outside leg, pushing off the ground for power, exploding into the shot, and quickly recovering.

How to practice:

  • Position your outside foot behind the ball.
  • Bend your knee and center your weight on your back foot for balance.
  • Drive forward into the shot, shifting your weight onto your front foot for power.
  • After hitting the ball, quickly shift your weight back to a balanced position.

Drill 3: Double Split and Attack Shots

This drill sharpens footwork, reaction time, and offensive play by combining quick split steps with aggressive, controlled shots.

How to practice:

  • Split your steps as your opponent makes contact with the ball.
  • Take two quick split steps in succession, then move swiftly toward the ball.
  • Focus on hitting aggressive shots to gain control of the point.

Drill 4: Four Shot Ground Strokes

This drill focuses on consistency, control, and shot placement by alternating forehand and backhand shots crosscourt and down the line. It enhances footwork, balance, and rhythm to build a solid baseline game.

How to practice:

  • Position yourself at the center of the baseline.
  • Switch between forehand and backhand shots, aiming crosscourt and down the line.
  • Maintain a steady rhythm, precise footwork, and a strong, balanced stance for better control.

These drills lay the foundation for building solid, consistent groundstrokes and footwork. As your players progress, it is time to introduce advanced tennis volley drills for teams. These drills will challenge their reflexes, positioning, and control, elevating their game to the next level and preparing them for competitive play.

Advanced tennis volley drills for group players 

As a tennis academy, your focus is on helping players develop their skills and techniques, and consistent practice is key to their progress. Group tennis volley drills offer a great way to achieve this, providing a fun and collaborative environment where players can sharpen their abilities while strengthening team bonds.

Advanced Tennis Volley Drills

Drill 1: Four Corners

The Four Corners drill focuses on improving accuracy and consistency. By requiring players to hit the ball to specific targets in each corner of the court, this tennis volley drill helps refine control and precision while reinforcing proper technique.

How to get started:

  • Place cones at each of the four corners of the court.
  • Have players take turns hitting the ball to each cone, switching between forehands and backhands.
  • Emphasize accuracy and precision, aiming to land the ball near each cone rather than focusing on power.
  • Incorporate different shot types, such as volleys or overheads, to add variety and challenge.
  • Boost intensity by setting a time limit to complete the drill.

Drill 2: Lob Volley 

This drill sharpens reaction time, footwork, and positioning, which are crucial for handling a high-arching shot effectively and maintaining control at the net. By practicing both overhead smashes and net shots in quick succession, players develop the skills needed to dominate at the net in competitive matches.

How to get started:

  • Pair up players at the net, with one sending high shots from the opposite side.
  • Have the net player move back for an overhead, then quickly return to the net for a volley while the feeder continues to send high shots to keep the rally going.
  • Focus on technique, ensuring proper footwork, weight transfer, and balance for both shots.
  • Challenge players by increasing the height and depth of the high shots to keep the drill dynamic.
  • Rotate roles after a set number of reps to give both players equal practice.


Drill 3: Rapid Fire

This drill focuses on sharpening reflexes, enhancing footwork, and improving quick decision-making under pressure. By keeping the ball in play at a fast pace with minimal bounces, players enhance their ability to react swiftly and maintain control in high-speed exchanges. It also strengthens hand-eye coordination, balance, and overall court coverage.

How to get started:

  • Pair up players on opposite sides of the court, starting inside the baseline.
  • Have players engage in a fast-paced rally, keeping the ball in play with only one bounce allowed.
  • Focus on short, controlled strokes for quick adjustments.
  • Reduce reaction time by moving players closer to the net or using smaller targets.
  • Switch partners frequently to give players experience against different styles and speeds.

Drill 4: Lob and Smash

This drill focuses on improving a player's ability to track and return shots while executing powerful overhead smashes. It enhances timing, footwork, and positioning, the key skills needed to handle high shots effectively. Consistent training in overhead smashes improves a player’s ability to execute decisive shots and remain steady under pressure.

How to get started:

  • Position one player at the baseline as the feeder and the other near the service line, ready to hit overhead smashes.
  • Have the feeder send a high shot, and the receiving player moves into position to execute an overhead smash.
  • Focus on early preparation, correct grip, and weight transfer to generate power and accuracy.
  • Adjust the height, depth, and spin of shots or add movement drills before the smash to simulate match conditions.
  • Have players switch positions after a set number of reps to practice both feeding and smashing.

Coaching tips for effective tennis volley training

Volleys are a key part of a player’s skill set, especially for those who love to dominate at the net. Take a player like Jake, for example, who excels at getting to the net but struggles with consistency and timing when executing shots. With focused volley training, Jake can sharpen his technique, improve his reflexes, and gain better control at the net. Here’s how you can help players like Jake take their volley game to the next level.

Tennis Volley Training Tips

1. Focus on the Continental grip: Remind your players that the Continental grip is key to executing both forehand and backhand volleys effectively, giving them more control during fast exchanges.

2. Emphasize footwork: Encourage your players to focus on quick, light footwork, using a split step to stay agile and ready for every volley that comes their way.

3. Practice from the net position: Have your players approach the net and practice volleys from different positions. This will help them get comfortable with volleying under varied match scenarios.

4. Develop short, controlled follow-through: Teach them to keep their follow-through short and crisp, as this will help them maintain control and improve the consistency of their volleys.

5. Use targeted drills: Set specific target zones for volleys (like the corners or sidelines) to improve their accuracy and ability to place the ball where it is difficult for opponents to reach.

6. Incorporate high-speed drills: Push your players with fast-paced drills to sharpen their reflexes. The quicker the rally, the better they will get at handling volleys under pressure.

7. Work on low and high volleys: Mix up the drills with low and high volleys to ensure your players are prepared for every shot, whether the ball is coming low or high over the net.

8. Teach Consistency: Encourage your players to focus on consistency in their volleys—staying calm and aiming for accurate shots, rather than going for power all the time.

9. Simulate match scenarios: Run live ball drills and match-like scenarios so your players can experience the pressure of real game situations. This helps them develop mental toughness and the ability to perform under pressure.

To develop great volleys, focused coaching is crucial, but running a tennis academy is no cakewalk. Admin tasks like class scheduling, student enrollment, attendance tracking, and payments can consume most of your time and effort, pulling you away from the court. Classcard makes these tasks easier, so you can spend more time helping your players improve their volleys and succeed on the court. See how Archibald Sports Academy leveled up with Classcard to maximize time on the court.


Build a winning culture and elevate your academy with tennis volley drills

“Success is no accident; it’s hard work, perseverance, and learning from failure."

When it comes to tennis, mastering the volley is a perfect example of this philosophy. It is not just about getting to the net; it is about being quick on your feet, staying calm under pressure, and knowing when to strike. Tennis volley drills help players build not only their technical skills but also their mental strength. They learn to react in the moment, control the pace of the game, and consistently execute under pressure.

By incorporating more volley drills into your academy’s training, you will be creating an environment where players don’t shy away from tough situations. They will learn to embrace challenges, knowing that with practice and focus, they can come out on top. This culture of perseverance, resilience, and constant improvement will shape your academy’s success, producing players who are ready to compete at their best both mentally and physically.

FAQs

  1. How do tennis volley drills improve a player’s match performance?

By simulating match-like scenarios in practice, volley drills help players get comfortable executing under pressure. They develop the ability to react quickly, maintain balance, and place volleys strategically in real match situations, which are all vital for winning points at the net.

  1. How often should a player practice tennis volley drills?

To see noticeable improvement, practicing volley drills at least 2-3 times a week is ideal. Consistent practice, combined with match play, helps reinforce skills and build confidence at the net.

  1. Are tennis volley drills suitable for all skill levels?

Yes, volley drills can be adapted for all levels. For beginners, the focus is on basic technique and control, while intermediate and advanced players work on refining their volleys under pressure and with higher intensity.

  1. What is the role of the continental grip in tennis volley drills?

The continental grip is essential for volleys as it allows players to handle both forehand and backhand volleys with greater control and versatility. Drills focusing on this grip help players make quick, precise volleys while maintaining balance and stability.

  1. What’s the most common mistake players make during tennis volley drills?

A common mistake is poor positioning, such as not staying low enough or not maintaining a balanced stance. Ensuring players keep their knees slightly bent and their racquet ready is crucial for effective volley execution.

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Pratheeksha Mani
A marketer who thrives on the intersection of storytelling and strategy. With over 6 years of experience in content strategy, brand building, and social media marketing, she’s passionate about crafting narratives that resonate deeply and stick long after the scroll. Beyond work, she’s often immersed in stories—flipping through books, reflecting on life’s big questions, or exploring the intricacies of the human mind.

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