thumb|Motion of hitting a volley

A volley in tennis is a shot where the ball is struck before it bounces on the ground. Typically, a player hits a volley while standing near the net, though it can be executed further back, in the middle of the tennis court, or even near the baseline. The word derives from M. French volée meaning flight.

The primary objective of the volley is to go on the offensive and cut the amount of time for the opponent to react. Another advantage is that a player eliminates any possibility of a bad bounce from an uneven surface, such as on some grass and clay courts. Also, if near the net, a volleyer has a wider choice of angles to hit into the opponent's court. However, quick reflexes and hand–eye coordination are required to execute this shot. The primary means of countering a volley are the passing shot and the lob.

Generally, a player who advances to the net in the serve-and-volley-style game will make the initial volley fairly near the service line. The player will then move closer to the net in hopes of making a put-away volley for a winning point. It is difficult to hit an effective volley in the area between the baseline and the service line, and consequently this is often called "no man's land".

Hitting a volley and variants

thumb|[[Jo-Wilfried Tsonga seen in 2011 doing a jump volley]]

It is important to not swing at the ball when volleying. with an open racquet face and given topspin or backspin. It is popular in women's tennis. The racquet contacts the ball almost at surface level. The lower the ball comes at the volleyer, the more difficult this shot becomes, as it requires both adaptive thinking and quick reflexes. In such cases, it can be more advantageous to let the ball bounce and immediately hit the return on the rise rather than attempt to volley it. Some notable half volley experts included players such as: John McEnroe, Patrick Rafter, and Leander Paes.

References

See also

  • Glossary of tennis terms
  • Tennis shots
  • Video: Tips for a good volley
  • Video: How to volley
  • Tennis Training Aids: Tip on Volley

simple:Tennis#Shots