The Volley On The Move Drill

How do most people practice their volleys?
Generally, one player will stand at the net while the other hits balls to them from the baseline or the two are volleying from inside the boxes.

This is great, except for one thing: Seldom are you ever in a stationary position when volleying. Most of your volleys will be hit while moving forward toward the net. Practicing the volley from a stationary position is great to perfect your technique and develop some ball control, but you must also learn to approach, volley and hit overheads while in motion.

So let me explain the above drill.

Two players A and B starton opposite baselines – A feeds a mid court ball to B (B1). B plays a mid court approach deep to A and then moves forward to B2 – A hits back to B2 and B plays a deep volley, again back to A, and moves forward to B3.
A plays a lob for B to move back to around the B3 zone and B plays a smash that allows A to move forward.Meanwhile B has gone back to the baseline, and now A plays the approach, then volley and then smash.

Remember that this is a “buddy” drill, and so quite alot of control is needed to complete a few rounds.

This drill is fantastic for footwork, balance and ball control. In the beginning you should keep the pace slow. The more advanced you become the more the pace can be increased. Also, if you are getting tired too quickly you may add volleys to the drill to slow it down. So instead of coming to the net and hitting one volley before moving back for the overhead, you may hit two, three or even four to slow the movement down.
Remember, you are trying to work together to keep one ball going.

This drill may also be done crosscourt to practice the movement and balance for doubles.

Have fun