Punch volley

The punch volley is executed by taking a very short and compact swing.

On most volleys, the racquet is never taken back past the shoulders. In the punch volley, the racquet is moved quickly forward and slightly down, giving a bit of underspin to the ball. This is the volley most people think of when talking about a traditional net game.

Coaches often say to “punch” the ball. While the word “punch” is a bit of a misnomer, it is called a punch volley because you need to supply a bit of forward momentum to the racquet to give the ball some pace. Additionally, stepping forward and into the ball with the opposite foot helps generate even more pace.

This volley type is most often used on medium pace balls that are higher than the net. If the ball drops under the net and is volleyed the punch volley becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to hit. In doubles, this is the type of volley that will be used the most by the person playing the net. The punch volley is a crucial volley for executing a great net attack.