Tip: Choke up on the Volley

One of the surest ways to flub a volley is to take a big swing. Many players make this mistake because they don’t know what a compact volley feels like. Here’s an easy way to learn. First, choke up on your racquet until two or three of your fingers are behind the string bed. Stand close to the net and have your partner throw a few balls to you that you tap back over the net. Continue to do this as you gradually slide your hand down the throat until you’re holding the grip as you normally would. You can do the same thing on the backhand volley by choking up so that your thumb is behind the strings. This simple exercise should give you the sense of punching instead of swinging on the volley.