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Technique 01

The Forehand Volley

The body moves to the ball; the racket stays simple.

A good forehand volley doesn't require a large swing. We prepare by turning and loading the inside leg, keep the racket organized in front of the body, and then move toward the incoming ball. The body's movement provides the momentum while the racket stays controlled.

Illustrated overview of the forehand volley, subtitled: the body moves to the ball, the racket stays simple. One, ready position — start in an athletic stance, balanced and alert, racket in front. Two, turn and set — turn about 45 degrees and shift weight onto the right, inside foot; the left foot is light with the knee turned inward; the racket head is above and slightly behind the hand; the elbow is in front of the midsection. Three, move through — step to the actual location of the ball; as you step the racket moves forward and slightly inward; the structure of the arm stays stable and compact; the body provides the momentum; contact is out in front with the elbow in front of the body. Key idea: a good forehand volley is compact and controlled — we prepare with a small turn, move to the ball, and keep the racket simple through contact.
The specifics are the lesson: forty-five degrees, the elbow in front, contact out ahead of the body. Everything else is the feet.

How We Work On It

01

Ready position

Begin in a balanced, athletic ready position with both hands on the racket and the racket comfortably in front of the body. From here, we're prepared to react in either direction.

02

Load, turn and set

As soon as we recognize the forehand volley, we turn approximately 45 degrees and shift our weight onto the inside leg — the right leg for a right-handed player. The opposite leg becomes light and available to move toward the ball.

At the same time, the racket opens outward from the hand without the elbow swinging backward or away from the body. The elbow remains comfortably in front of the midsection while the hand moves outward to establish the racket position.

The racket head stays above and slightly behind the hand, creating a small “L” between the hand and racket. The opposite arm extends forward and slightly upward for balance.

The important distinction is that we're setting the racket, not taking a backswing. The hand moves out; the elbow stays forward.

Illustration of a player at the net turning for a forehand volley, weight shifted onto the inside leg with the other foot light, the racket set with its head above and slightly behind the hand and the elbow in front of the body. Labelled: load turn and set — turn and shift weight onto your inside leg so the opposite leg becomes light and free; set the racket with the head above and slightly behind your hand, elbow in front; stay balanced and ready to move in any direction.
The hand moves out and the elbow stays forward. That is the whole difference between setting the racket and taking it back.

03

Step to the ball

Once we're loaded and set, we step toward where the ball actually is.

That does not necessarily mean stepping across the body. A wider ball requires a wider step; a ball closer to the body requires a different path. The purpose of the step is to move the body toward the contact point while transferring the weight off the loaded inside leg.

The ball determines the direction of the step.

Illustration of a player at the net stepping forward toward an oncoming ball for a forehand volley, the racket held out in front and the body moving to meet the ball. Labelled: step to the ball — move toward the actual location of the ball; we don't step across the body, we step to the ball; that step can take us in different directions.
Not a rehearsed step in a fixed direction. Where it goes is decided by the ball.

04

Pull through

As we step, the arms begin moving inward through the volley. Think of the motion of a chest machine: the structure moves inward from the elbows rather than the racket being swung independently by the hand.

The shape we established during preparation stays largely intact. The elbow remains in front, the racket head stays above the hand, and the small “L” between the racket and hand is maintained as we move through contact.

This is what keeps the volley compact. We're not throwing the racket forward or adding a groundstroke-style swing. We set the structure, step toward the ball, and carry that structure inward through contact.

At speed the four steps are one short movement — and the shape set in step two is still there at contact.

A short silent loop of a forehand volley at the net: a compact turn onto the inside leg, a step toward the ball, and the arms carrying the set racket structure inward through contact with no groundstroke follow-through.

Next →The Backhand Volley

Want to work through this on court?

Lessons are private, so a step takes as long as it takes — nobody moves on before the one underneath it holds up.

Ask About Lessons→All volley lessons
R1RallyWonDerek Kedigh · Dallas, TX