At this stage, the player also starts to lay the groundwork for volley choices. When hitting a knee-level volley from around the service line, a player may choose to hit a "building" volley that is deep in the opponent's court and allows for more progress toward the net and a more offensive position. If the opponent's shot is floating softly, this may be an opportunity to close quickly and finish the point with a high-volley winner. Adjusting to the situation is a critical factor at the preparation stage.
Impact
Hitting a successful volley begins with the transfer of energy through the kinetic chain into the ball. This movement starts from the feet and culminates with the racquet. There's an old saying that good volleying is done from the legs. The best volleyers understand the importance of moving their body forward and into the shot. The general rule is to step forward with the non-dominant foot on a forehand and with the dominant foot on a backhand. The only swinging motion on a standard volley is the uncoiling of the shoulders to bring the racquet to the contact point.
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World-class volley technique approach the art of acceleration-deceleration. A compact, violent acceleration through contact is needed, followed by an abrupt deceleration of the racquet head. Using a large swing causes issues related to control and consistency.
The player should time the impact so that the racquet meets the ball just in front of the hitting shoulder with a square racquet face, as though catching the ball on the strings. The player should drive the racquet through impact with a short, controlled follow-through. This is often referred to as a punching motion, but think of it as a jab rather than a roundhouse hook. A compact volley motion uses the pace of the opponent's passing shot and redirects it back to the desired location.
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