Stop Popping Up Your Volleys: The Block-and-Redirect Fix
Quick answer
Popped-up and floated volleys almost always come from swinging at the ball. The fix is to block, not swing. Keep a short backswing, a firm wrist, and meet the ball out in front with the racket face slightly open. You redirect the pace that is already there instead of making your own.
On this page
Why your volleys pop up or float long
At the net you have a fraction of the time you get at the baseline. If you take a backswing, the racket arrives late, the face opens up, and the ball balloons. The other version is the wristy slap that sails long. Both come from treating the volley like a groundstroke when it is closer to a catch.
The block-and-redirect fix
- 1Start with the racket out in front, head above your wrist. No takeback behind your shoulder.
- 2Meet the ball in front of your body with a firm wrist, like catching it on the strings.
- 3Move the racket forward and slightly down through contact, aiming the face where you want the ball.
- 4Step in with the opposite foot so your body, not your arm, carries the ball.
Keep the wrist firm, not stiff
A loose wrist flops the face open and pops the ball up. Hold it firm at contact so the strings stay stable. You are absorbing pace and pointing it, not whipping at the ball.
What about the low volley?
On a low ball, bend your knees and get the racket head down with the face open. Let the ball ride up off the strings with a little backspin. Do not scoop with the wrist. Bend the legs and the volley lands deep instead of in the net.
Which ball should you approach on?
Come in behind a ball that lands short and that you can hit on the rise, not off a deep defensive ball. Getting to the net is a footwork decision as much as a shot. If you arrive balanced and split step as your opponent hits, the easy volley shows up far more often.
The short version
Short backswing, firm wrist, contact in front, step in. Block the pace and point it. Save the swing for the sitter.
Frequently asked
Why do my volleys keep popping up?
The racket face is opening at contact, usually from a loose wrist or a late, scooping motion. Firm the wrist, shorten the backswing, and meet the ball in front so the face stays stable.
Should you swing at a volley?
Not on a normal volley. Block and redirect the pace already on the ball. Save a controlled swing for a high, slow sitter where you have time to drive it.
How do I stop dumping low volleys into the net?
Bend your knees instead of dropping the racket head with your wrist. Open the face slightly and let the ball ride up off the strings with a touch of backspin so it clears the net and lands deep.
Sources and further reading
Written by
Bolor Enkhbayar
Tennis coach and founder of CoachesNote
Bolor coaches serious juniors and adult competitors. She builds every weekly plan, reviews the video and match notes, and decides the next job, in person and remotely through CoachesNote.
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