One of the most overlooked aspects of a strong volley is weight transfer. If you’re not engaging your lower body properly, you’re missing out on power, control, and consistency. That’s why I love this drill—it helps you learn how to shift your weight efficiently through the ball, improving both your shot execution and recovery.
The Key: Turning and Transferring Weight
A lot of players struggle with staying balanced while volleying. One of the main reasons? Their weight doesn’t transfer correctly. Instead of moving smoothly through the shot, they either stay too upright or pull back too soon.
Here’s the fix:
- Turn Your Toe Toward the Target
- Your toe leads the movement. Turning your toe naturally turns your entire side, allowing you to release your weight through the shot.
- On your forehand volley (for right-handers), aim your shot toward the target in front of you. On the backhand volley, do the same but with a clear focus on directing the ball forward, not across.
- Keep Your Chest Closed
- A common mistake? Opening the chest too early. When your non-dominant hand drifts away or doesn’t stay engaged, your chest tends to open, sending the ball off-target.
- Instead, use your shoulder to “hide” your chest from your opponent, ensuring that your extension stays clean and controlled.
- Finish Before Recovering
- Many players rush their recovery, which leads to incomplete shots. Instead of hitting and immediately pulling back, focus on finishing your movement first, then transitioning smoothly into the next shot.
- This ensures you maintain control rather than just reacting to the ball.
Understanding the Lower Body’s Role
Your legs and feet play a huge role in executing volleys with precision.
- Dragging the Toe for Proper Weight Release
- If you have proper court shoes, you’ll notice the extra rubber on the toe area—that’s there for a reason!
- As you step into the volley, allow your toe to drag slightly. This movement helps release your weight and open your hips, ensuring smoother transitions between shots.
- The Distribution Step & Ground Engagement
- Your first step into the volley distributes your weight.
- Then, when you swing, push down into the ground—this will help lift your hip and propel you into the next shot.
- This is key for achieving net clearance and shot consistency.
Drill Progression: Start Without a Ball
If you’re new to this movement, start by practicing without a ball:
- Lunge Step Drill
- Step out into a lunge with your front foot.
- Let your back foot drag slightly as your hips align.
- Shift your weight forward and finish in balance.
- Side-to-Side Weight Transfer
- Move across the court alternating steps:
- Left foot forward, shift weight, pull up.
- Right foot forward, shift weight, pull up.
- This helps you feel the proper lower body engagement needed for stable, powerful volleys.
- Move across the court alternating steps:
Takeaways for Better Volleys
✅ Turn your toe to engage your whole body.
✅ Keep your chest closed to stay on target.
✅ Finish your shot before recovering.
✅ Use your toe drag to release weight efficiently.
✅ Push into the ground for better net clearance.
✅ Train without the ball first to feel the correct movement.
Master this drill, and you’ll find your volleys becoming smoother, stronger, and more controlled. Let your lower body do the work, and your shots will have power and precision without unnecessary effort.
Let’s get to work! 💪
