volley

tennis

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

In tennis, a volley is a shot made after the ball has bounced. It is typically played at the net, and players often have an advantage when executing a volley because it is generally easier to finish a point with this type of shot compared to a groundstroke.1

A specific type of volley is the stop volley, which is a soft shot intended to land just over the net, short of an opponent's reach.2

Effective play at the net, including volleys, is crucial, especially on faster court surfaces. Players often follow their serve or an approach shot to the net to establish this advantageous position.1

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tennis
Principles of play
…correctly returned, the players may volley the ball (i.e., hit it before it bounces) or hit it after its first bounce, and the point continues until one player fails to make a correct return. This may occur if a player fails to hit the ball over the net, hits it…
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…correctly returned, the players may volley the ball (i.e., hit it before it bounces) or hit it after its first bounce, and the point continues until one player fails to make a correct return. This may occur if a player fails to hit the ball over the net, hits it…
Read More