Volley
Backhand volley
A compact backhand volley that protects the body and middle against fast balls.
Technique
Keep the paddle in front and the elbow slightly clear of your body.
Contact in front with stable shoulders.
Take a small adjustment step before choosing direction.
Common errors
Taking the paddle back.
Opening the elbow and losing contact with the centre of the paddle face.
Hitting everything hard, even when it arrives low.
Tactics
Prioritise protecting the middle.
Use a short angle only when contacting in front.
Switch to a block when the exchange overwhelms you.
Progression
Block through the middle.
Straight and crosscourt direction.
Hands battles with random decisions.
Drills
Take it onto court
Backhand wall
Stabilise the block
Maintain a fast series through the middle with minimal movement and automatic recovery.
Three windows
Broaden placement
Alternate the body, middle and gap without changing the size of your preparation.
Educational reference · Rubric v1
What each score means
This rubric explains what to look for in a shot; reading it is not an individual assessment. Its descriptors do not certify your level and are not PPP Performance Assessment results, which retain each assessment’s source and results separately.
Technique
Cannot yet keep the paddle centred, elbow free and backhand contact in front; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can keep the paddle centred, elbow free and backhand contact in front occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can keep the paddle centred, elbow free and backhand contact in front at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to keep the paddle centred, elbow free and backhand contact in front under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently keep the paddle centred, elbow free and backhand contact in front in real, competitive play.
Consistency
Cannot yet repeat blocks and volleys in fast exchanges; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can repeat blocks and volleys in fast exchanges occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can repeat blocks and volleys in fast exchanges at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to repeat blocks and volleys in fast exchanges under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently repeat blocks and volleys in fast exchanges in real, competitive play.
Control
Cannot yet absorb or redirect pace with minimal movement; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can absorb or redirect pace with minimal movement occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can absorb or redirect pace with minimal movement at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to absorb or redirect pace with minimal movement under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently absorb or redirect pace with minimal movement in real, competitive play.
Placement
Cannot yet protect the middle and find the body or gap; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can protect the middle and find the body or gap occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can protect the middle and find the body or gap at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to protect the middle and find the body or gap under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently protect the middle and find the body or gap in real, competitive play.
Decision-making
Cannot yet choose a block, redirection or acceleration according to height and pace; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can choose a block, redirection or acceleration according to height and pace occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can choose a block, redirection or acceleration according to height and pace at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to choose a block, redirection or acceleration according to height and pace under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently choose a block, redirection or acceleration according to height and pace in real, competitive play.
Player Development
Connect this shot to your development
Connect what you learn to your match play: choose a situation, try the practice suggestions and review what you notice afterwards.