Player practice guide
Drop Volley Shot Drill
15 min Coach / feederIntermediate–AdvancedMatch play
Learn how to hit soft drop volley
Best for: net players who can control a backhand volley and want to create a sharper short angle.
Goal
Hold a stable backhand volley shape while sending the second ball softly across the net into a crosscourt drop target.
Success today
Land 5 of 8 deep-then-crosscourt-drop pairs in both targets without changing the preparation early.
Watch before court
Technique reference
How to Hit a DROP VOLLEY - Touch Shot Tennis Lesson: Part 1 · 10:30
Technique reference—not the full drill. Watch the contact height, open racket face and absorption used to control a drop volley.
Open video on YouTubeArrive ready
Before you go
- One hitting partner who can feed from the baseline
- 16+ tennis balls
- 4 flat cones
- Approximately 15 minutes of court time
Court blueprint
Set up the court
Play the first backhand volley deep through the middle, then guide the second softly across the net into the short crosscourt target before returning to centre.
- Ball direction
- Recovery
- Target zone
- 01Mark a deep middle target and a short crosscourt service-box target.
- 02Start near the centre service line.
- 03Ask for two matching backhand feeds per repetition.
Step by step
Your 15-minute practice
0–3 min
Feel the crosscourt face
- Guide four slow feeds into the short target.
- Keep the hand ahead of the racket head.
3–7 min
Establish depth
- Drive the first ball of each pair through the deep target.
- Recover one step towards centre.
7–11 min
Add the disguised drop
- Use the same preparation and soften the second ball crosscourt.
- Follow the ball only after it clears the net.
8 pairs · 4 min
Complete eight pairs
- Score one pair when both targets are hit.
- Aim for five complete pairs.
Remember
Three player cues
- Hand leads the racket face.
- Hide the soft contact.
- Recover before admiring the angle.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Turning the shoulders too far for the crosscourt drop
- Opening the face before the feed arrives
- Trying to create angle with a large swing
Keep the same purpose
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Begin closer to the net and use the full crosscourt service box as the drop target.
Make it harder
Ask the partner to vary feed pace and require six successful pairs from eight.
Keep it safe
Pause to clear balls inside the service boxes before repeating the forward volley position.
Continue later