Player practice guide
Baseline Volley Variations
15 min PartnerIntermediateMatch play
Practise volley variations while starting from a deeper baseline position.
Best for: players learning to control firm and soft volleys from a deeper starting position.
Goal
Use compact volley technique from behind the service line and vary depth without losing balance.
Success today
Land 10 of 16 baseline-position volleys in the called deep or short target, with at least 4 of each type.
Watch before court
Technique reference
Volleys & Returns with WTA's Lauren Davis · 1:19
Technique reference—not the full drill. Watch the compact preparation and controlled contact used for volleys from a deeper position.
Open video on YouTubeArrive ready
Before you go
- One hitting partner who can feed from the opposite baseline
- 16+ tennis balls
- 4 flat cones
- Approximately 15 minutes of court time
Court blueprint
Set up the court
Receive volleys from a deeper mid-court position and use a compact contact to place the ball in either the called deep target or the safer short target.
- Ball direction
- Recovery
- Target zone
- 01Start halfway between the baseline and service line.
- 02Mark one deep and one short target.
- 03Ask the partner to call deep or short before each controlled feed.
Step by step
Your 15-minute practice
0–3 min
Stabilise the deeper contact
- Block four feeds through the middle.
- Keep the racket head in front despite the longer distance.
8 deep feeds · 4 min
Build deep control
- Send eight volleys beyond the service line.
- Use the partner’s pace.
7–11 min
Add the short option
- Guide slower feeds into the service-box target.
- Do not attempt a drop from below net height.
16 mixed feeds · 4 min
React to the call
- Let the partner mix deep and short targets.
- Aim for ten correct placements from sixteen.
Remember
Three player cues
- Compact even from deep court.
- Use pace for depth.
- Choose short only above net height.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Taking a groundstroke swing from the deeper position
- Attempting a drop from a low ball
- Drifting forward before reading the feed
Keep the same purpose
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Move one step closer to the service line and use larger targets.
Make it harder
Increase feed pace and require recovery to a marked mid-court position after every volley.
Keep it safe
Keep the mid-court contact area clear and ensure the partner feeds only when the player is balanced.
Continue later