Player practice guide
Swing Volleys
15 min PartnerIntermediateMatch play
Develop controlled swing volleys from inside the court.
Best for: players who can hit groundstrokes and need to control a higher ball from inside the court.
Goal
Take a high ball in the air with groundstroke shape, safe net clearance and a balanced landing.
Success today
Land 10 of 16 swing volleys beyond the service line while finishing inside the marked balance zone.
Watch before court
Technique reference
Swing Volley Masterclass · 11:25
Technique reference—not the full drill. Watch the movement, high contact and balanced finish used on the swing volley.
Open video on YouTubeArrive ready
Before you go
- One hitting partner who can feed a high ball
- 16+ tennis balls
- 4 flat cones
- Approximately 15 minutes of court time
Court blueprint
Set up the court
Move into the three-quarter-court contact zone, strike the high ball in the air towards the deep target and recover inside the court.
- Ball direction
- Player movement
- Recovery
- Target zone
- 01Mark a contact zone between the service line and baseline and a deep crosscourt target.
- 02Start just behind the contact zone.
- 03Ask your partner to send comfortable looping balls above net height.
Step by step
Your 15-minute practice
0–3 min
Find the airborne contact
- Shadow a compact groundstroke finish before the ball drops.
- Land with your chest controlled.
8 feeds · 4 min
Use slower high feeds
- Ask for eight looped balls into the contact zone.
- Send them beyond the service line.
7–11 min
Alternate both sides
- Move to forehand and backhand swing volleys.
- Recover to the centre marker after every ball.
16 feeds · 4 min
Complete the target set
- Count deep shots with a balanced landing.
- Aim for ten successes from sixteen.
Remember
Three player cues
- Move under the high ball.
- Contact before it drops.
- Land balanced inside the court.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Waiting for the ball to fall too low
- Using a full baseline backswing
- Drifting through the contact zone
Keep the same purpose
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Feed slower balls from inside the baseline and use the full back court as the target.
Make it harder
Reduce the deep target and alternate a swing volley with a conventional low volley.
Keep it safe
Keep the approach path clear and stop if a ball lands near the player’s contact or landing zone.
Continue later