A drop volley, similar to a drop shot, is a gentle, softly hit shot in tennis that is executed at the net with an open racket face. The shot is designed to make the drop onto your opponent’s side of the court, just over the net so that it bounces twice before your opponent gets a chance to return it.
Unlike a drive volley, hitting a drop volley requires using soft hands and light touch to absorb the ball’s speed rather than hitting the ball with much speed yourself.
The drop volley is best used when your opponent has been pushed away from the baseline, leaving an immense target to drop the ball into.
Below, we define drop volley and answer some questions players have about improving at drop volleys.
In tennis, a drop volley is a soft, short volley played near the net. The player meets the ball early, absorbs its pace, and aims to land it just over the net.
How is a Tennis Drop Volley Shot Executed?
The main concept is to control through early contact, using soft hands, by meeting the ball in front and robbing it of its speed. It is important to use a short motion that almost feels as if blocking the ball gently, allowing the incoming pace to be your main source of energy.
The racket strings also work like a cushion in that an initial moment of energy absorption is happening before the energy is rebounded off the strings again, giving you time to guide the ball rather than move to hit it.
Keep the racket in a stable, firm and yet relaxed wrist position. The continental grip will help create clean angles with the added bonus of going from on to off angle quickly. Make contact early and high enough, just above the net height.
The racket face will often open just a bit on impact. That slight angle will help with the ball just sitting and dropping. The support from your body and firmly balanced feet can help support the racket hand.
Move with short steps and keep your center low. Aim for a short target area that forces a challenger to run far. Crosscourt allows for spacing on a lateral plane and a more forgiving net height. Down the line creates punishment to open space whenever an alley is available to the challenger.
Do not take a full swing to avoid added lift. Do not chop across the ball like wild carving.
Quiet hands, early contact and clear targets – that is the definition of the shot. Maintain the language simple, and execution is simple. Repeatable even when under match-pressure.
How Do I Grip My Racket & Set Up My Shot to Hit a Drop Volley?
Use the continental grip since it provides you control and rapid adjustments. Place the index knuckle on bevel two on the handle. A light to medium grip pressure will allow for better feel.
Heavy pressure on the handle will not allow you touch and will only have the ball go long. Maintain a relaxed yet confident wrist angle at contact. If the wrist is floppy, the ball may spray high and wide. Maintain the racket in a position where the head of the racket is sitting above the hand.
This position helps hold the head of the racket stable while in contact. Start your stance at the base of a slight athletic crouch.
Your body weight should be resting on the balls of the feet so you are alert and responsive. At the initial stages of the ball leaving the strings, set your weight with a clean split step, then take quick adjustment steps to contact the ball.
Simply turn your shoulders just a bit toward the ball. This shoulder turn helps you line up your strings straight to your target while avoiding a large turn away from the target.
Keep your non-hitting hand on the throat of the racket during your prep stage. It helps support the frame and helps balance.
Preposition your racket face out in front of your body. Present the strings to your target with a slightly open angle and show the racket strings in front of your body.
Now you are ready to absorb pace and to direct the drop. During the time between points, check your spacing, and stance width, and finally grip again for consistency and rhythm.
How Can I Improve My Drop Volley With Footwork?
Initiate your split step at the appropriate time, as your opponent swings. As you split step, land on both feet with equal pressure and bend at the knees.
Stay on your toes to facilitate movement in any direction. Walk softly and take short mincing steps toward the ball.
Don’t take long strides and lunge you off balance. Keep low with a low center, forward chest and it will help you maintain and control the racket face.
Close distance early to take the ball higher. Early contact creates height above the net.
Angle the last step toward your target, then plant and base under contact. Use the front foot as a soft brake.
Do not stop hard and rock backwards on contact. Keep weight moving through the object toward the target.
After contact, recover with a quick split and reset. Expect lob, turn when necessary to chase. Footwork improves this entire flow for both forehand and backhand.
Small steps to precision and calm hands, and if your feet are right, your hands will stay calm.
Practice the muscle memory and rhythm with a metronome count during low volley/approach shots and at the net. Count split, step, plant, contact, split. Repeat until you feel comfortable with the muscle memory under match pressure.
Where Should I Make Contact On a Drop Volley in Tennis?
Paddle the ball in front of your body. Preferably keep the ball close to the height of the net. The higher you can hit the ball, the easier it will flow over the net. The ball should be hit before it descends too low; if you do things late, the ball will descend.
If the ball is hit low, then a scoop action is generally required. Making a scoop volley is dangerous and the ball is going to float long. As always, hold a steady wrist throughout the impact. The racket face should not be totally flat. You want to open it slightly; just let the ball melt into the strings and lose velocity.
Your stroke should be understated, comfortable, and quiet. Have a soft-catch concept, not a hit concept. Make a deliberate effort to make the shot that heads toward a short target. Hit just over the top of the net with a very gentle arc. Use the service line as a reference for depth.
If you are late on your shot, make a safer and deeper volley. Do not fake a drop when your contact point is low. Low contact means vertical lift and depth, not tease.
Select the correct height contact and the shot presents itself. The best way to recreate great drop volleys is to get great contact and then feel. Get used to soft feeds off the bounce around your waist height. This will help you establish depth.
Next, find yourself catching off the bounce around shoulder height for margin.
Lastly, you can practice knee height volley when the ball is slow. Work up first, and only after work for downward, should you even consider low contact safely.
What’s a Good Way to Practice Tennis Drop Volleys?
Begin by doing mini tennis at the net for five minutes. Try to use soft hands and tiny swings. Transition to setting four cones inside the service boxes. Aim to get ten balls to land on each of the cones.
Next do a coach feed. Feed 60 balls to forehand then backhand. You will play short soft drops to demo targets.
Record makes on a clipboard to monitor progress. Introduce a transition at this point. You start two steps behind the service line. Split, step in, make contact, and recover with a split. Repeat that flow for 20 balls each side.
Finish with live points starting at the net. Server will feed, you will volley short, and then play it out. Keep score to create pressure and focus.
Record sample (1 set or 5 minutes) and review the height of contact and face angle. Finish with 10 shadow rehearsal repetitions on each side. Make sure to check grip, posture, and footwork on every repetition.
Use this plan to build skill, confidence, and decision making over time. Run the complete plan three times each week if possible. Keep rest periods short to simulate that of a point. Change partners, so players see different balls. Record results on a simple worksheet. Small wins and steady progress produce that touch that is able to hold under pressure in matches and tiebreaks.
Interested in Learning This Tennis Shot & More in Mountlake Terrace?
Mastering the drop volley and adding it as another weapon to your tennis game comes down to calm hands, early contact, and smart targets. Remember to take the ball in front, keep the face slightly open, and guide it short. Use this shot when you put your opponent deep in their court.
To get better, train with cones, film a few reps, and track wins. Touch grows through simple drills and steady focus.
When you’re playing a doubles match, use it to target the back player. In singles, follow a heavy approach and finish at the net.
When executing, stay patient, exhale on impact, and trust your touch in pressure games.
If you want coaching near Mountlake Terrace, start with learning how to play tennis.
Join our group lessons for adults or enroll kids in youth practice.
Get more useful tips by reading our tennis blog and learn the lingo by checking out our tennis glossary.
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