Picture this scenario. You come to the net expecting to put away a chest-high volley but your opponent lobs over you or gives you a dipping ball at your feet. Since you weren’t looking for such a reply, you lose the point, get frustrated and become reluctant to go forward again. Sound familiar?
When most players think about playing the net, the image of striking comfortable volleys comes to mind. In fact, a lot of players whose intention is to improve their net game work solely on above-the-net volleys. This is a costly mistake. Such volleys are just a small component of the action that you can expect to encounter in the forecourt and a smart opponent will do her best to give you anything except these easy shots.
So if you truly want to be successful in the front of the court the trick is to work on the entire spectrum of net play, not just the simplest shots. The next time you practice have your partner feed you a variety of volleys—hard and soft, low and high, at your body and away from it—along with some tough lobs too. Work on sending the ball back both deep and short, and be sure to practice drop and angle volleys as well. Once you become comfortable with the full range of shots and replies needed to play at the net, you’ll no longer be surprised by anything your opponent throws at you and you’ll be on your way to becoming a solid net player.