Do your volleys keep sitting up for opponents to attack?
A volley that sits up is an invitation. When the ball floats over the net at a comfortable height, opponents can step in and attack it, and the pressure you built at the net disappears. Keeping the ball low is one of the most effective ways to make your volleys difficult to deal with, because a low ball forces opponents to hit upward. This guide focuses on that single goal: why volleys float, what to change in your setup and swing, and how to practice a lower, heavier volley.
Why Low Volleys Matter
A low volley that lands near the service line or at an opponent's feet makes it hard for them to attack, since they have to lift the ball rather than hit it down. A ball that lands around the service line also tends to stay lower after the bounce, whereas a ball that goes too deep may sit up or rebound high off the back glass. Keeping the ball low, then, is partly about trajectory and partly about where it lands.
Note
A low volley doesn't have to be hard. Placement, depth, and trajectory do more to trouble opponents than extra pace.
Why Your Volleys Float
Several habits tend to make volleys sit up. Understanding which one applies to you is the fastest way to fix it.
| Habit | Why the Ball Floats | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Racket starts low | You have to lift it, which tends to send the ball up | Hold the racket at contact height, above net height |
| Contact too late | The face opens as the ball gets behind you | Meet the ball in front of your body |
| Racket face too open | An open face sends the ball up | Use a stable, only slightly open face |
| Swinging up at the ball | Upward path creates height | Push forward with a short, compact motion |
| Hitting too deep | The ball rebounds high off the glass | Aim for the service line |
Set Up for a Low Volley
Start with the ready position. Your racket should be ready at roughly the height where you'll make contact, which should be higher than net height, so you don't have to raise it before every shot. Stand a sensible distance from the net rather than crowding it, since standing too close tends to encourage a downward, packing motion and leaves you little time to react.
The Swing: Short, Forward, and Slightly Open
Keep the racket slightly above the height of the ball and make a short swing forward, pushing through the ball rather than lifting it. Keeping the racket face slightly open and hitting in the middle of the racket adds a little slice, which helps the ball stay low. Think of cutting underneath the ball with a compact movement. A wrist that's firm through contact gives you a stable face, while a loose wrist makes the angle unpredictable.
Important
Coaches describe slice slightly differently, with some talking about brushing down the back of the ball and others about cutting underneath it. Either way, the key points are a short, controlled motion, a stable face, and contact in front of your body.
Put it to the test with our free padel quiz — quick questions, instant results.
Meet the Ball in Front
Making contact just in front of your torso gives you control over the face and the direction. When contact slips behind you, the face tends to open and the ball floats. Step into the shot with your opposite foot so your body supports the contact rather than leaving it to your arm.
Use Your Legs on Low Balls
When the ball arrives low, go low with your legs rather than dropping your racket head or reaching down with your arm. Bending your knees keeps the racket head above your wrist and lets you push the ball back low and forward. Collapsing the racket head below the wrist opens the face unpredictably and tends to float the ball.
Where to Land the Ball
The service line is a reliable target. It's deep enough to push opponents back, but not so deep that the ball sits up or bounces high off the back glass. Opponents hitting upward from that area have difficulty attacking, which helps you hold the net. Against opponents at the back, aiming at their feet is another effective way to force a low, awkward reply.
Drills to Keep the Ball Low
Net-Height Rally
With a partner at the net, exchange volleys, trying to keep every ball low and within a small area. Count how many consecutive low volleys you can hit.
Service Line Targets
Place cones or marks near the service line and aim your volleys at them. Track how many land in the zone and stay low after the bounce.
Feet Targets
Have a partner stand at the back and try to land volleys at their feet. This builds both low trajectory and placement.
Low Ball Feeds
Feed low balls to practice bending your legs and keeping the racket head up, rather than reaching down.
Adding Slice Safely
Slice puts backspin on the ball, which helps it stay low and makes it harder to attack. It's worth adding once your basic volley is reliable, because trying to cut the ball before the fundamentals are in place usually produces mishits. Start with a small amount, using a compact motion and a stable face, and let the spin develop gradually rather than forcing it.
When to Keep It Low and When to Attack
Not every volley should be low and soft. When the ball arrives above net height and you're balanced, you can hit down into open space or at an opponent's feet with more pace. When the ball is below the tape or you're under pressure, a low, controlled volley to the service line is the safer choice. Reading which situation you're in before you swing helps you pick the right volley rather than defaulting to the same one every time.
Tracking Your Progress
Choose a simple measure, such as how many of ten volleys land beyond the net but short of the service line and stay low after the bounce. Track it over several weeks. A rising number means your trajectory and depth are improving, even if the volleys still feel unremarkable in the moment.
Common Mistakes
Lifting the Ball
Swinging upward at the ball creates height. Push forward instead.
Dropping the Racket Head
Letting it fall below the wrist floats the ball. Keep it up and bend your legs.
Standing Too Close to the Net
It tends to produce a packing motion and gives you little time. Give yourself some space.
Hitting Too Deep
A deep volley can rebound high off the back glass and sit up. Aim for the service line.
Advice
Film your volleys from the side and check three things: is your racket ready above net height, is contact in front of your body, and does the ball clear the tape by just a small margin?
A low volley comes from a high ready position, a short push forward, contact in front, a slightly open and stable face, and a depth target that keeps the ball from sitting up. Fix those details and your volleys become heavier and harder to attack without any extra power.
