Shots & strokes

Punch volley

A short, compact volley — no swing, just a punch through the ball. Used to redirect attacks and end exchanges at the kitchen line.

Last revised 3w ago

The punch volley is the bread-and-butter offensive shot at the kitchen line. Compact stroke, minimal backswing, punched directly through the ball — accurate, hard to read, easy to repeat.

Pop-ups die to punch volleys. Hand-speed exchanges are won by them.

Related terms

Volley
Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces. Legal everywhere except inside the non-volley zone.
Roll volley
A volley with topspin brushed over the ball — used to dip the ball at an opponent's feet from the kitchen line.

Punch volley

Volley

Roll volley