Dominating the net without a smash

What this lesson covers

Players without a powerful smash must prioritize the serve and the first volley to prevent opponents from hitting lobs. A strong serve forces a return that allows for an immediate net attack. Once at the net, the goal is to identify and exploit opponent weaknesses while maintaining pressure through consistent, deep volleys or low balls that force the opponent to lift the ball. When opponents do lob, players should consider letting the ball bounce and using the back wall to transition into a counter-attack rather than forcing a smash.

To move the game into a short-court battle, players should utilize chiquitas and volleys directed at the feet to force opponents forward. This creates a volley-to-volley exchange where the player with better control prevails. Training parallel volleys is essential for this strategy, as most amateur players are only comfortable in cross-court exchanges. Mastering the flat volley, which requires minimal shoulder movement and relies on quick reactions, is the key to winning these high-speed, short-distance duels.