Forehand and backhand volley technique

VolleyJan 17, 2023

Key takeaway from our Guru

How can I improve the power and control of my volleys?

Keep your non-dominant hand up near your chest throughout the forehand volley to improve balance. For the backhand, keep your swing compact and ensure you strike the ball in front of your chest rather than letting it get behind you.

What this lesson covers

The forehand volley requires keeping the elbow tucked close to the body while maintaining a compact distance between the arm and the lead leg. The non-dominant hand plays a vital role in coordination and power. By keeping the non-dominant hand up, ideally by reaching toward the logo on the chest, the player avoids dropping the hand and gains better control. This movement creates a more stable platform for the strike.

For the backhand volley, the focus shifts to a compact, explosive motion. Keeping the movement short from the chest area generates more power than a long, extended swing. When playing toward the middle or cross-court, avoid excessive shoulder rotation. Instead, place the racket in front of the chest to ensure the point of impact remains ahead of the body. Striking the ball late reduces power, whereas a forward contact point maximizes the speed and effectiveness of the shot.

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Your Guru points you at the videos that fit your level and your last matches, and helps you find a coach to train with.

Original video

Padel Drive

Added on Apr 2, 2026

PRO PADEL COACH TEACHES ME HOW TO VOLLEY

Description

Hi Padel Drivers! In this video we will see how to volley like a pro. We have with us Hugo Cases, a professional padel coach and former WPT player. He will share his best tips and tricks to succeed in this important shot. As you can see the key is the non-dominant hand. Follow these advices and you will volley like Paquito Navarro and Juan Lebron! This video is part of the ZERO TO HERO series, where an amateur player (Gonzalo) will be professionally coached to compete in top national competitions against the best players in the UK!

Good for

Skill level

Intermediate, High Intermediate, High Advanced

Court position

Net

Secondary shot

Backhand

Keywords

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