Punch volleys at the kitchen line

Setup

1. Volleyer at the kitchen line, toes just behind it, paddle up in front of the chest.
2. Feeder (a coach or partner) stands in mid-court on the other side with a basket of balls.
3. Everyone wears protective eyewear: volleys at the line come back fast and close.

How it runs

1. The feeder hits a firm, flat ball between the volleyer's waist and chest, never at the face.
2. The volleyer punches it back deep, towards the feeder's baseline, then returns to ready position.
3. Feed five to the forehand, five to the backhand, then five mixed.
4. Swap roles after 15 balls. This is a fed drill, so volleying the first ball is fine; in a game the two-bounce rule still applies.

Coaching points

• Short backswing: the paddle barely goes behind the body.
• Firm wrist and a small step or lean forward with the punch, not a big swing.
• Meet the ball in front, with the paddle face square to the target.
• Stay balanced after contact. If your momentum would carry you onto the line or into the kitchen, that is a fault even after the ball is dead.

Common mistakes

• Swinging like a groundstroke, so the ball flies long.
• Letting the paddle drop below the waist between feeds.
• Falling forward onto the kitchen line after the volley.