The padel volley: how to win the net
Most points in padel are won at the net, and the volley is the shot you'll hit most from there. A good padel volley isn't a big swing. It's a short, firm, controlled punch that keeps the ball low and keeps you in the attacking position.
The grip: continental
Use the continental grip, sometimes called the hammer grip, for both forehand and backhand volleys. Hold the racket as if you were about to knock a nail into the wall with its edge. The big advantage is that you never have to change grip at the net, where there's no time.
Hold the handle loosely while you wait and firm up only at contact. A tight grip kills your feel and tires the forearm. See our guide to padel elbow for why that matters.
The ready position
- Racket up and in front of you, roughly at chest height.
- Elbows slightly away from the body.
- Knees softly bent, weight on the balls of your feet.
- Feet a little wider than shoulder-width.
- Stand about two metres from the net, so you can move forward into the ball and still cover the lob.
How to hit it, step by step
- Turn your shoulders slightly towards the ball. On fast balls, the shoulder turn is enough of a backswing.
- Keep the backswing short. The racket shouldn't go back further than your shoulder.
- Step forward into the ball with the opposite foot if you have time.
- Contact in front of your body, with the racket head up and the face slightly open.
- Punch through, high to low, with a short follow-through. The power comes from the incoming ball and your body, not your wrist.
- Recover straight away to the ready position.
Three volleys every player needs
The block volley
When the ball comes fast or you're stretched, don't swing. Just hold the racket firm and block the ball back, deep and low. It buys you time.
The deep volley
The bread-and-butter padel volley. With a slightly open face and a high-to-low motion, you put slice on the ball and send it deep into the opponents' court. It keeps them at the back and comes off the glass low.
The angled or attacking volley
When the ball is slower and higher, you can step in and play an angle towards the side glass or a firm volley at an opponent's feet. Choose this when you're balanced and close to the net.
Where to aim
- Deep, at the opponents' feet, so they have to hit up from a low position.
- Into the side glass near the corner, so the ball stays low.
- Down the middle, where opponents may hesitate over who takes it.
Don't aim for winners off every ball. In padel, the walls keep the ball in play, so patience at the net wins more points than power.
Forehand vs backhand volley
With the continental grip, both use the same basic motion. On the backhand side, turn the shoulders a little more and keep the elbow in front of the body. Many players find the backhand volley easier to control once the grip is right, because the arm naturally stays in front.
Common mistakes
- Swinging like a groundstroke. A big swing at the net costs time and control.
- Late preparation. If you're reaching back to hit the ball, you were late.
- Dropping the wrist, which opens the face too much and floats the ball up.
- Gripping too tightly, which kills feel.
- Standing too close to the net, which leaves you open to the lob and removes the room to step in.
Volleys and positioning
Volleying well is only half the job. With your partner, move as a unit: if the ball goes to the left, you both shift left; if you're lobbed, you both move back. Our article on padel positioning explains how pairs cover the court together.
How to practise volleys
- Volley to volley. Two players at the net, keeping a soft, controlled rally going. Count consecutive volleys.
- Feed and volley. A partner feeds from the back, you volley deep to a target near the back glass.
- Two at the net vs two at the back. The net pair may only volley deep. Score a point each time the back pair has to hit up.
- Wall volleys. On your own, volley against a solid wall to work on a firm wrist and short swing.
The Padel Drill Book includes a full section of net and volley drills for solo, pairs and group practice.
Volleys on low balls
Not every ball at the net arrives at a comfortable height. When the ball is below the net, bend your knees rather than dropping the racket head, open the face a little and lift the ball over the net, deep. Don't try to attack a low ball: the aim is to get it back deep and low so you keep the net. Attack on the next, higher ball.
The half-volley
Sometimes the ball lands right at your feet. Then you play it just after the bounce with a very short, firm motion, almost like a block. Keep the racket face stable and push the ball deep. Good positioning, about two metres from the net, means you'll need it less often.
Who takes the middle?
Balls through the middle cause many lost points at club level. A simple rule many pairs use: the player whose forehand is in the middle takes it, unless the ball is clearly closer to the other player. Agree on it before the match and call "mine" or "yours" early.
Quick volley checklist
- Continental grip, relaxed hand.
- Racket up and in front.
- Short backswing, contact in front.
- Punch high to low, short follow-through.
- Aim deep and low, not for the lines.
- Recover and move with your partner.
Volleying against the lob
The better you volley, the more your opponents will lob. That's why the ready position keeps you about two metres from the net. When you see the opponent's racket face open up, start moving back early, turn side-on and decide: overhead if you can reach it comfortably, or turn and let it bounce if you can't. Volleying well and covering the lob go together.