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When is a drop volley the right shot?
Drop volley: opponents deep, ball above the net, lots of court in front of them. Otherwise, deep.
You are at the net with a comfortable volley. When does a soft drop volley beat the usual deep one?
Drop volley: opponents deep, ball above the net, lots of court in front of them. Otherwise, deep.
Why
The drop volley is a shot for a specific moment: both opponents are deep, pinned against the glass by a previous ball, and the volley you have is above the net and under control. Then a soft ball just over the net bounces twice before they reach it. In any other situation it is a gift: a drop against opponents who are already moving forward, or one played from a low ball that floats up, hands them the net and a short ball to attack. It should be rare, which is exactly what makes it effective when it comes.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Only try the drop when both opponents are right at the back. Otherwise hit deep and wait.
Intermediate
Soft hands: loosen the grip at contact and let the ball drop off the strings. It should barely clear the net.
Advanced
Disguise it. The preparation should look like the deep volley until the last moment; a drop volley they can read from the backswing is a drop volley they reach.
Common questions
You are at the net with a comfortable volley. When does a soft drop volley beat the usual deep one?
Both opponents deep on the glass, ball above the net. Drop volley: opponents deep, ball above the net, lots of court in front of them. Otherwise, deep. The drop volley is a shot for a specific moment: both opponents are deep, pinned against the glass by a previous ball, and the volley you have is above the net and under control. Then a soft ball just over the net bounces twice before they reach it. In any other situation it is a gift: a drop against opponents who are already moving forward, or one played from a low ball that floats up, hands them the net and a short ball to attack. It should be rare, which is exactly what makes it effective when it comes.
Why not when the ball is low and you cannot hit it hard?
A low ball is a deep volley. A drop from below the net floats up and is easy to run down.
What should a beginner do here?
Only try the drop when both opponents are right at the back. Otherwise hit deep and wait.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Disguise it. The preparation should look like the deep volley until the last moment; a drop volley they can read from the backswing is a drop volley they reach.
Puzzles like this one
They lobbed you deep. Smash it or play the bandeja?
Deep ball, high hands: bandeja. The shot exists to keep you at the net, not to win the point.
beginnerThe ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
beginnerBoth of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.