How to play a Volley shot in squash

A Volley is a shot where the ball is played before it bounces.

The Volley is predominantly an attacking shot which is used to increase the pressure on your opponent by increasing the speed of the game and reducing the amount of time they have to play a shot. It is also an effective way of retaining the T-Position and keeping an opponent pinned at the back of the court, with the Volley Lob being a particularly good shot for this.

It can be used to hit the ball anywhere on the court from short to long and everything in between. It is a vital area of the game when it comes to dictating the tempo and pace of the game.

Whenever you play any Volley shot, try to always apply the following principles:

Hunting the Volley & showing intent – To play a Volley you have to show intent. You could have the best volley in the world but if you are not ready or in position to execute it, it’s useless. You have to make sure you are high up on the court, ideally on the T-position with your racket by your chest and ready.

Timing – You should aim to hit the ball early and in front of you so that you can get your whole body behind the swing and also hit the ball as soon as possible, further increasing the pressure on your opponent.

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Check out our pages on the different Volleys you might encounter:

→ Recommended posts for those looking at Volleys:

Changing the pace of the game, Five ways to improve your squash now, Controlling the T-Position, Cross-Court Volleying as a Return of Serve