If you watch any good pair play, you will notice the same thing again and again. The team at the net controls the point, and the team pinned at the back is defending for their lives. The volley is the shot that keeps you there. It is not about power, it is about not giving the ball back.
Why the net wins points
Padel is played on a small court behind glass. When you are at the net, you take time away from your opponents, hit down into the court and force them to lift the ball. When you are at the back, you are reacting to bounces and rebounds off the glass. So the whole tactical battle is about who gets to the net and stays there. The volley is how you defend that ground. Miss a few and you get pushed back; land them well and your opponents never get out of their own corners. For more on why position matters this much, read our guide to positioning mistakes.
Punch volley versus block volley
There are two volleys worth learning first. The block volley is a defensive, controlled shot. You meet a fast ball with a firm, still racket and let the pace do the work, guiding it deep or low. The punch volley is your attacking option. You take a short jab forward with a firm wrist to add pace and put the ball away or drive it hard at the opponents' feet.
The mistake is swinging at both. A volley is never a full ground stroke. Short back swing, firm contact, short follow through. If you are winding up, you are already late.
The ready position
Stand with your racket up and out in front of you, roughly at chest height, elbows away from your body. Knees soft, weight on the balls of your feet. From here you can push either way without a big movement. Dropping the racket head is the classic error, because you then have to lift it before every volley and you run out of time. Keep it up and ready and half the job is already done. The glossary has quick definitions if any of the terms here are new.
Soft hands
Soft hands means letting the racket give a little on contact rather than squeezing it like a hammer. A tight grip sends fast balls flying long or popping up for an easy smash. Relax the hand and the strings absorb the pace, so you can drop the ball short or place it with control. Grip firmly only on the punch volley when you actually want to add pace. The rest of the time, think cushion, not wall.
Volleying deep versus to the feet
Two targets do most of the damage. Volleying deep pushes your opponents back into their corners and buys you and your partner time to hold the net. Volleying to the feet, right at the shoelaces of a player trying to come forward, is the shot that wins the point outright or forces a weak, floating reply you can attack. As a rule, volley deep when your opponents are back and you are simply holding, and volley to the feet when one of them is moving in and you want to shut the door.
Common mistakes
The big three are swinging too much, dropping the racket head between shots and standing too far back off the net. That last one is a killer. Players hover in no man's land, halfway between the service line and the net, where every ball lands at their feet. Get right up, a metre or so from the net, and volleys become easy pick offs instead of awkward half volleys. Add in tight, panicky hands and you have the full set of net errors. Fix the grip pressure and the racket position first, because those two alone will win you points this week. If you want eyes on your technique, our coaches run net sessions across Manchester.
FAQ
Should I always attack at the net?
No. Most volleys should just be solid and deep to hold your position. Attack to the feet only when the ball sits up or an opponent is moving forward.
Why do my volleys keep flying long?
Almost always too much swing or too tight a grip. Shorten the motion and soften the hand so the strings absorb the pace instead of adding to it.
How close to the net should I stand?
Around a metre from the net, not on the service line. Standing back leaves you playing balls at your feet, which is the hardest volley of all.
Forehand or backhand volley in the middle?
Generally the player whose forehand covers the middle takes it, but agree it with your partner before the point. Confusion in the middle loses more points than either volley itself.