The basic backhand volley is a simple, easy stroke. Probably the only part of learning it that you might find complicated is choosing which grip to use, so we'll get that out of the way first. No matter which grip you choose, all of the instructions in this lesson will apply equally well.
First of all, if you're older than 6 and don't have any unusual limitations in your hitting arm, you should use a one-handed backhand volley. For groundstrokes, using two hands can make great sense, but for volleys, it's extremely limiting. Most important among its limitations are lack of reach, inability to block the body, and awkwardness on low balls. Some players are told that the one-handed volley requires too much strength, but even very small children often do it perfectly -- as long as they can remember the grip.
The grip options are discussed on the next page.
