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Their net player is about to volley from the right. Where do you set up?
Defend on the diagonal from the ball. The cross-court volley is the likely one; the wall covers the angle.
The opponent on your right-hand side is about to volley. You are defending the left half. Where should you be?
Defend on the diagonal from the ball. The cross-court volley is the likely one; the wall covers the angle.
Why
When an opponent at the net is about to volley, the ball most likely comes cross-court, that is the natural direction and the biggest target. So the defender on that diagonal sets up on the line from the volleyer, slightly toward the middle of their half, ready to take the ball on the forehand or off the glass. The wide angle is left open on purpose: it is a difficult shot for the volleyer, and if it comes, the side glass brings it back to you. Cover the probable ball, not the possible one.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Look at who is hitting and stand on a straight line from them to you. That is where most balls come.
Intermediate
Shift the moment the ball crosses to the other net player. The diagonal changes and so does your spot.
Advanced
The better the volleyer, the more they will find the line and the middle. Read their racket face rather than the position: the face tells you where the ball is going a fraction before it goes.
Common questions
The opponent on your right-hand side is about to volley. You are defending the left half. Where should you be?
On the diagonal from the volleyer, slightly toward the middle. Defend on the diagonal from the ball. The cross-court volley is the likely one; the wall covers the angle. When an opponent at the net is about to volley, the ball most likely comes cross-court, that is the natural direction and the biggest target. So the defender on that diagonal sets up on the line from the volleyer, slightly toward the middle of their half, ready to take the ball on the forehand or off the glass. The wide angle is left open on purpose: it is a difficult shot for the volleyer, and if it comes, the side glass brings it back to you. Cover the probable ball, not the possible one.
Why not wide by the left glass, to cover the angle?
The wide angle from that position is a hard shot for them and the glass helps you anyway. The middle is the danger.
What should a beginner do here?
Look at who is hitting and stand on a straight line from them to you. That is where most balls come.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The better the volleyer, the more they will find the line and the middle. Read their racket face rather than the position: the face tells you where the ball is going a fraction before it goes.
Puzzles like this one
The 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.
beginnerThe ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
intermediateYour partner got pulled wide. Where do you stand?
The pair moves like one body. When your partner is pulled wide, you take the middle.