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You have advanced behind a lob. Their bandeja is short. What is the shot?
Short bandeja: firm volley deep to the feet, keep advancing. That is the moment the net becomes yours.
You lobbed, advanced to the service line, and their bandeja lands short in front of you. What do you play?
Short bandeja: firm volley deep to the feet, keep advancing. That is the moment the net becomes yours.
Why
The exchange lob, bandeja, volley is how the net changes hands. When the bandeja is short, landing around your service line, you are in position to play it as a volley or half-volley, and the shot to hit is a firm, deep ball to the feet of one of the opponents, followed by the last two steps to the net position. The opponents are at the back and moving; a ball at their feet as they move produces the weak lift you finish. A drop shot from there is too far from the net to be safe, and a lob gives the position back to a pair who are already deep.
What this means at your level
Beginner
When their overhead lands short in front of you, hit it firmly and deep, and walk in behind it.
Intermediate
Aim the transition volley at the feet of the player who is further back or moving. The static one blocks it better.
Advanced
The half-volley version, ball just after the bounce, is the same shot. Do not step back to let it bounce fully; play it on the way up and keep moving.
Common questions
You lobbed, advanced to the service line, and their bandeja lands short in front of you. What do you play?
A firm volley deep to their feet. Short bandeja: firm volley deep to the feet, keep advancing. That is the moment the net becomes yours. The exchange lob, bandeja, volley is how the net changes hands. When the bandeja is short, landing around your service line, you are in position to play it as a volley or half-volley, and the shot to hit is a firm, deep ball to the feet of one of the opponents, followed by the last two steps to the net position. The opponents are at the back and moving; a ball at their feet as they move produces the weak lift you finish. A drop shot from there is too far from the net to be safe, and a lob gives the position back to a pair who are already deep.
Why not a drop shot to end it while they are back?
From the service line a drop sits up, and they are already at the back moving forward. Deep first.
What should a beginner do here?
When their overhead lands short in front of you, hit it firmly and deep, and walk in behind it.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The half-volley version, ball just after the bounce, is the same shot. Do not step back to let it bounce fully; play it on the way up and keep moving.
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.