A: You’re in a crosscourt dink rally.
You hit what feels like a decent dink.
And before the ball can even bounce, your opponent reaches in, takes it out of the air, and puts you under pressure.
Then it happens again.
And again.
At some point, it starts to feel like they’re dictating every exchange.
The good news is this usually isn’t a hand-speed problem.
It’s a ball-quality problem.
If someone is consistently taking your crosscourt dink out of the air, they’re telling you something about the ball you’re giving them.
First: understand why they can volley it
Most players assume their opponent is being aggressive.
Maybe.
But more often, they’re simply being comfortable.
Your dink is often doing one or more of these things:
- Sitting a little too high
- Traveling too slowly
- Landing too deep
- Giving them plenty of time
When that happens, they don’t have to let it bounce.
They can step forward, take it early, and keep pressure on you.
The solution isn’t necessarily hitting harder.
It’s making the volley less attractive.
Second: stop giving them easy height
This is the most common cause.
A crosscourt dink that clears the net comfortably but sits up a little is an invitation.
Good players love those balls.
They can contact them above net height and stay aggressive.
Instead, focus on keeping your dinks:
- Lower over the net
- Softer into the kitchen
- Less attackable
You don’t need perfection.
You just need to remove their easy volley.
Aim to clear the net by a safe few inches and land well in the kitchen.
If you’re constantly flirting with the tape, you’ve over-corrected.
Third: move them instead of feeding them
Many players hit the same crosscourt dink over and over.
Same speed.
Same location.
Same height.
Eventually the opponent gets comfortable.
Instead, vary the geometry.
Try:
- Slightly wider crosscourt dinks
- Shorter dinks that pull them forward
- Deeper dinks toward their feet
- Occasional middle dinks
You’re not trying to hit a winner.
You’re trying to make volleying less comfortable.
The more you make them stretch or take awkward steps, the fewer balls they can volley comfortably in front of their body.
Fourth: recognize when they’re leaning in
Players who like taking dinks out of the air often start creeping forward.
Watch their posture.
If they’re:
- Leaning into the kitchen line
- Reaching forward aggressively
- Looking to cut off the bounce
…they’re exposing themselves somewhere else.
That doesn’t mean speed up automatically.
But it does mean you should start thinking about changing the pattern.
If they’re leaning heavily crosscourt, a soft change of direction back behind the player in front of you, or into the middle, can punish that lean after you’ve earned the right ball.
Fifth: don’t speed up just because you’re annoyed
This is where most players lose.
After getting volleyed a few times, they decide:
“Next one I’m speeding up.”
Usually on a ball that’s too low.
Usually while they’re frustrated.
Usually into the net.
Or directly into the opponent’s paddle.
Remember:
A player taking your dink out of the air does not automatically mean they’re vulnerable.
Only attack when the ball gives you permission.
Sixth: use the middle more often
The middle is one of the best answers to an aggressive volleyer.
Why?
Because the middle:
- Reduces angles
- Creates communication issues
- Makes it harder to attack sharply
A low, firm dink into the middle often takes away the comfortable volley they were enjoying crosscourt.
It forces a different conversation.
Middle works best when you can keep the ball low and near their feet.
A high, floaty middle ball just gives them a different comfortable attack.
Seventh: make them hit one more ball
A lot of players think the answer is finding a winner.
Usually the answer is patience.
If they’re taking your dinks early but not actually hurting you, let them.
Keep moving them.
Keep changing depth.
Keep changing location.
Eventually they’ll have to create something.
And that’s often when the error comes.
The goal isn’t to stop them from volleying.
The goal is to stop them from volleying comfortably.
Drills to handle aggressive volleyers
- Crosscourt Depth Drill
Play crosscourt dink rallies and alternate between short, deep, and wide targets.
Focus on changing location without changing pace.
- Volley Pressure Drill
Have your partner take every dink out of the air when possible.
Your job is to keep them from getting comfortable by changing depth and placement.
- Middle Reset Drill
During kitchen rallies, every third ball must go through the middle.
This trains you to use the middle as a tactical option instead of getting locked into endless crosscourt exchanges.
A quick self-check during matches
If your opponent keeps taking your crosscourt dink out of the air, ask:
- Am I giving them too much height?
- Am I hitting the same location repeatedly?
- Am I trying to force an attack because I’m frustrated?
- Have I made them move at all?
Those answers usually reveal the problem.
The real key
You don’t beat aggressive volleyers by trying to volley faster.
You beat them by making their favorite shot less comfortable.
Lower dinks.
Better location.
More variety.
More patience.
When they stop getting the same easy ball over and over, that comfortable volley suddenly becomes much harder to execute.
And that’s when the advantage starts shifting back to you.