Building Invincible Volleys Part 2:
Two Primary Styles

Chris Lewit

When I look at elite volley technique, I see a fundamental bifurcation - flat style and slice style. Sometimes players use a combination of both depending on the tactical situation.

I call the slice style the "Israeli style" because the nuances were first taught to me by my coach Gilad Bloom, the former Israeli Davis Cup player. In this article let me outline the technical parameters I use when building both invincible flat and slice volleys.

Flat Style and Israeli Style Compared

Both styles of volley are good and valid and both can be used effectively at the high levels of the game. In fact, most players may benefit from learning both styles and I teach both to my students.

The flat style volley is simple and practical. The Israeli style is elegant and more complex.