In doubles, the “first volley” is usually the serving team’s first shot hit out of the air after the receiver returns the serve. It is a common serve-and-volley moment, but it is not a special kind of shot under the rules: the same volley rules apply as in the rest of the rally.
The key exception comes before that volley. The serve must bounce in the correct service box before the receiving team can play it. Once the returner has hit the ball, either player on the serving team may volley the return. Knowing that sequence helps you avoid a rules mistake and make better decisions at the net.
What Is the First Volley in Doubles?
“First volley” is a tactical term, not an official scoring or rules term. It most often describes the server’s first volley after the return of serve. For example, the server hits a wide serve, moves forward, and volleys the return toward the open court. That volley is the first volley of the serving team’s attack.
The receiving team can also volley later in the rally. The term simply helps players talk about a key early shot: the server has moved forward, the returner has sent the ball back, and the server must handle that return while closing toward the net.
Can You Volley the Serve in Doubles?
No. The serve must bounce in the proper service court before the receiving team hits it. The designated receiver must return the serve, and the receiver’s partner cannot step in and volley it instead. If either receiver hits the serve before it bounces, that team loses the point.
After the serve has bounced and the receiver has returned it, the point is live. The server or the server’s partner may then volley the ball before it bounces. The ball does not have to reach the server first; the net player can intercept the return if it is within reach.
| Point situation | Can a player volley? |
|---|---|
| The serve is traveling toward the receiver | No. The receiving team must let it bounce in the correct service box. |
| The receiver has returned the bounced serve | Yes. Either player on the serving team may volley it. |
| The rally is underway | Yes. Either team may volley, or play the ball after a bounce. |
How the First Volley Works in a Typical Point
- The server serves diagonally. The serve must land in the service box opposite the server. Doubles alleys do not count on the serve.
- The designated receiver lets the serve bounce. The receiver then returns it. The receiver’s partner cannot take the serve before the bounce.
- The serving team plays the return. If the server is moving forward, they may hit the first volley. The server’s partner may also intercept it.
- The rally continues under normal rules. Either team can volley or let the ball bounce once before hitting it. After the bounce, the ball cannot be allowed to bounce a second time.
Once the serve has been returned, the doubles alleys are part of the court. So a first volley can land in an alley and still be good, as long as it lands inside the doubles boundary lines.
Where Should the Server Aim the First Volley?
The first volley is often hit from a moving position, so control matters more than power. Aiming for a modest opening is usually safer than trying for a clean winner. The volleyer can send the ball down the middle, away from the opponent at the net, or into the open space created by the returner’s movement.
For example, if the returner hits crosscourt and the server is approaching from the baseline, a firm volley through the middle can make the opponents decide who will take it. If the return is floating high, the server may have time to angle the volley toward the sideline. But if the ball arrives low at the feet, a deep, controlled volley is often the better choice.
The server’s partner should also be ready. Their job is not to stand still and watch the server’s shot. They can move across to cut off a predictable crosscourt return, but they must avoid crowding or obstructing an opponent. Clear signals and a shared plan—such as “middle” or “poach”—help prevent both partners from leaving the same space open.
Common First-Volley Mistakes
- Volleys are allowed before the return bounces. They are not. The receiving team must let the serve bounce first.
- The net player must wait for the server’s shot. Not after the return is in play. Either serving-team player may hit the first volley.
- A volley has to be hit close to the net. No. A player can volley from anywhere on their side of the court, though the shot may be harder from deep behind the baseline.
- The first volley must be a winner. It does not. A safe, deep volley that keeps the serving team in control is often more effective.
- The singles sidelines still apply during the rally. In doubles, the wider doubles court—including the alleys—is in play after the serve has landed in the correct service box.
Positioning and Order Still Matter
Doubles players must follow the serving and receiving order for the set. The receiver’s team chooses which partner receives in the first game of a set, and that order stays in place for the set. The server’s partner can stand anywhere on the server’s side, while the receiver’s partner can stand anywhere on the other side. Players should not obstruct an opponent from seeing or playing the ball.
These positions do not limit who can play the ball once the point is live, apart from the requirement that the designated receiver returns the serve. After that return, either partner can take a shot, including the first volley. If partners collide or hesitate because both expect the other to play it, that is a communication problem rather than a special first-volley rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the server’s partner hit the first volley?
Yes. Once the receiver has returned the bounced serve, either player on the serving team can volley the ball.
Can the receiver’s partner volley the serve?
No. The serve must bounce first, and the designated receiver must return it. If the receiver’s partner hits the serve before it bounces, the receiving team loses the point.
Does a first volley have to land inside the singles court?
No. After the serve, the doubles alleys are in play. A first volley that lands inside the doubles sidelines is good.
Is “first volley” an official tennis rule?
No. It is a common coaching and playing term for an early volley, especially the server’s first volley after the return. There is no separate rule that changes how it must be played.
Final Thoughts
The main rule to remember is simple: the receiving team must let the serve bounce, but once the return is hit, either player on the serving team can volley. The first volley is a tactical opportunity, not a special rules situation. Aim for control, communicate with your partner, and use the doubles court’s width to keep the point on your terms.
