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Rolling Volley

Kitchen PlayLevel 3 — Advanced

Prerequisites

Topspin Production

Unlocks

Backhand Roll AttackTwo-Shot Attack Combination

What It Is

A topspin volley played at or near the kitchen line on balls contacted around net height. The rolling volley adds topspin which creates timing challenges for the opponent and provides insurance that the aggressive ball will dip into the court. An essential offensive tool for the returning team's fourth ball.

Correct Execution

Contact the ball at approximately net height. Use a low-to-high brushing motion — similar to a mini topspin groundstroke but compressed for the volley. The topspin provides insurance to be aggressive while expecting the ball to drop in. The wrist stays firm while the shoulder and elbow create the rolling motion. Used especially on fourth balls during the return game when the serving team's third shot arrives at about net height — too high to reset, too low to drive, perfect for a rolling volley.

Progression Levels

Diagnostic Tree

Coaching Cues

  • "Own the rolling volley for fourth balls that you have to contact around net height." — when to use it, Morgan Evans (2021)
  • "The rolling volley has topspin which provides a timing challenge and insurance to be aggressive." — why it works, Morgan Evans (2021)

Common Errors

  1. Over-swinging: Too much motion on the rolling volley → Compact roll; the spin comes from brush, not swing length
  2. Rolling above net height: Ball was high enough to drive → Only roll at net height; drive balls above shoulder
  3. Flat volleys on every ball: No topspin → Learn the brushing motion for balls at net height

Edges

💎 Elite-Only Behavior

Disguise the Roll as a Dink

kitchen-playrolling-volley →

Colin Johns: the forehand roll attack's effectiveness comes from DISGUISE, not power. Reach in and make it look like you're going to hit a soft shovel dink — identical body position, identical reach. Then suddenly turn the arm over for the roll. The opponent has committed to the dink response before they can adjust. And critically: reload immediately. Be ready for the next shot, don't admire the roll.

What most people do
Set up the roll with an obvious preparation that telegraphs the attack. Or hit the roll and freeze, admiring the shot.
What the best do
Make the roll preparation identical to a dink preparation. Only the last moment differs. Reload to one side immediately for the follow-up.
Why it's an edge: The roll that looks like a dink is 3x more effective than the roll that looks like a roll. The disguise, not the spin, is what makes it undefendable.
How to exploit: Film your roll preparation vs. your dink preparation from the opponent's perspective. If they look different, work on matching the setup until they're identical on video.
Colin Johns, "The Forehand Roll Attack" (2019-10-03)
💎 Elite-Only Behavior

The Poached Dink

kitchen-playrolling-volley →

Morgan Evans pro match analysis: elite players poach at the kitchen — but then play a simple DINK instead of attacking. This confuses everyone who thinks poaching = attacking. Three reasons the poached dink is correct: (1) you had to leave early to be in position for a high ball anyway, (2) you're already in front of your partner blocking their view, (3) leaving creates miscommunication. The hardest part: keeping cool and just dinking when every instinct says attack.

What most people do
Either don't poach (too passive) or poach and always attack (too aggressive, gets countered).
What the best do
Poach but choose the appropriate response — often a dink. The poach applies pressure through POSITIONING, not necessarily through power.
Why it's an edge: The poached dink is invisible to most players. They think poaching means attacking. But the positional pressure of a well-placed poach dink is often more effective than a wild attack from an awkward position.
How to exploit: In your next match, poach 3 times but deliberately dink instead of attacking. Notice how confused opponents become when your presence in their space is the weapon, not your paddle speed.
Morgan Evans, "6 Shots Pros Have" (2025-05-26)
⚡ Conventional Wisdom Is Wrong

Forearm Rotation Not Wrist

kitchen-playrolling-volley →

Cincola: common teaching says lock wrist, swing from shoulder, use legs to drive up through the shot. This creates a large, inefficient swing with a big finish that leaves you exposed. Real power source = forearm rotation (like turning a doorknob). Shorter lever closer to the paddle = more paddle speed, less overall movement, compact finish back to ready position instantly.

What most people do
Lock wrist, drive from shoulder and legs — big motion, slow recovery.
What the best do
Forearm rotation. Shorter lever = more paddle speed with less body movement. Ready for the next ball immediately.
Why it's an edge: Completely reframes the power source for the most important attacking volley. Eliminates the "big finish" that exposes you to the counter.
How to exploit: Cincola drill: fingers pointing down, forearm roll to fingers pointing up — isolate that rotation. Then toss paddle spinning in the air — that's the exact motion.
John Cincola, "Roll Volley Like a Pro" (2023-04-21)

Sources

  • Morgan Evans, "Twice the Speed of Smell" ep027 mid-episode tip (2021-03-02) — rolling volley on fourth balls, topspin insurance
  • Morgan Evans, "5 Points He Won" (2025-03-19) — rolling volley through the middle in match play
  • Colin Johns, "The Forehand Roll Attack" (2019-10-03) — forehand roll technique, disguise, wrist drop, reload, target right hip to shoulder
  • Catherine Parenteau, "Topspin Attack" (2023-02-09) — unlock wrist to drop paddle, then LOCK and shoulder-drive low to high