The tennis shot hit before the ball bounces on the court is called a volley.
Players most often hit volleys near the net, where taking the ball out of the air reduces the opponent’s reaction time. A volley can be punched, blocked, or angled into open court rather than swung like a full groundstroke. It can also be played farther back, including around the service line or even near the baseline.
The shot is especially associated with serve-and-volley tennis, in which a player serves and immediately moves forward to attack with a volley. Good volleying requires quick reflexes, compact racquet preparation, and precise control because the ball arrives quickly.
A volley is not the same as a half-volley, which is struck immediately after the ball bounces. Nor is every ball hit near the net a volley: a smash is an overhead attacking shot, while a drop shot is defined mainly by its soft placement and short bounce. Opponents commonly answer a volley with a passing shot or lob.