This is a good drill for learning and practicing how to move up and playing at the net.
The ball machine will feed balls to my left side so that they land around the service line; I will hit series of 3 shots: backhand topspin approach, volley, and drop-volley; do one series of 3 balls cross-court, then one down-the-line, and so forth.
The following technical aspects should be taken into consideration:

- considering there is less court to aim the ball to (as opposed to hitting from the baseline), use more topspin on the backhand groundstroke approach shot; grip: eastern backhand (one-handed);
- perform a split step before hitting the volley and drop shot;
- on the volley, for more control, avoid the backswing, and keep an abbreviated follow-through;
- for a successful drop-volley, cushion the ball on the racquet by softening the grip; open the racquet face for extra slice;
- for both, volley and drop-volley, use a continental grip.

Secrets:
- Topspin Backhand Approach: Brush more upward on the back of the ball for an extra spin; do it with an abbreviated backswing.
- Backhand Volley: Lock the wrist at a 90-degree angle between forearm and racquet (tip up), and prepare with the racquet head higher than the non-dominant shoulder so you can bring it down on the ball for pace and slice.
- Drop-Volley: Imagine someone would toss an egg for you to catch without breaking it - soften the contact by cushioning the ball on the strings.