Become an All Court Player

Are you a player who fears being drawn into the forecourt, that scary space that lies between the service line and the net?  Actually, better players usually win the point when they have control of the forecourt. So how do you become more comfortable when you are forced to play a ball in this area? By spending more time practicing how to hit approach shots, volleys, and overheads. Find a partner who has the same ambition to improve his/her forecourt game and hit the courts. Here are a few drills you can do with a practice partner to improve your confidence and ability to close out points.

(1)   One player is positioned at the baseline and the other at the net. The baseliner hits the ball at the net player who hits a volley back to the baseliner with control. Every few shots the baseliner lobs a ball up into air to give the volleyer a chance to hit an overhead.

(2)   Practice partners are positioned across the net from each other. Both try to execute crisp controlled volleys back and forth to each other while attempting to move forward. The key element in this drill is control. You want the exchange to continue, rather than end with only one or two volleys.

The key ingredient to executing a successful volley is control. Think direction rather than power.  Move forward to intercept the ball, rather than just swinging at it when it comes to you. Your racquet is a trampoline.  All you have to do is move forward and direct the ball into the open court. The more energy you use trying to kill the ball will exponentially increase the chance that you will over execute the shot and turn a winning opportunity into an unforced error.

George Haley