The forecourt area of a tennis court is the area that is between the net and the service line. This is an uncomfortable area for many tennis players. Inexperienced or one dimensional players lose more points in this area than they win.  This is an unfortunate dilemma for them. Their opponent gives them a short ball and instead of capitalizing on this opportunity, they commit an unforced error. Here are some tips on how to improve your play in the forecourt area of the tennis court.

• Close in on high floaters that are hit by your opponent. Don’t freeze and let the ball play you. Close in quickly and punch the ball into the open court. Do not use your wrist to power the ball. Hit the ball like you were spiking a volleyball.Balls that clear the net by only a few feet should be played more cautiously. Intercept these balls as close to the net as possible. Keep your racquet in the same plane as the ball. Step in and contact the ball with a blocking action. Remember, the tennis racquet works like a trampoline. Use the racquet to deflect the ball into the open court.
  

• Balls that arrive below the net must be played defensively. Bend your knees while moving forward to get down to the level of the ball.  Put your racquet in a horizontal position with a slight tilt upward. Let the ball deflect off the racquet strings. You can control the height that the ball will go over the net by the number of degrees you tilt the racquet. You can control the depth of the shot by moving the racquet slightly forward on contact (greater depth) or by letting the racquet ease backwards on contact ( like catching an egg) for a shorter volley. 

• Try not to overreact when attempting to volley a shot. Less hand work (racquet movement) is preferable. Just like ground strokes, remember the rule “fast feet-slow racquet”. Follow these guidelines and you will begin to finish up points when you are in the forecourt just like the pros.