Using the Volley to End a Point.

When developing their tennis skills, most players work towards consistent and powerful groundstrokes. Their game is executed from the baseline and when they venture into the forecourt area they become uncomfortable. The reason for this is simple, when they practice 90% of the time, it is forehand and backhand from the baseline. They become accustomed to bringing their racquet back and executing long or loopy strokes.

Successful volleys are the result of quick movement and short strokes. Most of the errors I witness when working with players involve hesitation in moving forward and volleying as close as possible to the net. They let the ball come to them and swing at it. Unfortunately, the ball drops lower on route to them and they end up hitting the ball into the net or outside the court. Think “fast feet”, Execute a quick approach to the net with a controlled punch driving the ball away from your opponent. Another is too much hand movement, Players often feel the need to snap, twist or open the face of the racquet on impact. I have noticed that many players open the face of the racquet upon impact (they lean their wrist backwards).  This results in the ball dropping into the net. Keep your wrist firm upon contact. Hit high balls like you would spike a volleyball. Direct the ball downward with you arm but do not snap your wrist. For balls at or below your shoulder, think of your racquet as a trampoline. Rather than swinging at the ball, move forward and       redirect the ball into the opponent’s court. Another error is that weak approach shorts often contribute to unsuccessful attempts to close out a point. Concentrate on placing your approach shot outside easy reach of your opponent. Short angled placements will force your opponent to hit up allowing you to volley the ball into the open court.

As a player, visualize yourself as an artist. Baseline strokes are similar to an artist’s stroke when he paints the sky of a picture. The stroke is long and powerful. But when you come into the forecourt area, your strokes need to resemble the stroke of an artist painting a delicate part of the eye. Whether you execute a half volley or regular volley,your stroke needs to be short, precise, stable, and deliberate.

George Haley