Tag: volley

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Tennis Strokes

Through the years I’ve given lots of tips regarding specific strokes and tactics. I think it’s good, once in a while, to step back, get general, and look at the basics. Below are some basics to the main strokes in tennis. You’ll see a theme in all of them, consistency.

Serve – Starting the point. That is the main purpose of this stroke. It is also the most important thing to remember. Start the point. Players at all levels get caught up trying to do too much with their serve and forget that to win your serve, you’ve got to get it in (preferably on the first serve). So how do you get it in? 1. Take a little off of it. The pros can blast aces, you can blast faults. 2. Reach up and hit the ball at the highest point you can. If you climb a ladder to the point where you contact the ball, you can see more of the service box over the net. The higher you hit the ball, the better your chance of hitting the box. 3. Add topspin to your serve. Use a continental grip (like holding a hammer), swing up with a motion from about 7 to 1 on the clock face.

Forehand – Once again the name of the game is consistency. And once again, one of the best ways to be more consistent is with topspin. With topspin you can hit the ball harder and deeper in the court, and give your opponent a difficult ball to hit. Use a western or semi-western grip (like holding a frying pan) and swing from low to high. Your follow through should go over your opposite shoulder.

Backhand – You guessed it, get it in. This one’s a little trickier. One hand, two hand, slice, drive. Your skill level and type of backhand determine the exact technique, but consistency is still the number one priority. 

Volley – Most people make the volley more difficult than it needs to be. Use a continental grip (like holding a hammer). Keep the racket out in front of you, step forward, and punch or block the ball. There should be little to no back swing.

 Overhead – There are a few important things to remember here… 1. Get the racket up into the ready position (back scratch position)  2. Turn your body sideways to the ball (similar to the serve stance).  3. Point your other hand at the incoming ball. This will force you to turn your shoulders and get the racket arm in the loaded position. Remember to keep your feet moving and use small shuffle steps to adjust to the flight of the ball.

Remember, consistency only comes through practice, focused practice. So get out there and practice the basics!

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Poaching

Poaching

   Now that we’ve worked on your volley the last few weeks, lets put it to use in doubles. Poaching may be one of the scariest moves you’ll make on the tennis court, but to be a good doubles player, it’s essential that you learn to do it well. There are four critical elements to poaching: positioning, stance, timing, and direction. Let’s take a look at each of them.

  1.  Positioning-most players stand too close to both the net and the alley to poach successfully. For best results, stand right in the middle of the service box. In this position you are right in front of the returner, who will immediately consider you more of a threat. You are also in position to intercept any return not hit perfectly crosscourt.

  2.  Stance–lower your center of gravity by widening your feet and bending your knees. In this stance you will be more balanced and able to push off to go in either direction, right or left.

  3. Timing–take off for your poach either just before or right as the returner is hitting the ball. This way you are making your move when the returner is concentrating on hitting the ball so they won’t notice you (or even better, notice you and make an error on the return).

  4. Direction–always move diagonally toward the net. Players often just move sideways(usually because they are already too close to the net). By moving forward as well, your momentum helps you punch the volley, helping to resist the urge to take the racket back for power.

 I hope these tips help you develop good poaching technique. Remember, practice, practice, practice. That goes especially for the timing part of the poach. Developing good timing on the poach will yield big results in points won.

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Backhand Reflex Volley

How to volley bodyshots

Have you ever had a shot hit right at your body when you were at the net? They are tough to handle.

The best way to hit a reflex volley on a ball hit right at your body is with a backhand grip. With a backhand you can hit balls from your chest to your right hip (for righties), and, of course, anything to your left. In contrast, the forehand volley has a much more limited range and can only handle shots on your right side.

Remember, we are talking about a reflex volley, one where you don’t have much time to react. To execute the backhand reflex volley:

  1. Make sure you always have your racket up in the ready position (chest high and pointed in front of you).
  2. Raise your elbow so that you can move the racket face in front of your body to block the ball.

Check out our previous tip, Punch the volley, for pointers for when you do have time on the volley.

The reflex backhand volley can keep you in the point, and possibly save you a bruise or two. Remember to keep that racket up and in front of you to give yourself more time on the volleys.

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Punch the volley

Some players avoid the net for fear of getting passed or they just lack confidence in their volleys. We’ll deal with fear of failure later, for now lets work on your volley.

The key to the volley is making the stroke compact.

  • keep your racket up and in a ready position, pointed straight ahead slightly above waist height, racket head higher than handle (this is very important)
  • split step(bounce lightly on the balls of both feet with body facing forward) as your opponent hits the ball
  • turn your shoulders as you read the incoming ball, keeping your racket within your shoulders 
  • step diagonally/forward in the direction of the incoming ball with the opposite foot  (example..ball is coming toward your left side, step that way with your right foot)
  • punch the ball by using a short forward swing(with little or no back swing) with a firm grip and wrist
  •  let you body’s forward momentum provide the power
  • volley the ball away (choices-between opponents, at net man’s feet, or angled away from both opponents)

Instructions are great but nothing beats video to show you how to do it right.

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Bunt the short ball

Last time we talked about hitting an aggressive approach shot off of a short ball. This week we examine what to do when you can’t quite reach the short ball while it is at a good height for an aggressive shot. Why can’t you hit an aggressive shot on a low, short ball? Because your forward momentum,  close proximity to the net, and the low height of the ball make it very difficult to swing slow enough to control the ball and keep in the court.

The solution is to bunt the ball. The bunt is basically a volley while running forward. Let’s look at the bunt.

  • As you run forward, your momentum provides all the power you need (no swing needed)

  • Run with your racket out front and push through the ball at contact (like a volley)

  • Aim the ball deep if your opponent is coming in or drop shot them if they stay back

The bunt will help you control the ball when you are at a full forward run, stay in the point, and up your winning percentage.

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Serve and “Mosey”

Serve and Mosey

Last week we talked about putting away the angle volley. This week we’ll discuss one of the ways you get to the volley position. In doubles the strategy is traditionally, to serve and volley. In other words, serve and head straight for the net to join your partner.

Sometimes that strategy doesn’t work. For example, your opponent keeps crushing your serve back at your feet as you come to the net, or lobs your return over your partner. In these instances, and if you just don’t feel comfortable serving and charging directly to the net, try the “Serve and Mosey”.

Serve and Mosey simply means serve, hit a ground stroke as an approach shot, and come to net. This lets you concentrate on your serve, step into the court to hit an aggressive ground stroke and advance closer to the net than you would serving and volley at one time.

Remember, the best doubles teams still win the points at the net. How you get there is up to you. Try the serve and mosey.