Tennis Volley: 7 Steps To Perfect Volley Technique
There are not quite as many volleys hit in today’s tennis game as in the past, but it is still an essential skill to have success on the tennis court. So many players try to do what they can at the net, and hitting crisp shots can put points away quickly.
In doubles, volleys are even more important. Strong net play is crucial to stand ground and play each ball well. Players need to make quick decisions at the net, hit clean shots and be confident to put pressure on the opposition.
Looking for the best ways to perfect volleying technique? These steps below can make someone play better than ever before. A lot of volleying is building up simple techniques and confidence, so a player is never tempted on retreating to the baseline.
1. Keeping Momentum Going Forward
There is not much time to react with a volley, which means that people fall in the habit of taking a step back at times to give them a little bit more time to work with. It is not the smartest thing to do unless it is absolutely necessary. More often than not, players should be moving forward so that they can take the ball early and dictate where it goes. Punching the ball at times is also very smart as far as decision-making is concerned.
Try to stay up on the toes when hitting a volley, as it usually makes the shot a bit sharper. Players can get a better feel for the shot, and then close the gap between them and the net even more. The more in control that very first volley is, the better the next one or two will go as well before the point is finished.
2. Use The Right Grip
Switching to a different grip when hitting a volley is harder than it might appear at first. Most players want to move to a continental grip to use for both a forehand or backhand volley. This is always a plus to have the same grip for both sides, because switching at the last second can be troublesome. The vast majority of people are going to be just fine with a continental grip.
If that does not feel as comfortable as it should be, an eastern forehand grip is also worth trying out. Some players feel a little more comfortable on the forehand side with this grip, while sticking with a continental grip on the backhand. Only try this if it feels comfortable and a player can switch fairly easily. Otherwise, it could overcomplicate net play, and force people into vulnerable positions.
3. Footwork Technique
A successful volley in tennis is pretty much the same as any other shot, in that footwork preparation is key. While taking small steps are extremely important, also figuring out how to split step when the opponent makes contact helps movement to the ball as well.
Take a look at professional players, and it is easy to see that they all have ways to use split steps to their advantage. If a player gets all the timing right, they can have that edge that swings a point into their direction. It also does a very good job of keeping a player on balance, since a person is less likely to reach one way or the other.
To work on footwork, most of the practice should be focused on split steps. Get the timing down with either a practice partner or a ball machine to really get a feel for everything. A good split step is almost like a small hop, allowing a player to burst into either direction depending on the shot.
4. Make Contact In The Right Areas
The contact point for a volley is crucial, because balls can go crazy if the contact point is off just a bit. Positioning the racquet is huge, because players do not need to make big swings when they are at the net. It is more about deflecting pace and hitting corners as much as possible.
Right before a ball is going to make contact with the racquet, the face must be slightly open. That means it is not only open, but just a little bit upwards towards the sky. It is better to be a little early instead of a little late, and volleys are always hard to get the timing down just right. When in doubt, do not worry so much about taking a full stroke by any means. Instead, just absorb the power and redirect it. Sometimes, a player only needs to put the racquet up and get it in the way of the ball to take the point.
5. Crafting a Point
The way racquet technology is today, setting up a volley is just as important as executing once that opportunity is there. A player needs to set up opportunities for a volley and anticipate appropriately, or there is a chance of getting burned pretty quickly.
One of the most common setups is closing the gap between the player and the net after hitting hard, deep shots to the player’s backhand. A player is either not going to return the ball, return it weakly, or try to crank it for winner in a time of desperation. When a player can hit this approach shot, following it up can open up the opportunity for a volley.
Players struggle to hit valleys consistently if they are not anticipating this option. Having anticipation and trusting instincts is going to go far in helping a person pull off some of the shots.
6. Do Not Let The Ball Drop
Playing it safe in tennis has a time and place, but it should not be done at the net if there is a chance for an easy volley. If possible, do not let any volleys drop, because that is only going to set up problems going forward.
It is pretty standard knowledge that the closer a person is to the net, the easier the volley is the pull off. It is easier to clear the net when the ball is in the air, instead of waiting for it to drop. The ball is always going to not bounce as high off of the ground, and it also allows people to think too much about hitting that perfect shot.
Practice on hitting some volleys that might seem uncomfortable at first. It might mean running a little faster or going after shots that usually people stay back on, but it will help in the end. Even practicing some more controlled half volleys in the middle of the court is fine.
With all this being said, make sure that closing the net is done under control. Do not sprint towards the net with no plan in place, as that will usually mess a player up as well.
7. Keep Everything Short
The timing for volleys is different than any other shot in tennis. Too many players believe that they have more time than they actually do, and when they are rushed, their volleys does not end up working out all that well.
Make sure to work on keeping not only the backswing short, but the swing through the ball short as well. Everything should be very concise and confidence to pull volleys off. People are inevitably going to hit some volleys that set up for easy shots, or sail out. No one is going to be 100% perfect on their volleys, even if it seems like a relatively easy shot. Just trust the percentages, and continue to go after balls when they are available.
To practice the act of keeping things short, have a player feed balls rapidly at the net. Another option is to use a ball machine at a pretty high speed. The key is knowing how the ball will react off the racquet.
Another key to keeping everything short is to work on the difference between power volleys, and finesse volleys. There are some balls that a person should put away hard without focusing so much on precision. If the ball is fairly high up, a player has more time and clearance to put that volley away with authority. If the ball is a little lower, this might be a time to opt for precision and extreme angles.
Playing the angles really come in handy when a person is in a doubles match. With two players covering the court, it is pretty easy to get to a lot of balls if they are hit right up the middle. However, using some finesse to drop the ball to the open side of the court is worth having in a player’s arsenal. It keeps players honest, and can be just as effective as the most powerful volley out there.
A Final Look At Volleys
One of the great things about volleys in tennis is that a lot of it is reactionary. Some players have a hard time with shots when they have too much time to think about what they need to do. Balls are coming back so quickly in tennis that there is not much time to react. As long as a player has decent technique, they will be able to go with the flow.
