Although the serve and volley game is a dying art in the professional world, how to volley is an essential skill to learn to complete your mastery of tennis. If you want to play tennis at any level you will need to have a good idea of what your groundstrokes are, how to serve and how to volley.
If you live or work in Sydney then contact Tennis World Rushcutters Bay about tennis lessons in and around Edgecliffe and how to improve your serve.
What Is A Tennis Volley
A tennis volley is basically any shot that is hit before the ball has had the chance to bounce on the ground. Normally you would play a volley when you do not have the time to let the ball bounce or you are attacking the net.
Timing
For people who follow their serve into the net this is called serve and volleying. The following three tips will help you approach the net.
- Serve towards the outside of the court – this will make your opponent run after the ball, thus giving you the time needed to get to the net and then setup for your volley.
- Serve close to the T of the service box – this also makes the opponent chase down the ball.
- Serve towards the opponent’s body – this makes returning the serve very difficult and often weak, giving you the opportunity and time for an effective volley.
Baseline Approach
The baseline approach is when you move from the baseline to the net in order to volley, and should take place if your opponent hits an approach shot. For a proper baseline approach, you will have to run up to the mid-court and hit the ball while using the momentum to get to the net.
Types Of Volleys
There are basically seven types of volleys:- punch, block, touch, low, drive, low counter, and overhead.
All volleys use a continental grip, and the best way to strike a volley is by holding the racket at a 45 degree angle.
- Punch volley – this volley does not use a full swing as this would take too much time. To hit a ball hard and fast with a short swing, you need racket speed, which is exactly what a punch volley is.
- Block volley – this shot is played when the ball is coming at you fast and the only option you have is to block it. Your racket almost acts like a wall. If you perform the shot correctly the ball will travel back over the net just as fast.
- Touch volley – played like a drop shot, although done at the net. You would use the touch volley when your opponent is on the baseline.
- Low volley – when at the net, some shots are really close to the ground, but be warned it is a really hard shot to play as it requires the player to be close to the ground.
- Drive volley – the drive volley is the most aggressive of all. It utilises a full swing and differs from other volleys as generates both power and topspin.
- Low counter volley – normally is used as an approach shot. The ball is hit below the knee and to play the shot you will need to run forward and return the ball using your weight and momentum.
- An overhead – otherwise commonly known as a Smash. It is almost a combination of a serve and a volley, and your stance will be almost identical to a serve.
Although you may not be proficient at all seven volleys, you definitely need to master the shots that there is no alternative to. But the strong advice is to try and learn them all as there will be occasions when no other shot will do.
If you live in the Elizabeth Bay area of Sydney and would like to practice your volley technique more, then Tennis World Rushcutters Bay is the the center of choice for people looking for tennis courts near to Elizabeth Bay.
