Is This Volley Drill Weird?

[Cindysphinx]

My lesson partner and I are working on our net play. We've got it all: failure to split step, mis-timed split step, failure to step in, failure to be ready for the next shot. Just to name a few chronic problems.

Our pro has us doing a drill to help with this. We each stand just in front of the service line on the deuce court, facing each other. We are to sustain a cross-court volley rally, each of us hitting quality, controlled volleys, attempting to aim for the other's racket. In other words, no popping the ball up, no driving it at the feet, no winners.

Here's the part I'm having trouble with. He wants us to split, step in to volley, but recover back to our original position.

I get into trouble because after a couple of volleys, my stepping in to the volley has me moving closer and closer to the net. I always figured this was OK and even desirable, but he says I really shouldn't be closing the net in a match merely because I struck a volley. No, I should be closing the net because I hit an offensive shot and therefore have a reason to close the net, if I understood him correctly. So I should recover to first volley position (in front of service line), a court position from which I am prepared to hit another volley or even cover a lob. Split, forward, back. Split, forward, back.

I've been reflecting on this. In singles, players most definitely close the net with every volley, right? Then again, I've seen the Brian Brothers play doubles, both at net. They will hit defensive volleys one after the other, not closing the net past first volley position unless they are going on offense.

What do you think? Does anyone have experience with this type of drill? Does anyone volley this way in a real match? Or is this instruction just something to help us drill balance and footwork and enable us to keep the rally going long enough for some real practice?

Cindy -- nursing foot blisters from this drill

 

[Solat]

I think you need to look at the two main types of volley, offensive and defensive and relate your footwork to whichever you are hitting.

THis drill is a defensive volley drill as you are in no way encouraged to put the ball away or make it difficult for your partner. Now generally a defensive volley the footwork is stunted and often reactive not proactive. Therefore you would expect to need to recover back to the original position after each volley.

Unfortunately in this instance your coach is asking for you to be proactive with your feet (stepping forward) but defensive in your volley. So you are right to question it's validity in regards to playing competitive tennis. However if your coach just wishes to see you hit a million volleys in a row and see if your footwork can keep you balanced and agile then the drill is perfect.

What I would encourage instead would be to have a competition to make your opponent volley as many volleys below waist height as possible without making the ball hit the ground. This means you cover many good facets :
1) keeping the ball below net height to keep opponent from attacking
2) low balls will encourage forward stepping and recovery
3) will develop touch and control of volleys
4) can be co-operative or competitive (how many "low" volleys can your pair make in a row, or can you force your opponent to make an error thru control not power, etc)

 

[slice bh compliment]

Wasn't it Freud who said, "Sometimes a drill is just a drill".

Hopefully your footwork can become smooth enough to where it's not causing blisters. Might have to adopt the Lleyton Hewitt sock protocol.

Whether you're hitting an offensive volley and closing in or not is really not relevant to this drill. It's more about repeating the same volley and getting back in position so you can give yourself and your hitting partner another chance to hit a similar volley. I'd say this one values repetition and ball control over realistic-ness.

Granted, you're probably a natural closer, and in this drill, you are not getting a chance to practice closing...so that's probably flying in the face of a good tendency. But, for the intrinsic value of hitting repetitive volleys, it's a tried and true drill.

A common misconception in dubs: close in if you've hit a deep volley. Sure, but not so much that you'll be vulnerable to a lob. Me, I'm over 6ft tall and I move well backwards and I LOVE overheads. But if that does not describe you, that's another reason to play just inside the service line against a baseliner who lobs well. You can close in against non-lobbers and someone who is at the net.

 

[Cindysphinx]

So I'm probably over-doing things, then. I should be taking small, controlled volley steps, not the aggressive ones you take when you are trying to do a huge weight transfer.

OK. I will ice my feet, put on two pairs of socks, and have another go . . .

Thanks!!!!!!

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I think you need to look at the two main types of volley, offensive and defensive and relate your footwork to whichever you are hitting.

THis drill is a defensive volley drill as you are in no way encouraged to put the ball away or make it difficult for your partner. Now generally a defensive volley the footwork is stunted and often reactive not proactive. Therefore you would expect to need to recover back to the original position after each volley.

Unfortunately in this instance your coach is asking for you to be proactive with your feet (stepping forward) but defensive in your volley. So you are right to question it's validity in regards to playing competitive tennis. However if your coach just wishes to see you hit a million volleys in a row and see if your footwork can keep you balanced and agile then the drill is perfect.

What I would encourage instead would be to have a competition to make your opponent volley as many volleys below waist height as possible without making the ball hit the ground. This means you cover many good facets :
1) keeping the ball below net height to keep opponent from attacking
2) low balls will encourage forward stepping and recovery
3) will develop touch and control of volleys
4) can be co-operative or competitive (how many "low" volleys can your pair make in a row, or can you force your opponent to make an error thru control not power, etc)

Fantastic answer! Couldnt have said it better myself. Well, I do of course have something to add.

This drill is about "walking and chewing gum" at the same time.

It is not only a ball control drill but a footwork drill at the same time.

It is suppose to challenge the brain to help make footwork automatic while the player concentrates on controlling the ball. If a player has to think about both, the brain hicups and problems happen.

If you cant get back into position for whatever reason (too slow, forget to move, watching your shot too long, etc...), then you and your partner will have to slow it down until you get it right.

It might be a bit humiliating because you might have to slow it down real real slow until you "get it". One thing that might help is trying to feel your shot go to your partner rather then "looking" at it. Sometimes you may look at the ball a fraction of a second too long, and bam, you're caught away from the position you should have retreated to.

 

[40lovebaby]

My lesson partner and I are working on our net play. We've got it all: failure to split step, mis-timed split step, failure to step in, failure to be ready for the next shot. Just to name a few chronic problems.

Our pro has us doing a drill to help with this. We each stand just in front of the service line on the deuce court, facing each other. We are to sustain a cross-court volley rally, each of us hitting quality, controlled volleys, attempting to aim for the other's racket. In other words, no popping the ball up, no driving it at the feet, no winners.

Here's the part I'm having trouble with. He wants us to split, step in to volley, but recover back to our original position.

I get into trouble because after a couple of volleys, my stepping in to the volley has me moving closer and closer to the net. I always figured this was OK and even desirable, but he says I really shouldn't be closing the net in a match merely because I struck a volley. No, I should be closing the net because I hit an offensive shot and therefore have a reason to close the net, if I understood him correctly. So I should recover to first volley position (in front of service line), a court position from which I am prepared to hit another volley or even cover a lob. Split, forward, back. Split, forward, back.

I've been reflecting on this. In singles, players most definitely close the net with every volley, right? Then again, I've seen the Brian Brothers play doubles, both at net. They will hit defensive volleys one after the other, not closing the net past first volley position unless they are going on offense.

What do you think? Does anyone have experience with this type of drill? Does anyone volley this way in a real match? Or is this instruction just something to help us drill balance and footwork and enable us to keep the rally going long enough for some real practice?

Cindy -- nursing foot blisters from this drill

I think I might be the first one to address this aspect, but no - in doubles, it isn't a certainty that you should close the net with every volley.

In doubles, there is a staggaring of players, even if you are both at the net. One of you is "the terminator" and the other the crosscourt player. Depending on the situation, optimally you may be several feet behind your partner in distance to the net. The reason for this is because the most deadly shot in doubles is the crosscourt lob, and if you are the server, it's your job to cover this by staggering back. . .even if you're at the net.

Now, depending on what shot comes your way, you may end up becoming the terminator by getting a high ball that you hit aggressively down the line, but guess what - your partner would then back up a little bit and would become the crosscourt player.

Other times you'll find that as the crosscourt player at the net, your opponet will hit a shot that makes you come forward and hit a low volley. Well, in that situation, your job is to hit that volley back crosscourt since you can't be aggressive with it, and don't want to pop up to the opposing net player. Since you have hit it back crosscourt, you must get back into the ready position back again as the crosscourt player, so they can't crosscourt lob you.

In singles, you don't have a terminator and crosscourt player formation, since it's just you, but the same principal applies, and if I play someone that continues to move forward, then I would give them heavy spin balls to volley at their feet, and when they are close enough to the net, simply lob them. You don't have to even hit a very good lob against someone up against the net.

Some good replies from others on the drill itself, but thought I'd address the positioning aspect.

 

[Nellie]

I think I might be the first one to address this aspect, but no - in doubles, it isn't a certainty that you should close the net with every volley.

Agreed - if you hit a volley that is not a winner, you will often need to back up, or get hit/passed/lobbed while standing near the net

 

[40lovebaby]

Agreed - if you hit a volley that is not a winner, you will often need to back up, or get hit/passed/lobbed while standing near the net

I think it's a misconception, and I know I used to think this way, that every volley should be struck with the intent to win the point.

I have found since from watching the best doubles teams that some volleys are meant to set up the point for your partner. It's a tough concept to grasp in the moment that you are three feet away from the net, but it happens that the shot you have to deal with requires a high risk shot to win the point, whereas doubles is all about not hitting high risk shots.