Missing stab volleys in doubles

[EddieBrock]

Are there any technical keys to hitting lunging stab volleys in doubles? Last week people were commenting on how great my volleys were and trying their best to keep the ball away from me. Then recently I played and missed way too many and cost us the match.

Mainly it's points where my partner is serving and I'm trying to be aggressive or my partner is out of position and I poach or my opponent tries to pass me down the alley and I have to stretch for a shot that's barely in reach.

 

[5point5]

Keep your racket above the net
Do not let the ball come to you
Minimize your split step
Do not be stagnant
Little steps
And watch these Fed-like volleys

 

[watungga]

At 0:00, he let the ball come to him.

 

[5point5]

At 0:00, he let the ball come to him.

Not with his racket

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[EddieBrock]

Keep your racket above the net
Do not let the ball come to you
Minimize your split step
Do not be stagnant
Little steps
And watch these Fed-like volleys

None of the volleys in the video are what I'm talking about. He wasn't taking any steps to the side or poaching to get in front of the ball.

What do you mean by "minimize your split step"?

 

[5point5]

None of the volleys in the video are what I'm talking about. He wasn't taking any steps to the side or poaching to get in front of the ball.

What do you mean by "minimize your split step"?

Don't jump too high, it wastes precious time.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Are there any technical keys to hitting lunging stab volleys in doubles? Last week people were commenting on how great my volleys were and trying their best to keep the ball away from me. Then recently I played and missed way too many and cost us the match.

How were you missing them? Into the net? Wide? Long?

Here's what I end up doing [I can't say I concentrate on these things because it happens so quickly I don't have time to think]:
- Open the racquet face
- Intercept as soon as possible; the further behind me the ball gets, the more difficult an angle I have to make with my wrist
- Move your feet instead of just bending at the waist [sometimes, I simply lack the time and reaction speed, though]

Most of my stab volleys are on very low balls, usually at shoelace-height.

Come to think of it, I've never seen a video on this specific topic. And yet I hit stab volleys multiple times in a match typically. Maybe it's due to bad footwork [ie if I had better footwork, I wouldn't be in such desperate straits].

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Don't jump too high, it wastes precious time.

Jumping high doesn't waste time. As long as I land just after opponent contact so I can react optimally to where the ball is going, it doesn't matter how high I jump [ie Murray's split step on RoS]. It would waste time if I was moving upward as the ball was coming towards me. Then the higher jump means it takes longer to come down which means the ball has travelled further [or perhaps even past me]. But this is a late split step, not necessarily too high of a split step.

I would say jumping high wastes energy and makes timing more difficult.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Keep your racket above the net

Not possible if the ball has already dipped below the net. One could argue that I therefore didn't move/react quickly enough but I have to deal with the incoming shot as it is.

Do not let the ball come to you
Minimize your split step
Do not be stagnant

Little steps

When I stab volley, I take one giant step. I don't think I'd have time to take more, smaller steps.

Again, much of this happens without thinking. If I stopped to think about taking 2 steps vs 1, the ball would already be past me.

[QUOTE}
And watch these Fed-like volleys
[/QUOTE]

None of the volleys in the video were stabs or lunges, though; he hardly had to move. I don't think this is what the OP had in mind.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Are there any technical keys to hitting lunging stab volleys in doubles? Last week people were commenting on how great my volleys were and trying their best to keep the ball away from me. Then recently I played and missed way too many and cost us the match.

Mainly it's points where my partner is serving and I'm trying to be aggressive or my partner is out of position and I poach or my opponent tries to pass me down the alley and I have to stretch for a shot that's barely in reach.

one thing to note, is that there are different genre's of volleys, and all have a different feel, and require specific practice for them....
* 1st volley, often around the svc line, or a couple feet behind, while moving in
* neutral volley, 3/4 mark between net & svc line
* putaway volley, ie. close enough to touch the net with your racquet (ie. like poaching)
* oh-sh*t volley - someone just blasted one at you
* low volley (and half volleys)
* waist high volley (what most folks practice)
* high volley - eg. head high, but not quite an oh (i flub this shot more times than not, so i end up doing too much or not enough and leave a sitter...)
* lunge or stab volley... full stretched... kinda a combo of all of the above.

 

[5point5]

Not possible if the ball has already dipped below the net. One could argue that I therefore didn't move/react quickly enough but I have to deal with the incoming shot as it is.



When I stab volley, I take one giant step. I don't think I'd have time to take more, smaller steps.

Again, much of this happens without thinking. If I stopped to think about taking 2 steps vs 1, the ball would already be past me.

[QUOTE}
And watch these Fed-like volleys

None of the volleys in the video were stabs or lunges, though; he hardly had to move. I don't think this is what the OP had in mind.

I was giving him advice on how he can groove his volleys so they can improve. No, he does not move all too much while volleying because he was working on depth, footwork, and control. 3 very important factors when hitting a volley.

Just because you take giant steps towards the ball does not make it right.

 

[5point5]

Jumping high doesn't waste time. As long as I land just after opponent contact so I can react optimally to where the ball is going, it doesn't matter how high I jump [ie Murray's split step on RoS]. It would waste time if I was moving upward as the ball was coming towards me. Then the higher jump means it takes longer to come down which means the ball has travelled further [or perhaps even past me]. But this is a late split step, not necessarily too high of a split step.

I would say jumping high wastes energy and makes timing more difficult.

So you agree, it wastes time because it would mess with timing..

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[ptuanminh]

If you need to jump that high to get a volley, leave it for your partner. Or overhead.

 

[EddieBrock]

How were you missing them? Into the net? Wide? Long?

Here's what I end up doing [I can't say I concentrate on these things because it happens so quickly I don't have time to think]:
- Open the racquet face
- Intercept as soon as possible; the further behind me the ball gets, the more difficult an angle I have to make with my wrist
- Move your feet instead of just bending at the waist [sometimes, I simply lack the time and reaction speed, though]

Most of my stab volleys are on very low balls, usually at shoelace-height.

Come to think of it, I've never seen a video on this specific topic. And yet I hit stab volleys multiple times in a match typically. Maybe it's due to bad footwork [ie if I had better footwork, I wouldn't be in such desperate straits].

I'd say 80% into the net, about 20% long/popped up for an easy kill from my opponents. It's not a shot I ever really practice and I was hitting my regular volleys great during the warm up and I hit my 1st volley really well when I approached the net.

The ones I'm talking about are mainly when I'm at the net already on my partner's serve and I'm hitting shots that are nearly outside of my reach where it's borderline if I or my partner at the baseline should take it. Some are cross court shots from my opponent at the baseline I'm trying to poach, others are when the opposing net man hits down the middle and I need to move and take it. Also some very low volleys or ones where they are trying to pass me down the alley.

If it's a standard volley that comes to me like in the video I hit them great, but I'm talking about ones where you're just stabbing at them. I think your suggestions are pretty good. I'm pretty sure I intercepted them quickly, but maybe I was bending at the waist or keeping the racket face too closed. It happens so fast it's hard to tell.

 

[Service Ace]

99% of issues involving volleying can be corrected by moving better. Likely you didn't have enough forward momentum when attempting to volley at the net as most people reach or poke at them. If you were swinging at them than shame on you, you should know better.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Stab volleys happen because you are late and desperate. No one will be reliably good in that situation. Asking to be more consistent with stab volleys is like asking to be more consistent on fending off body serves.

Best way to improve stab volleys is to improve anticipation and movement so it turns into a drive volley. Eye discipline can help here. Get your focus on the opponent and their racket so you can move to their target a split second sooner. Stay on your toes. The pros are like bunnies hopping around the service box in a doubles rally.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I'd say 80% into the net, about 20% long/popped up for an easy kill from my opponents. It's not a shot I ever really practice and I was hitting my regular volleys great during the warm up and I hit my 1st volley really well when I approached the net.

The ones I'm talking about are mainly when I'm at the net already on my partner's serve and I'm hitting shots that are nearly outside of my reach where it's borderline if I or my partner at the baseline should take it. Some are cross court shots from my opponent at the baseline I'm trying to poach, others are when the opposing net man hits down the middle and I need to move and take it. Also some very low volleys or ones where they are trying to pass me down the alley.

If it's a standard volley that comes to me like in the video I hit them great, but I'm talking about ones where you're just stabbing at them. I think your suggestions are pretty good. I'm pretty sure I intercepted them quickly, but maybe I was bending at the waist or keeping the racket face too closed. It happens so fast it's hard to tell.

should strive for 10% into net, and 90% long
maintain at least a 1-2ft margin over the net

it's ok to reach, and try, but let it go... your partner should be presuming that you're not gonna get it, until you actually get it (make contact). that said, most folks, including me, are easily fooled by partners making a move... (despite telling my partner, feel free to bail at any time if you don't think you can get it (presuming this is not a planned poach))

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

* lunge or stab volley... full stretched... kinda a combo of all of the above.

When you lunge/stab for a volley, how many steps do you take? I find I'm usually in panic mode and only have time for one step so I make it as large as possible.

I understand the benefit of small steps when trying to optimize my positioning when hitting a GS. This means I have time to make such small adjustments. But a volley when I have to lunge implies I don't have the luxury of time.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I'd say 80% into the net, about 20% long/popped up for an easy kill from my opponents. It's not a shot I ever really practice and I was hitting my regular volleys great during the warm up and I hit my 1st volley really well when I approached the net.
/QUOTE]

80% into the net is too high; try to open your racquet face more.

I'd much rather pop it up because that at least forces them to hit one more shot, which they will miss from time to time.

Lastly, long/wide is better than into the net because they still may play it.

I don't explicitly practice the stab/lunge volley but I get the opportunity to hit it when doing drills in a 2 up/2 back formation.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Just because you take giant steps towards the ball does not make it right.

Agreed. I was only noting how I hit it. However, it seems to me that when I see a pro hit a stab/lunge volley, they typically take one giant leap. Small steps don't cover enough ground quickly enough, IMO.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

So you agree, it wastes time because it would mess with timing..

No, because "wastes time" is not the same as "mess with timing". Wasting time means I'm doing something late. But various things could mess with timing such as doing something too early.

For example, if I split step too early, I'm now a bit flat-footed right after opponent contact. That's messing with my timing also.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

If you need to jump that high to get a volley, leave it for your partner. Or overhead.

BTW: @5point5 and I were talking about the split step jump height, not jumping to hit the volley.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

When you lunge/stab for a volley, how many steps do you take? I find I'm usually in panic mode and only have time for one step so I make it as large as possible.

I understand the benefit of small steps when trying to optimize my positioning when hitting a GS. This means I have time to make such small adjustments. But a volley when I have to lunge implies I don't have the luxury of time.

usually 1. it’s kinda like a reflex volley. no time, and/or the shot was that good.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

usually 1. it’s kinda like a reflex volley. no time, and/or the shot was that good.

Thought so. That aligns with my experience as well.

Best stab volley I ever hit: my opponent hit a short CC to my BH. I sliced a low shot DTL that tailed away from him. He ripped a TS DTL FH and I volleyed the ball so late I found it easier to just keep turning rather than stop and reverse directions. By the time I was facing forward again, the volley had already bounced on his side and was bouncing back on to my side. One of the few times I've been able to pull this off in a match.

 

[5point5]

BTW: @5point5 and I were talking about the split step jump height, not jumping to hit the volley.

I'm saying everything should be simplified at the net, if that means avoiding the split set I'm all for it.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I'm saying everything should be simplified at the net, if that means avoiding the split set I'm all for it.

Wholeheartedly agree that most people vastly overcomplicate volleys which hinders them.

But I equally wholeheartedly believe the split step is critical to being balanced and optimally ready.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Thought so. That aligns with my experience as well.

Best stab volley I ever hit: my opponent hit a short CC to my BH. I sliced a low shot DTL that tailed away from him. He ripped a TS DTL FH and I volleyed the ball so late I found it easier to just keep turning rather than stop and reverse directions. By the time I was facing forward again, the volley had already bounced on his side and was bouncing back on to my side. One of the few times I've been able to pull this off in a match.

oserver would be proud of your 360 volley

 

[5point5]

Wholeheartedly agree that most people vastly overcomplicate volleys which hinders them.

But I equally wholeheartedly believe the split step is critical to being balanced and optimally ready.

Maybe you need it. I don't.

At least not a full split step.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Maybe you need it. I don't.

At least not a full split step.

I definitely need it.

How do you modify your split step?
- Lower jump
- No jump
- Narrower stance

 

[5point5]

I definitely need it.

How do you modify your split step?
- Lower jump
- No jump
- Narrower stance

All of the above I believe, depending on the situation.

Although I am never actively trying to narrow my stance.

 

[TennisCJC]

If you are stretched wide and making a true "stab" volley, you want to get the racket head in front of the ball, open the strings and simply let the ball rebound off the string bed. Don't try to "help" the shot by following through instead be a stable wall. Coach Broady on youtube had a video on very wide volleys - you might want to see if you can find it.