Half volley: is it a stroke or..

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by 5263

Isn't the "half volley", a stroke technique? Or is it situation based?
Thats how I learned it and this technique was normally used for balls when the
player needed to make the shot quickly after the bounce and sometimes on the
rise further from the deck.

This writer below seems to think the half volley is situation and that the name
is not very descriptive of the shot.
Subtle issue, but curious what some of you thought.

http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpt...he-half-volley

I disagree with most of this article, and especially since I think the name is very
properly descriptive of this "stoke".
Imo the Half volley is mostly a volley that has been lengthened just a bit to
provide some power and control, much like you would do on a volley when the
ball comes slowly to be volleyed and you want to add power to the volley
since the ball was coming so slow.

I didn't have a big problem with the article. I agree that it's not a stroke I want to be hitting a lot. OTHO if you're coming forward it's a stroke you're going to hit some times. You can't be afraid to hit it. Personally if I'm hitting a lot of half volleys then I take that to mean something's wrong. I'm coming in on the wrong shots, not doing enough with my serve, something.

Technique-wise it's a mix. I hit the shot with a continental grip on either side and always one handed, so it's more like a volley. But the stroke mechanics is more like a very shorten ground stroke.

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by Mick3391

Lets take your vocabulary and mincing words against my natural talent and HARD WORK AND FUN and see who comes out on top, are you joking? "Well a half drop blah side spin", are you joking?

If you have to think about it that hard you can't play, and if you think you can come play me, even in horrible shape I've DESTROYED 5.5 players, would have Justin Bower, just PLAY ALL, DON'T LISTEN TO THIS NONSENSE.

Mick, you seem like a nice guy. You obviously care about your son. I'd encourage you to reread your post.

[5263]

Originally Posted by Avles

Just to take this thread further into pedantry, it turns out that the first recorded use of "half-volley" (in 1843) was in reference to cricket (a ball bouncing just reaching before the batsman or fieldsman) So it's possible that both tennis and soccer adopted the term from cricket.

On the other hand the term "volley" goes back to Real Tennis (first recorded use 1596). But it originally referred to the flight of the incoming ball, not the stroke used to hit it (Shots were hit "at the volley" meaning "on the fly.") It appears that the use of "volley" to describe the shot itself comes from the 19th century.

Short hop probably is a baseball term, that's where I've heard it. It was the best equivalent I could think of for the half-volley situation.

Thanks Avles, interesting info.

[TennisCJC]

I thought the article had a few insights like players not wanting to hit half volleys but I did not find it really helpful. It described a half volley and stated they are pretty much a pain in the asse, but no real instruction.

If I am at the baseline, I play half-volleys off the short hop - bend the knees to get the hands down to the ball. Small backswing, a bit of top on the FH and a bit of slice on the BH, with a full follow-thru.

If I am in volley position or moving to volley position, I play it with nearly no backswing and a bit of follow thru. Amost always slice BH, FH will be either a touch of slice or a rather flat pick-up with maybe a touch of top.

[luvforty]

5263 -

half-volley is the most important shot in tennis..... prove me wrong.

[5263]

Looks like in the end, the players, coaches, and references seem to mostly
side with the half volley being any ball that is short hopped right off the deck,
pretty much regardless of how the stroke looks.
Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but it is what it is.
Thanks for the replies and references

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by 5263

Looks like in the end, the players, coaches, and references seem to mostly
side with the half volley being any ball that is short hopped right off the deck,
pretty much regardless of how the stroke looks.
Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but it is what it is.
Thanks for the replies and references

Just because almost everyone says or thinks something, doesn't make it right.

J

[tennis_balla]

Originally Posted by luvforty

5263 -

half-volley is the most important shot in tennis..... prove me wrong.

Prove that statement right...

[treblings]

i can play the half volley with different techniques depending mostly on where on the court i play it. for me it´s mainly an improvised shot.
near the net i will probably have prepared for a volley, so i will likely use a conti grip and change the angle of the racquethead to play the ball.
at or near the baseline i will probably have prepared for a groundstroke with the appropriate grip, so i will play more or less a groundstroke.
now of course you can call what i know as half volley a short hop.
and then find alternate names for the technique you use.

i just don´t see the advantage for my players, but i´m open to good arguments

[5263]

Originally Posted by tennis_balla

Prove that statement right...

He's just popping off again. That is about the 4th shot he has stated as the
most important, maybe 5th.
It's just important to him that people think the Fh is not the most important
shot it seems.

[5263]

Originally Posted by J011yroger

Just because almost everyone says or thinks something, doesn't make it right.

J

I agree very much with you here in a sense, but I suppose people give words
their meaning, even if it does not follow a useful logic.

[luvforty]

Originally Posted by 5263

He's just popping off again. That is about the 4th shot he has stated as the
most important, maybe 5th.
It's just important to him that people think the Fh is not the most important
shot it seems.

lol 5263 - you are still not getting it

[5263]

Originally Posted by luvforty

lol 5263 - you are still not getting it

right, and as you can see above Balla, and Ash on the other page don't
either...2 of the best coaches we have on here.
You are a new guy on here and you will find your way with some time or
like most fade away after awhile. Either way, we as a group are used to
both.

[luvforty]

how do you know balla and ash not getting it?

[sureshs]

I really don't "hit" a half-volley. It happens by instinct when the ball is too close to the feet.

[tennis_balla]

Originally Posted by luvforty

how do you know balla and ash not getting it?

...because the 'tweener is the most important shot in tennis!

[luvforty]

Originally Posted by tennis_balla

...because the 'tweener is the most important shot in tennis!

see - you got it !

[Ash_Smith]

Originally Posted by tennis_balla

...because the 'tweener is the most important shot in tennis!

yes, but is the "tweener" a shot or is it a "hotdog"

[tennis_balla]

Originally Posted by Ash_Smith

yes, but is the "tweener" a shot or is it a "hotdog"

Ooh, that's difficult to answer. I mean ask someone like Bahrami and he'll insist its a legitimate shot.