Doubles players -- which is better: your FH or BH volley?

[LeeD]

Well, I can say the same for my 1hbh backhand overhead.
I usually short angle it.
When the opponent starts to cheat that side, I hit it flat, deep, and DTL, for another clean winner, behind him.
From service line positioning, it doesn't take much pace to hit a clean winner. Angle and lack of time for your opponent is your friend.

[amorris525]

Originally Posted by g4driver

LeeD,

if someone hits a weak lob to my backhand, the point is going to end. I will either miss the overhead wide to the Ad court or the ball is going over the side fence on the Ad court.

I don't ever hit this shot to their deuce court, and not one 4.0 or 3.5 player as returned a weak lob hit to my backhand this year.

The shot is so natural once you learn it. I will see if I can get you some video at a practice against my teammates.

I also use this shot with my 2h bh volley. Real fun shot. I rarely miss it, only into the net on rare occasion.

[Fuji]

My backhand volley hits absolutely spectacular shots for me it seems, while my forehand hits absolute garbage. I dump my forehand volley quite a bit more then I'd like to admit, but my backhand is able to really place it well.

That being said, my "forehand" overhead is 10,000% better then my backhand overhead.

-Fuji

[floridatennisdude]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

Same as you for net height and high. But my low volley is better on the BH side. So for me, BH wins 2 - 1.

Interesting, since in terms of groundstrokes my FH is by far the stronger side.

I grew up on racquetball so my forehand is more natural to take low or off a half volley. Backhand just can't get the same power. Placement is not an issue, but having a couple extra mph on the FH is the difference for me.

[chatt_town]

I to volley better from the backhand side and thinking about it...I think it's probably for the exact same reasons. I'd like to know from one of the teaching pros why this seems to be the case....Timbo? Is there any truth to this or is this in our imagination?

Originally Posted by corbind

Doubles players: which is better your backhand or forehand volley and why? (Complete the poll if applicable)

I play doubles most of the time and somehow I volley better backhand than forehand. I've thought about it quite a bit and it's due to a few things:

• BH the ball is usually out in front of my body
• BH volleys I usually watch the ball to the racquet
• FH volleys often are parallel to my waist/hip so not in front as much
• FH volleys I often don't watch the ball beginning about 4' in front of me to the stick

[Pickle9]

Originally Posted by g4driver

Nope, it takes them two or three times to learn. They think it is a fluke.

How many 3.5 or 4.0 players do you see hit a 2HBH overhead for winners?

actually the 2hbh overhead might be my best shot.

[NTRPolice]

What is a 2HBH "overhead"?

I'm pretty sure even if you have a 2HBH you still use a 1HBH for your "overhead". Swinging volley sure. Overhead? No. I dont think so.

[Pickle9]

Originally Posted by NTRPolice

What is a 2HBH "overhead"?

I'm pretty sure even if you have a 2HBH you still use a 1HBH for your "overhead". Swinging volley sure. Overhead? No. I dont think so.

If the ball is over my head to the bh side, then I swing at it like a little kid going after a piñata.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by Pickle9

If the ball is over my head to the bh side, then I swing at it like a little kid going after a piñata.

I can't even picture this LOL!

-Fuji

[g4driver]

Originally Posted by NTRPolice

What is a 2HBH "overhead"?

I'm pretty sure even if you have a 2HBH you still use a 1HBH for your "overhead". Swinging volley sure. Overhead? No. I dont think so.

Well I am sure you are pretty wrong in my case.

It ain't a swing volley that I am describing. It is a 2HBH overhead. Two hands hitting an overhead.

A swing volley doesn't put the ball over the back fence, like a 2HBH overhead.

And If you hit the backhand overhead with two hands it isn't a 1HBH overhead for sure.

[NTRPolice]

Originally Posted by g4driver

Well I am sure you are pretty wrong in my case.

It ain't a swing volley that I am describing. It is a 2HBH overhead. Two hands hitting an overhead.

A swing volley doesn't put the ball over the back fence, like a 2HBH overhead.

And If you hit the backhand overhead with two hands it isn't a 1HBH overhead for sure.

Sounds great, in theory.

If you're 6'9 and standing 1 ft. from the net. lol.

If you didnt lose a lot of court coverage and it was as easy to bounce balls as you're making it sound, im pretty sure that more pros would be using that fabulous 2HBH overhead.

"then I swing at it like a little kid going after a piñata." as described by Pickle9 sounds more like it.

I'm not knocking the guy, but at least hes being honest.

[Angle Queen]

Originally Posted by Pickle9

If the ball is over my head to the bh side, then I swing at it like a little kid going after a piñata.

I have a doubles partner that does this...and very well. So well, in fact, we've given it a name: "The Hammer." She swings it like one might a sledgehammer, especially if you're alternating swing sides. Truthfully, though, she's a natural lefty playing righty...so it's really more of a two-handed OH.

As to the question, posed by the OP...I'm probably more equal (equally bad?), with each wing have different "winning" capabilities. The BH volley seems to be more innate with an eh-go-for-it approach...where placement or power isn't necessarily the winning attribute. The "surprise" of it is what usually catches opponents flat-footed (remember we're talking womens 3.5 play here. ). The FH volley is more calculated and can generally be placed better with more power or touch.

[lobman]

I think JO11yroger is right on; in my case and based on what I have read, the BH volley is better for most players.

[TomT]

They both suck, in my case, bigtime. But I love to come to the net. Go figure. Need LOTS of work on volleying, as well as approaching shots. Maybe will never be good at it, but it's the sort of tennis that I find most interesting and like the most.

I do, sincerely, think that a decent serve and volleyer will beat most anybody up to, and including, 4.0 level. Above that, the strokes are good enough that serve and volleying has to be done more sporadically, sparingly, imo, considering the power of the modern game.

[corbind]

Originally Posted by J011yroger

Most players who put any sort of effort into learning how to volley have a better BH volley in my experience.

J

What do you think causes the BH volley to become better?

[LuckyR]

My BH is better defensively and my FH is better offensively.

[LeeD]

In doubles, there is no defensive volley.
Every volley must be hit well, placed well, do try to force a weak high return.
Even a great lob backhand volley, once the foursome is set near the service line, is used as an offensive shot...to win the point.

[LuckyR]

Originally Posted by LeeD

In doubles, there is no defensive volley.
Every volley must be hit well, placed well, do try to force a weak high return.
Even a great lob backhand volley, once the foursome is set near the service line, is used as an offensive shot...to win the point.

Uummm... what do you call a volley that the opposing netman poaches towards your chest?

[LeeD]

Talking, reacting to the poach right at you, right?
YOU, knowing that anything weak will be put away, needs to think beforehand, "don't volley right back". You have to know the hole you're going at, or the lob volley you're gonna try. The hole is a winner, between the two opponent's or down an alley. The lob volley is also a winner attempt, as anything less will be crushed down your throat.
You know what you should be doing because that scenario has happenned to you many many times before. Your partner puts up a weak groundie or volley, you are in position to EAT the ball. So you preplan what you're gonna do when opponent poaches and hits within your racket's reach.
Now if the poacher is strong, can volley with pace, just turn around and give up the point. But you have reactions. If the poach is a normal volley nto your chest, you have plenty of time to reflex lob volley into the open court, then move forwards to center of service box. That lob volley is purely offensive.

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

Uummm... what do you call a volley that the opposing netman poaches towards your chest?

"Headhunting"?