"3 Common Volley Mistakes and How To Fix Them!!"

[thomas daniels]

Remember this.

You don't have to become a great volleyer to be an effective volleyer in your tennis matches.

Because.

If you come in at the right time on a great approach shot, all you have to do is block the ball into the open court for a winner!!

So, it's very important that you understand that and that you start coming in more and attacking when you can.

Now, here are 3 common mistakes that juniors and adults are making on their volleys and how to correct them.

Wrong grip.

"The continental is the best grip to use for your volleys, because you don't have time to change grips sometimes during points, and with this grip you won't need to, all you have to do is use your non-rackcet hand to prepare, during your contact move towards the ball."

Many players use the forehand grip and forget to change it or get got with no time to change the grip on the back side and end up volleying the ball up in the air.

Use the continental grip and give yourself enough time to adjust to the grip in practice.

Next.

Swinging at the ball.

There is no need to swing at your volleys.

Just lay the wrist back and move through the ball.

I teach players to imagine their wrist being the racket face and to first angle the racket to where they want the ball to go, of course, this depends on the speed of the ball, but you get where I am going from right?

Volley rule 101.

"The faster the ball, the less back swing you need and always use the backhand side for quick exchanges at the net."

Last tip.

Not using their body on the volley.

Many players are too tight, mechanical and stiff on their volleys.

Study and watch how the pros use their body on their volleys after they get into position on the court.

It's about getting their body in the ideal position to make the volley, as fast as they can and with less effort.

The best advice I can give you is to get in a mirror, after watching some video and practice your volley form and use more of your body while you are doing it.

Do this for a 30 days and then monitor your results.

Personally.

I would do it for 90 days to imprint the image on my subconscious mind, then you won't even have to worry about remembering to do it then.

It will be automatic by that time!!

 

[Steady Eddy]

I switch grips when volleying. I never have trouble switching to backhand for the first volley. But when the person across the net from me returns my volley with a volley, that can be a problem, and I have to hit that volley on my backhand side with a forehand volley grip.

To keep myself from swinging at volleys I always keep my racket in front of me. There's the ball, then my racket, then my face. In that order. It took a while to keep from making any backswing, but I'm used to it now. And even if we are only doing a very short warm up I always include doing some volleys from the net. Most people I know never take volley practice, and it shows.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Good tips.

I think #2 & 3 go hand-in-hand: people swing too much AND don't use enough of the larger muscles. If they did, they wouldn't have to swing so much.

But there are some others I would add:
- Don't feel like you have to put every volley away. Some volleys just aren't good opportunities. Block it back deep and try to reset. Beats making an error.
- You can't punch every volley
- Volleying behind someone is more effective against quicker players
- Don't be discouraged if you get passed a few times; it's going to happen; just play the odds
- Don't underestimate the value of the pressure you're applying just by coming to the net; some players will gift you all sorts of points
- Experiment with C&C [chip and charge], especially off of the 2nd serve. Again, pressure affects the opponent and it's unexpected also

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I switch grips when volleying. I never have trouble switching to backhand for the first volley. But when the person across the net from me returns my volley with a volley, that can be a problem, and I have to hit that volley on my backhand side with a forehand volley grip.

To keep myself from swinging at volleys I always keep my racket in front of me. There's the ball, then my racket, then my face. In that order. It took a while to keep from making any backswing, but I'm used to it now. And even if we are only doing a very short warm up I always include doing some volleys from the net. Most people I know never take volley practice, and it shows.

One tip: warm up volleys from the SL. Do not warm up 3' from the net; if you stand there during a point, guess which shot is coming next?

The opponent I fear the most is the one who can calmly volley everything back right to me from the SL.

The opponent I fear the least is the one who has to volley right on top of the net and put everything away. That guy is not going to spend hardly any time at the net [if he can help it].

 

[LuckyR]

One tip: warm up volleys from the SL. Do not warm up 3' from the net; if you stand there during a point, guess which shot is coming next?

The opponent I fear the most is the one who can calmly volley everything back right to me from the SL.

The opponent I fear the least is the one who has to volley right on top of the net and put everything away. That guy is not going to spend hardly any time at the net [if he can help it].

Yeah, that second guy is going to get lobbed to death against my opposition.

 

[zaph]

The best advice I got about net play, from a very good volleyer is; can't smash can't come to the net.

It is also the first thing you should do to anyone at the net, chuck the ball over their backhand side and see if they can handle that.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

The best advice I got about net play, from a very good volleyer is; can't smash can't come to the net.

It is also the first thing you should do to anyone at the net, chuck the ball over their backhand side and see if they can handle that.

And it doesn't even need to be the BH side; some won't even be able to handle the FH side.

 

[Steady Eddy]

One tip: warm up volleys from the SL. Do not warm up 3' from the net; if you stand there during a point, guess which shot is coming next?

The opponent I fear the most is the one who can calmly volley everything back right to me from the SL.

The opponent I fear the least is the one who has to volley right on top of the net and put everything away. That guy is not going to spend hardly any time at the net [if he can help it].

And that's a good tip. My half volley probably needs more practice than any other stroke. And if I could play from just a little further back, I'd be able to run down more lobs.