Doubles Volley Question

[kenshireen]

I was in a match today...I'm at net in the ad court..( about one racket length from net) my partner serves and the opponent hits a weak floater about head level and direct at me.. I have all the time in the world. The ball is about a foot or so past the net on my side. I simply put my racket up (in front of my face) to do a dink and i tapped the ball into the bottom of the net. Very embarassing.

How should this shot have been handled. I could have turned sideways and hit a slice to either side.

thanks, ken

 

[JohnThomas1]

Well i would be playing a little further back for a start, you would be very easy to lob that close to the net. About the middle of the service box is commonly advised, if your opponents never lob you could be closer or if they lob a lot a bit back. With the shot you describe i would then (From back a lil)close in making sure to take it on my forehand volley and hit it between the opponents. If the returners partner is at the net there should be a bit of room between them. If the floater is high enough (Moving forward catches it higher, a very important move) you should be able to put it away. If it is a lower awkward shot the shot between them is still good, or you can volley it back deep to the returner, possibly to his weaker side.

 

[kenshireen]

How to handle a floater

Well i would be playing a little further back for a start, you would be very easy to lob that close to the net. About the middle of the service box is commonly advised, if your opponents never lob you could be closer or if they lob a lot a bit back. With the shot you describe i would then (From back a lil)close in making sure to take it on my forehand volley and hit it between the opponents. If the returners partner is at the net there should be a bit of room between them. If the floater is high enough (Moving forward catches it higher, a very important move) you should be able to put it away. If it is a lower awkward shot the shot between them is still good, or you can volley it back deep to the returner, possibly to his weaker side.

On the easy short floaters should I snap my wrist or just step into the ball with a locked wrist?

 

[Mahboob Khan]

If you are that close to the net (1 racket away), as JohnThomas said you are vulnerable to a lob. Another disadvantage is that because of your proximity to the net, the ball comes at you fast and you do not have enough preparation time to react to the volley. Even at this close range, if you are waiting with a forehand grip, the racket face may not be open enough and the ball slips on your side of the net. Another situation, if the incoming ball has some spin, and you try to just block the ball, the ball may deflect off your strings. The best resolution would have been:

-- Stay little away from the net and wait with a continental grip;

-- Look forward not backward (a common mistake is that the netman will look back to his partner and in doing so lose sight of the ball).

-- Watch the racket-head of your opponent, as he swings forward take a split step, judge the ball either to your FH or BH volley, move toward the ball, turn, and punch your volley in an open court and inbetween them.

-- And do not take easier volleys for granted.

-- And you are not alone in this 'embarrassment', this has happened to all of us, and also happened to the Pros who train day in and day out.

 

[aahala]

Any ball you can hit down on for a winner you should. So if you could avoid hitting the net, you should have made contact even closer than you did. Of course, you have to wait till the ball gets to your side.

Don't voluntarily position yourself within 2 feet of the net. That's quick sand. If you end up there, then your mind set should be your shot must end the point, as you are very unlikely to get a second chance.

But if you can take a ball two feet above the net and contact it one inch on your side, that's the very best position of all.

 

[JohnThomas1]

I always step into the ball, and pretty much never snap my wrist on volleys. Of course if the ball floats high enough you can snap off an overhead type shot i guess. I'm sure i'd be erratic snapping my wrist.

 

[kenshireen]

[But if you can take a ball two feet above the net and contact it one inch on your side, that's the very best position of all.[/quote]

If the ball is a floater and an inch on your side do you power tje ball or do you do a sharp angle slice?

 

[aahala]

[But if you can take a ball two feet above the net and contact it one inch on your side, that's the very best position of all.

If the ball is a floater and an inch on your side do you power tje ball or do you do a sharp angle slice?[/quote]

You could do either, but you're in such an offensive position, I wouldn't go for finesse. Just pop the ball nearly straight down; you don't need to take a big swing to bounce the ball well over your opponents and if necessary, your followthru can extend beyond your side of the net as long as you don't touch the net.

It's like a free dunk in basketball, there's hardly any defense against it.

 

[Rickson]

I would have stepped to the left with my right foot in front and backhand volleyed to the open court.

 

[papa]

Good posts especially MK but the others are very good also.

Standing back a little (middle of the box) also alows one to close on an angle, have a speck more time, reduce the possibility of lobs (as MK said) and touching the net.

I think you should also hit in front as compared with trying to hit at your side and not only aim for the center as a target but consider the alley in front of you.

Actually a very good question because many have been apparently taught to stand one racquet length in back of the net - can't tell you how many times I've heard people say that.

 

[Aoya]

I certainly wouldn't have chosen the backhand volley for the putaway, since the backhand is generally not something you can generate that extra punch on a volley for a putaway.

And I certainly wouldn't have hit straight down, since unless it bounces over the fence, there's always a chance that your opponent gets it.

Personally, I would've aimed it straight at the other net person's feet. In the event that the net gets it back over, I doubt he could facilitate a good volley with it being there..so your partner could rush the net..or you could put the shot away for sure..or..yea.

 

[kenshireen]

Actually a very good question because many have been apparently taught to stand one racquet length in back of the net - can't tell you how many times I've heard people say that.[/quote]

Just a point of clarification.. When we talk about a racket length from the net are we talking about an outstrectched arm plus the length of th racket or simply the lenght of the racket from your torso to the net.

thanks, Ken

 

[papa]

kenshireen wrote:

"Just a point of clarification.. When we talk about a racket length from the net are we talking about an outstretched arm plus the length of th racket or simply the lenght of the racket from your torso to the net. "

Well, a good question. Most of the people I've uncounted say "they" under the impression that should be able to easily touch the net with the racquet with the arm semi-outstretched (not on their tiptoes reaching as far forward as possible with the racquet). In other words it apparently changes with the height of the individual and to a lesser extent with the length of the racquet. When "they" demonstrate where that "is" to them, they generally stand about three feet from the net - or about two steps too close.

I must tell you that I don't even enjoy playing with people who stand too close because among other things they some don't have the racquet up or can't possibly react to a ball that’s hit hard at them.

Now, I must tell you that I've been knocked down several times myself - twice, right in the face – no big deal really. It happens, part of the game but I wasn't on top of the net, so to speak, and I think I know how to protect myself – just lost my concentration for a fraction of a second and or the ball was really moving and I just couldn’t/didn’t react. I've also hit a few people myself but “I” don’t consider "people" a "normal" target - their feet maybe. Getting tagged is the price one pays if they are aggressive and that’s the way I like to play. I don’t consider tennis “armed combat”, at least from the standpoint of trying to hurt someone – it’s a game. However, I will also tell you that I will go after the net man if he’s a good player but not just for the sake of injuring them – in my own case I want them to stay put because I will go down the line until that’s understood. Good players will continue to poach but you at least have their attention.

I’m also very leery of those that like to crowd the net in apparent “defense” of short lobs – seems crazy but it also happens and I’ve done it myself a couple of times. Not a smart move and a very effective way to get yourself hurt.

 

[kevhen]

Bend at the knees a little and bounce an overhead over their heads. That is what I would do on a soft floater.

Otherwise just hit hard and low volley at the opposing netman's feet. It's unlikely he will get the ball back if you hit it hard and low enough.