Drills for volleying

[Traffic]

I am horrible at net. I never played net in high school. Just stood on the baseline unless someone hit a short lob and it was do or die with a put away shot.

So as an adult, I've been playing doubles and my weakness at the net is glaring. I've done some damage control with positioning myself better at the net and looking at the right places.

However, I don't know how to move my feet before my hands.

I think any ball that lands within my reach is fair game. But anything that requires a step, I have nothing.
I've watched some video that says I need to step-step. First step to the side of the ball, Second step to move racquet toward ball.

Sounds good. My body doesn't know how to do it under pressure. Racquet comes out first and I'm lucky if I'm still maintaining my balance on my feet...with a feet lunge if I'm lucky.

What are some drills I can do to improve this technique?

 

[Rafa'sWatch]

Find a wall that's 20'. Volley up and down the wall, all forehand volleys one way and all backhands the other. Make sure the racket moves as little as possible, while getting your head down to racket level and bending at the knees and not the back. Make sure you step with the front foot everytime. Don't worry about the speed you move, go slow.

Stand in one place and alternate volleys back and forth. Step with the front foot everytime. And try to keep the racket on the same plane as the ball for as long as possible.

 

[LeeD]

You watch stupid videos.
Nobody can move the feet before their hands, it's done at the same time. And most volleys in doubles are hit with hands and shoulder turn, with very little foot movement possible, because there's no time to move the feet.

 

[J011yroger]

Racquet goes first. Get the racquet face to the ball, then the feet follow.

J

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

You should be split-stepping as your opponent is making contact.

Furthermore, you should be bouncing around on the balls of your feet in between the time you make contact and when your opponent is about to make contact. Try it. Tires you out quickly but maximizes your readiness.

One person on this forum has a signature of "You volley with your feet".

 

[Traffic]

You should be split-stepping as your opponent is making contact.

Furthermore, you should be bouncing around on the balls of your feet in between the time you make contact and when your opponent is about to make contact. Try it. Tires you out quickly but maximizes your readiness.

One person on this forum has a signature of "You volley with your feet".

Split step. Most of the time.
Moving feet before split step. Yes.

You watch stupid videos.
Nobody can move the feet before their hands, it's done at the same time. And most volleys in doubles are hit with hands and shoulder turn, with very little foot movement possible, because there's no time to move the feet.

I think I need someone to video me. I'm not sure what's happening with shoulder.

Usually I just look at opponent, see where his eye and racquet are pointed to predict where he will hit...keep my racquet up ...

So this is different than poaching I'm assuming?

 

[OnTheLine]

I like 4 person reflex volley drills .... 2 person if that is all I can find.
Goal is to keep it going, not going for "winners" but to really ingrain the proper movement, footwork and pop of the no-swing volley so every shot is clean

Do this at perhaps 2 steps in from the serviceline

Then back up all players at serviceline to work on the step into the ball while maintaining the clean volley ... first two hits cross, then anything goes and go for the winners, but singles court only

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Sounds good. My body doesn't know how to do it under pressure.

But you can do it in practice? If so, it's not a technique problem; it's a mental problem. Your body does know how to do it; you just now have to practice under match-like pressure.

 

[Traffic]

But you can do it in practice? If so, it's not a technique problem; it's a mental problem. Your body does know how to do it; you just now have to practice under match-like pressure.

Don't practice. Or at least not the step step. I can one step. Can't do the second one that's supposed to punch racquet to net.

 

[Easy Rider]

Romanian drill and Bryans Brothers drills is all you need for volleys