How to get better at volleys?

[kyleisanoob12]

What are some volley drills that I can do to get better at hitting volleys? I usually play singles, but this year, I'm playing doubles in school. My volleys are pretty bad. Sometimes I have good volleys, but most of the time they're pretty bad and either go into the net or long (especially backhands).

My doubles partner told me not to try hitting the ball if I was on the fence whether I can make it over or not, and this results in me feeling useless when a ball I could potentially hit flies by.

I see some girls during practice practicing volleys with both players up at the net, and they usually don't let it bounce. I also saw the same thing in a video for volley drills.

What are your recommendations as to what I can do?

Thanks

 

[mad dog1]

What are some volley drills that I can do to get better at hitting volleys? I usually play singles, but this year, I'm playing doubles in school. My volleys are pretty bad. Sometimes I have good volleys, but most of the time they're pretty bad and either go into the net or long (especially backhands).

My doubles partner told me not to try hitting the ball if I was on the fence whether I can make it over or not, and this results in me feeling useless when a ball I could potentially hit flies by.

I see some girls during practice practicing volleys with both players up at the net, and they usually don't let it bounce. I also saw the same thing in a video for volley drills.

What are your recommendations as to what I can do?

Thanks

why are you hitting volleys sitting on the back fence? are you trying to catch a better view of the other girls? stop watching the other girls and try watching the ball and i assure you your volleys will improve.

how does one practice practicing volleys? wouldn't one simply practice to improve? practice practicing usually isn't effective for me.

if they let it bounce, they wouldn't be volleying. they would be hitting groundstrokes or practicing half volleys.

 

[Enga]

The thing about volleys in doubles, its a lot about anticipation. Even if you have technically sound volleys, its still difficult to adapt to doubles net play. I feel the biggest thing is just getting more experience so you can react and anticipate better. You want to be watching the opponent, looking for signs about what he's going to do with the ball.

As for drills, I never did drills for the volley. I just did shadow swings in my room to figure out the form. It actually helped a lot, the many of shadow swings I did helped my forearm get stronger and helped me to better maintain control.

If I were to imagine a good drill, I'd say get 2 other players. You stand at the net, and they stand at the baseline trying to hit a crosscourt rally. You can watch and poach, or if they try to hit it down the line at you, you try to cut it off. Then you guys just keep doing this for a while. This would help you figure out when to move and when not to in a match situation, and help develop the poach and volleys.

 

[Gazelle]

MOVE your feet.

Many people are too stationary and try to volley using too much arm/racket. Actually the arm/racket moves quite little, less than the feet should.

 

[Easy Rider]

1. Romanian drill ( you and your partner moving along servise line volleying at each other. Starting position is diagonal)
2. Volley aproach drill ( both starting from baseline volleying at each other till you get to the net. Can be done cc or dtl)

Nothing more needed unless you want more specific situational drills

 

[gallen1999]

Some tips for effective volleys are:

1: punch, don't swing (keep minimal follow through)
2: keep racket in sight (don't let the racket go behind your ear)
3: stay loose until contact (think of squeezing the handle as you hit the ball, and don't tense up before contact)

Some video instruction and drills:
Keeping calm at net:

Don't swing at volleys:

Ultimate tricky volley playlist:http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNCuvh5KZVxdWpY4QtOW8uRAlyCOHbGAJ
Low volleys: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNCuvh5KZVxfkIIrNsz7LmhMbqSeOq2zw
Ultimate doubles guide:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD294DC7671E7498F

Hope this helps your game

 

[joe sch]

MOVE your feet.

Many people are too stationary and try to volley using too much arm/racket. Actually the arm/racket moves quite little, less than the feet should.

Agree, drilling with bad technique will only get you so far. Get some advice on improving your technique from a good teacher watching. You can post a clip here if your brave enough

 

[LeeD]

I think moving feet is secondary.
Primary is turning your shoulders to get the racket back, as said, no further than you can see thru your peripheral vision. Take it back farther on high slow sitters, of course.
Moving feet is used only for putaway volleys where you have time. It's taught to beginners, but can't be used in competition more than half the time, because the ball is coming too fast for you to react to the correct side. Feet are slow, shoulder turn is quick.
Used to be a vid of Clint Thompson hitting volleys from 3' inside his service line. Most volleys hit with no feet shuffling, but knees to bend and drive. When he get's a high slow ball, THEN he closes his stance, extends forwards, and puts ball away.

 

[dgold44]

My volleys used to be terrible but now they are solid 4.0 and dependable.
I noticed as a got older my volleys got better.
My pro told me to also swing slightly downwards to generate a little extra backspin.

 

[thebigz]

I used to have the same problem. Two of the best tips I've ever received:

1. Like mentioned above, be active with your feet.
2. DO NOT try to swing on the volley. This is the tip that said by my coach and helped me tremendously. There should be no take back and no follow through on the volley; it's a simple stroke about just firmly getting the racquet to the ball and pointing to where it should go. There's no such thing as powerful volley; people try to do too much and take bigger swing a the ball. You ever hear any commentators to acclaim someone about powerful volleys? Never! It's all about "Great hands" and "Nice touch".

Lastly, practice. Not good at volleys, then hit more.

 

[Shroud]

I think moving feet is secondary.
Primary is turning your shoulders to get the racket back, as said, no further than you can see thru your peripheral vision. Take it back farther on high slow sitters, of course.
Moving feet is used only for putaway volleys where you have time. It's taught to beginners, but can't be used in competition more than half the time, because the ball is coming too fast for you to react to the correct side. Feet are slow, shoulder turn is quick.
Used to be a vid of Clint Thompson hitting volleys from 3' inside his service line. Most volleys hit with no feet shuffling, but knees to bend and drive. When he get's a high slow ball, THEN he closes his stance, extends forwards, and puts ball away.

 

[mad dog1]

^^ that's great footwork! not sure how the forum's definitive expert in tennis would say, "I think moving feet is secondary" for volleys and refer to a video specifically highlighting that "most volleys hit with no feet shuffling" and yet the video shows very active feet - fast and crisp footwork.

my coach tells me that footwork is of tantamount importance. but maybe my coach has no clue because he only got to #400-500 in the world when he was playing futures tournaments 7 years ago. after all, my coach never faced former top 5 players in the world like KevinCurren, IggyMcSquiggly, and RolliePollie...

 

[user92626]

Like groundstrokes, good volley is largely good timing.

The mechanics, footwork vary alot from person to person -- that's why you see guys with odd looking, questionable techniques, court position, or lousy footwork that they can't even play singles averagely -- but they are really good at the net.

I've always been a baseline player relying on good FH and BH shots to win, but now with lousy knees I start to play the net. I apply the same principles that I used to learn the groundstrokes. Working pretty well.

 

[mad dog1]

Like groundstrokes, good volley is largely good timing.

The mechanics, footwork vary alot from person to person -- that's why you see guys with odd looking, questionable techniques, court position, or lousy footwork that they can't even play singles averagely -- but they are really good at the net.

I've always been a baseline player relying on good FH and BH shots to win, but now with lousy knees I start to play the net. I apply the same principles that I used to learn the groundstrokes. Working pretty well.

heck, everything in tennis is about good timing. good timing not only applies to volleys, but groundies as well. good footwork, speed and movement are all important to good timing. if your feet are lazy, you can't get your body into position to hit anything w/ good timing.

there are always exceptions because some individuals are gifted with good eye hand coordination and good hands/touch. these guys can get away w/ less than ideal techniques, but they would probably be even better with good technique.

in your case, your body is starting to betray you so you just have to do the best with what you got. if the pain in your knees prevents you from executing good footwork, naturally, it is what it is.

 

[Shroud]

^^ that's great footwork! not sure how the forum's definitive expert in tennis would say, "I think moving feet is secondary" for volleys and refer to a video specifically highlighting that "most volleys hit with no feet shuffling" and yet the video shows very active feet - fast and crisp footwork.

my coach tells me that footwork is of tantamount importance. but maybe my coach has no clue because he only got to #400-500 in the world when he was playing futures tournaments 7 years ago. after all, my coach never faced former top 5 players in the world like KevinCurren, IggyMcSquiggly, and RolliePollie...

COuld be the wrong vid. I just googled. Though Oscar Wegner is not a fan of footwork on the volley....so D may be in good company. I have a decent volley but crappy footwork I think. Actually my volley is really good for my level if I practiced it a bit more. I can make some really good shots with it if I am lucky. I think sometimes in doubles I get lost and sleepy and that can affect the volley...

 

[coupergear]

Practice against a wall. You can get lots of reps in very quickly, and you will quickly learn not to swing at it. If you do you won't have time to recover for the next.

 

[mad dog1]

bryan brothers practicing volleys...lots of footwork evidenced by the squeaking shoes on the court.

 

[Dolgopolov85]

What are some volley drills that I can do to get better at hitting volleys? I usually play singles, but this year, I'm playing doubles in school. My volleys are pretty bad. Sometimes I have good volleys, but most of the time they're pretty bad and either go into the net or long (especially backhands).

My doubles partner told me not to try hitting the ball if I was on the fence whether I can make it over or not, and this results in me feeling useless when a ball I could potentially hit flies by.

I see some girls during practice practicing volleys with both players up at the net, and they usually don't let it bounce. I also saw the same thing in a video for volley drills.

What are your recommendations as to what I can do?

Thanks

If you let it bounce, it's not a volley at all. In fact, you should ideally start with volleys hit well over waist/net height; low volleys where you have to squat are pretty tough. Have your partner stand across the net and...well, just start practicing volleys at a comfortable height. Try alternating from BH to FH and back and gradually increase the speed of the exchange so that you can sharpen your reflexes. In doubles, your volleys have to be really snappy so take one step forward and attack the ball. Don't try to drive it unless you find open court. Just stop it firmly so that it dies down before your opponents can get to it. When you are standing in the deuce court (that is, your partner is serving/receiving from the ad), you may leave tough backhand volley opportunities for your partner (that is, if they are not already too low because in that case the ball may not get to your partner). On the ad side, stand a little more to your left to protect your backhand side. If you have to move too much to get a forehand volley, you are better off leaving it for your partner. But one thing...better don't miss if you are going for the shot. If you decide to go for the volley, then make it and stay in the point. Else you may find your partner requesting you to prowl the back court instead.

 

[movdqa]

If you're technique is sound, then integrate some volley practice into your practice hitting.

You can stand up at the net and take volleys from someone in the backcourt (it's good practice for them too), or, if you're in a rally and he hits a short ball, then hit the ball as an approach shot back to him so that he hits it to you and then hit a volley, move in a step, hit another volley, move in a step, and hopefully hit another one. Part of keeping the stroke short is that your bodyweight is moving into the ball because you're moving forward so you don't need to take a big swing.

 

[LeeD]

Look at Clint's footwork.
He does NOT step forward with his right leg on every forehand volley, only those slow and high ones.
He does NOT step forwards with let leg on every backhand volley, only on slow ones or those wide, when he steps out.
He does step to SPACE HIMSELF, on volleys not in his strikezone. You know that.
His "good footwork" is to allow himself space to hit the ball in a comfortable distance, NOT to step forwards on every volley.

 

[mad dog1]

I think moving feet is secondary.
Primary is turning your shoulders to get the racket back, as said, no further than you can see thru your peripheral vision. Take it back farther on high slow sitters, of course.
Moving feet is used only for putaway volleys where you have time. It's taught to beginners, but can't be used in competition more than half the time, because the ball is coming too fast for you to react to the correct side. Feet are slow, shoulder turn is quick.
Used to be a vid of Clint Thompson hitting volleys from 3' inside his service line. Most volleys hit with no feet shuffling, but knees to bend and drive. When he get's a high slow ball, THEN he closes his stance, extends forwards, and puts ball away.

Look at Clint's footwork.
He does NOT step forward with his right leg on every forehand volley, only those slow and high ones.
He does NOT step forwards with let leg on every backhand volley, only on slow ones or those wide, when he steps out.
He does step to SPACE HIMSELF, on volleys not in his strikezone. You know that.
His "good footwork" is to allow himself space to hit the ball in a comfortable distance, NOT to step forwards on every volley.

typical revisionist LeeD stuff...if your FIRST post, you didn't mention ANYTHING stepping forward. you said most volleys are hit with no feet shuffling (in other words no feet moving). after video evidence is posted clearly showing footwork on all volleys, you change your position. I've bolded exerpts of your first post for your benefit. Now you agree that the feet are always moving.

your original advice is doing the OP a disservice. OP sounds like a kid who clearly doesn't know how to volley and after reading your advice would try to hit volleys without giving any thought to footwork and his volleys won't improve.

 

[Muppet]

I know watching the ball has already been pointed to, but I can't stress enough how important it is in volleying. It's so tempting to want to know where the shot is going before you've even hit it. Unfortunately, looking up early causes the racquet to lift up early and the ball hits a lower part of the racquet face. Then the ball goes in the net. So the ball goes in the net because you were watching it go in the net.

Footwork is very important also, but I think that's obvious. The stumbling block for most is looking away before the ball leaves the strings. The easiest way I've found to practice for this is to concentrate on the ball impact for every shot that you make. Forehands, backhands, serves, overheads, and volleys should all be hit with your eyes trained on the ball through impact, and even a little after. If you're disciplining yourself to watch the ball for all of your shots, it will be more natural to watch the ball on volleys. And you'll probably find that all of your strokes will improve.

 

[LeeD]

Beginner volleyers need to concentrate on getting the shoulder's turned to get the racket back, NOT using an arm movement like groundies.
There's plenty to think about besides moving your feet on every single volley. You have to watch the ball more than from the baseline, you have to recognize the spin used, you have to recoginise speed of the incoming ball, and you have to employ a volley swing that is short, direct, and slight underspin. Feet can come later, there's too much on the plate already.

 

[steve s]

Some really good pointers in the above posts

THE THOUGHT PROCESS.

1. THE NEXT SHOT IS COMING AT ME.
2. GET THE RACQUET IN FRONT OF THE BALL

The shot is made or missed with out your thinking about it.

 

[user92626]

heck, everything in tennis is about good timing. good timing not only applies to volleys, but groundies as well. good footwork, speed and movement are all important to good timing. if your feet are lazy, you can't get your body into position to hit anything w/ good timing.

there are always exceptions because some individuals are gifted with good eye hand coordination and good hands/touch. these guys can get away w/ less than ideal techniques, but they would probably be even better with good technique.

in your case, your body is starting to betray you so you just have to do the best with what you got. if the pain in your knees prevents you from executing good footwork, naturally, it is what it is.

This discussion may get very confusing quickly. I'm not talking about being lazy. Yes, good footwork, speed and movement are all important to good timing, but how much important?

I play with so many players that cannot volley at all when the ball is hit right to them. I bet you know many too. They just cannot volley even if their life depends on it.

I have good footwork and speed for ground strokes. I hardly frame the ball with my FH, but more often than not, I still can't volley (framing, late to contact, all the weird stuff) even if the ball is hit at my direction, well within my range. It's simply because my timing and feel for the volley shot is still very weak. I may not have it at all like I do with the ground strokes.

And don't you think I haven't spent years working on the footwork, the mechanics for the volley?

There's this guy in our group, all his stuff is horrendous, except his volley and overhead. He couldn't get even one game off of me in singles, in two occasions already, but now he strictly
plays doubles like the rest and he kinda dominates and wins 90% of time. He thinks he's several level above everyone else.